|
JKR included on '20 People Who Changed Childhood' list 
OCTOBER 7, 2006 at 8:53 PM
Posted by GERI
Source: Child magazine via The Scotsman
Harry Potter author has been named one of the 20 people who have done most to inspire children. JKR was selected for her "unique contribution" to children's literacy and joins such other notables as Walt Disney, Michael Jordan, Jonas Salk, Steve Jobs and The Beatles.
The list, compiled by Child
magazine, writes:
Before J.K. Rowling's bespectacled boy wizard went off to study at Hogwarts, some parents feared their kids would never enjoy reading. Once Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone hit U.S. bookstores in 1998, followed by five more installments, parents found their kids couldn't get enough of Rowling's fantasy adventure novels, some longer than 600 pages. To date more than 300 million Harry Potter books have sold worldwide; they crowded The New York Times bestseller list for so long that the newspaper created a separate children's list. "The Harry Potter books not only sparked an explosion of interest in reading," says Lisa Von Drasek, the children's librarian at the Bank Street College of Education in New York City, "they inspired kids to go out and discover other great books too."
Reader Comments (225)
Your Thoughts
click to write...
Copyright © 2002-2008 HPANA. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License. 
HPANA is an unofficial fan site, in no way affiliated with J.K. Rowling,
Scholastic Books, Bloomsbury Publishing or Warner Bros. Entertainment. All
trademarks and copyrighted material are the property of their respective owners.
About HPANA | Movie 6 | Send a news tip | Contact us | Privacy policy
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1252
1USHPFN says:
Ms. Rowling has had such an impact on my son and his love of books. I can not agree more with Ms. Rowlilng being included on this list.
Posted Oct 11, 2006 at 11:23 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1987
tigerlili_08 says:
Jo has impacted my childhood, let me tell you that. Id talk about it any day. Thanks for all the magic you created. Woo *confetti*
Posted Oct 11, 2006 at 3:15 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 364
kappy says:
That's quite a list to be included on. I thinks it great that JKR is being recognized. As a teacher I know that she has helped encourage a number of reluctant readers to pick up a book and find pleasure in reading.
Posted Oct 11, 2006 at 8:25 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2197
Pheonixflames says:
Its true that JKR's books carry inspiration and they did ignite a new passion in children to read more than they had ever read before. Even I myself found I wanted to read more after finishing the HP books. Im always looking for new books to read now.
Posted Oct 12, 2006 at 1:24 PM EST
Witch
Points: 804
Elphaba_Thropp says:
Ok so I don't know some of them people on that list, Maybe they just changed Americans childhoods. But JK definitely changed mine. (Maybe not childhood as I'm 21!)
Posted Oct 12, 2006 at 5:20 PM EST
Witch
Points: 852
nejicanspin says:
Heck yeah she changed childhood forever, she changed mine totally!!
Posted Oct 12, 2006 at 6:48 PM EST
Squib
Points: 118
*; MaGiC hApPeNs.......;* says:
She is fantastic !!!!
i really admire her
sje is sooooo clever
Posted Oct 12, 2006 at 7:21 PM EST
Student
Points: 297
Hermione_Harry_Luna says:
That's soo cool!!! she changed my life and many others! I'm happy to see her on the list!!
Posted Oct 12, 2006 at 7:49 PM EST
Squib
Points: 180
hermioneismytwin says:
Wow! That is totaly true though! What life would be like without Harry...
Posted Oct 12, 2006 at 9:42 PM EST
Dumbledore's Muse
Points: 2951
Alchemical Auror says:
She absolutely changed childhood, one day my little boy that I nannied for was asking to play on his Playstation, the next he was enthralled in Harry Potter, the Playstation forgotten in the corner... and for that I salute JK Rowling...
Posted Oct 13, 2006 at 6:40 AM EST
Witch
Points: 787
blossom says:
I would agree, that JKR has changed reading for kids. But really it isn't only just for kids, us big people have had a great deal of fun with her books too.
I would say that JKR's books has changed how we look at the writed word.
Posted Oct 13, 2006 at 7:10 AM EST
Professor
Points: 1122
PhoenixPatronus2 says:
She's changed the world of reading a lot, for children and adults. I'm glad to hear that she is being recognized for this, but it does make me sad that after the last book...it'll be over. I mean, not for a while, but eventually the excitement will die down some. I just have to say that I feel lucky enoough to attend the midnight bookstore releases of the last three books (and hopefully the final book). And to remember the releases of the movies. People who read them years down the road, as I'm sure they will, will miss out on that. But who knows, maybe she'll write something else that will be just as much of a hit.
Posted Oct 13, 2006 at 9:58 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1442
leeanne.Cullen says:
Wow that is great !She has definatley changed childhood... I was like 6 when everything was released and i can't really remember what everything was like without it...
