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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."
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True Weasley
Points: 5527
~GinnyWeasley~ says:
Ohh that is like sooo beyond awesome!!
Posted Oct 7, 2006 at 8:56 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 346
Order_Member_#1 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 7, 2006 at 9:01 PM EST
Head Boy
Points: 459
hjgfan1 says:
Amazing, she is just simply amazing.
Posted Oct 7, 2006 at 9:03 PM EST
Witch
Points: 994
HermioneRiley says:
Do you think there's a list out there that JK isn't on? Hehe Congratulations Jo! We all know you're awesome!
Posted Oct 7, 2006 at 9:04 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1453
.- LexiBabi -. says:
That's Amazing...like wow. I heard about this alot, and I can never stop being surprise :) J.K did a wonderful job...I mean I can't even stop reading the books and watching the films...I love it...and I'm still waiting for the last book to come out so I can enjoy reading and knowing what's going to happen :D I just can't wait, and I'm glad it has inspired children :) and I'm 14 :D and I love it :)
Posted Oct 7, 2006 at 9:05 PM EST
Student
Points: 267
Fuzzy Kneazle says:
Thank goodness Jo never gave up when she was first trying to get Harry published and got rejected. There's a lesson in that too...
Posted Oct 7, 2006 at 9:07 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1251
padfoot'sgirl says:
I am so glad that they are recognizing her for this. she has changed reading for children and adults alike. she really deserves this.
Posted Oct 7, 2006 at 9:12 PM EST
Auror
Points: 3651
Saint Hedwig says:
Congratulations JK! You deserve it!
The Harry Potter books and JK Rowling especially really do deserve all the acclaim they get, particularly with inspiring children to read more.
By the way, who are Jonas Salk and Steve Jobs? Google time!
~
Posted Oct 7, 2006 at 9:16 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1984
JAYSTARR says:
She has done so much for the children of the world...
Posted Oct 7, 2006 at 9:18 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1962
HermioneLunaGinny says:
Awesome! She deserved that...^_^ She's inspired me!!
:D
HermioneLunaGinny
Posted Oct 7, 2006 at 9:20 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 2nd Class
Points: 1672
loopy looney says:
I agree with this, JK has done so much for kids that never wanted to pick up a book.
Posted Oct 7, 2006 at 9:29 PM EST
Mrs. Draco Malfoy
Points: 25342
Arika Granger Malfoy says:
YAY for JKR!!!
That is fun!!!!!
Posted Oct 7, 2006 at 9:30 PM EST
Witch
Points: 925
lemonlime says:
Yay! Hooray for JK Rowling! That is a great list to be on, considering she was just on the most banned books one. I think that's great that she is considered as equal as the likes of Michael Jordan and The Beatles. Go JKR!
Posted Oct 7, 2006 at 9:30 PM EST
Witch
Points: 527
daniel_radcliffe_lover736 says:
That is so true. She deserved that award for a long time. Most of my classmates are to stubborn to even pick up a Harry Potter book and then at last min they try to watch the movie to take a test for AR points. But I went off the point anyway what I was saying is that why was she not on this before or was she and I did not hear about it.
Posted Oct 7, 2006 at 9:31 PM EST
Lupin's Eternal Love
Points: 3058
BlackKatL says:
Wow!!!! JKR must be soooo proud of bringing out kids imagination and love for books!!!!
What can be better than helping kids discover this!!!!
If anybody deserves this award... it's JKR.
Posted Oct 7, 2006 at 9:38 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 462
DJan says:
Hey congrats, J.K should be the first one in the list.
Posted Oct 7, 2006 at 9:39 PM EST
Witch
Points: 850
OffTheLoop says:
Hey, that's great! I was kinda like that when they first came out. My sister was like "please read them! They're so good" and I was like nah they're stupid and now I'm a bigger fan than her!
Posted Oct 7, 2006 at 9:47 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 331
xParselmouthx says:
Harry Potter definately did change my life. It is (to me) the perfect series that I can read over and over again and not get bored. J.K. Rowling incorporates some highschool vocabulary words into her books so I learned a lot.
Posted Oct 7, 2006 at 9:48 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1189
TheSeventhHorcrux says:
That's great!!! Jo's turned so many kids onto reading, so she definitely deserves it!!! Not to mention she's created the best series of books EVER!!!!! I'm watching Sorcerer's Stone right now!!!
Posted Oct 7, 2006 at 9:49 PM EST
Head House Elf
Points: 2707
Dobby says:
She better be number one. She changed MY childhood for surrre.
Posted Oct 7, 2006 at 9:56 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 332
Mitch_112 says:
Brovo Jo Brovo. we all know you deserve it!
haha her books are the only things that would get my little sister to read and now she wont stop reading! she gets in trouble in class for it and everything!
-Cheers
mitch
Posted Oct 7, 2006 at 9:56 PM EST
Student
Points: 290
Pearl says:
Harry Potter is definately fun to read. I have been reading the books since third grade when it was a required book. I must admit that at first I was thinking this is just another boring book but it got me hooked and now I have read the books mukltiple times.
Posted Oct 7, 2006 at 9:59 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 