Miley xox
Posted Oct 14, 2006 at 2:50 PM EST
Half-Blood Princess
Points: 2871
Katie Bloom says:
Yeah she did.Lots of silly people think that HP books caused all the shooting in schools.What the hell does that connect between the books and the shootings!?!?!The books made a lot of people start reading and learning.Its called fantasy
Posted Oct 14, 2006 at 7:41 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1970
Jekca says:
Now this is a list that I really think she deserves to be on, unlike some of the lists in the past.
She has certain done that, which is something in this day and age...and other authors are writing longer kids books, even saying they had been afriad to write anything that long just because of that.
Posted Oct 14, 2006 at 9:54 PM EST
Student
Points: 267
DreamSickle123 says:
That's is so awesome! She deserved it. Congrats to her! She sure changed my point of view in literature.
Posted Oct 15, 2006 at 2:22 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1188
SlytherinJen76 says:
I agree, she does deserve to be on the list. Her writing is so imaginative. Even myself as a 30 year old can appreciate that.
Posted Oct 22, 2006 at 4:28 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2907
Pema says:
I hope Dr. Seuss made that list too! He was a great influence on my childhood, and still is on my life today!
Congrats on being on the list, Jo. You really deserve it! Thanks for sparking the imaginations of millions.
Posted Oct 22, 2006 at 2:08 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2515
Mystique says:
She totally deserves to be on this list, the HP series have really changed childhood for some people. I’ve always loved books, and read a lot, but I’ve never followed a series as I am following this one.
Posted Oct 23, 2006 at 1:24 PM EST
Ravenclaw Mastermind
Points: 9722
Isilwen Ciryatan says:
Yay! Much congratulating Jo Rowling! She has most certainly gotten kids to read more, myself included, and her HP books are just amazing!
Posted Oct 23, 2006 at 5:37 PM EST
Parselmouth
Points: 29050
Thestral Eyes says:
Hmm...*ponders wether to write her own thoughts on the topic or not* Ill probably get flamed for saying some things, but meh, its my opinion on the article. Reading through previous posts already made, theres only like 1 or 2 other people who arent giving it that big of a woopty doo like most people. I dont even know some of the people on that list, must be american childhoods...Micheal jordan? *raises an eyebrow* yep deffinately american thing.
Firstly, congrats to jo, whateve i may think about the books its still a great honour and well done to her for getting up there.
Its true HP inspired many people to read, but so have many other authors in the past. In all honesty i think the only reason shes become such a world figure head is because she made her books in to films. Most of the 'fans' wouldnt have picked up a book if they hadnt watched the films first. It makes me laugh, people saying she got kids to get away from the tv screen...my brother hasnt picked up a single HP book but sits infront of the tv scren watching the films over and over again. She didnt inspire me or people i know to read, ive read since i was little and Tolkien, Philip Pullman and Terry pratchett have effected me far more without films being made of them first. Theres just so much hype around hp now, its like its got a life of its own.
Aagh im rambling, dont get me wring, i love HP, i think theyre good books...but theyre not the best nor that origional. For whats come of HP i suppose she does deserve to be up there, the hype and films have gotten kids to read the books too and in the end thats all that realy matters. COngrats to her :)
(people reading this dont badger/stalk me about my post, i have different opinions then you)
Posted Oct 25, 2006 at 8:15 AM EST
Professor
Points: 1114
Saminal says:
THAT'S CRAP! I'm sorry but that was the worst list I've ever seen. Of course J.K. is on it, if she's not no one will care about the list.
Dr. Seuss was number 20?! That's absolutely absurd! He should have been at least in the top 5, if not number 1. Michael Jordan? The Beatles? Steve Jobs? That was terrible. Ronald McDonald deserves to be on it more than some that were. And personally, I think Mr. Rogers should have been in the top 5 also. He's the greatest teacher to children under 6 in the history of teaching. That's my opinion, and I figured he would have been on it somewhere at least... but obviously few are going to beleive me... I hate that list, it's dumb.
Posted Nov 9, 2006 at 8:49 PM EST
Witch
Points: 593
Tenth Weasley says:
I just finished RE-reading all 6 books, again (4 times now? I forget...) and this time around I read them with the intent of paying attention to how Rowling creates a story - how she creates characters we care about (love OR hate) and how she develops plot so fluidly. As an aspiring writer, I wanted to BE inspired by a good writer... and then I was taken away, again, by the magic of being sucked into the story, without regard for how she did it. (Blimey.) ALL that to say - JK Rowling should be in the upper eschelon of this list for a long time - her books are remarkable, influential, and brilliant!
Posted Nov 12, 2006 at 3:17 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2307
Queen_Democrat says:
When I was 8 years old, I was totally obsessed with watching TV. You couldn't get me to stop watching it. But when I picked up SS, I was totally interested. I even stayed away from the TV just to read it! Then my mom got me more Harry Potter books and now, 5 years later, I hardly watch any TV at all! I am either reading or I am on the computer discussing the books I love most!
Posted Dec 2, 2006 at 12:28 PM EST
Auror
Points: 13350
Cute-NK2 says:
What can I say more than..
That is SURE well deserved.....
Posted Feb 15, 2007 at 4:04 AM EST
Back to top of page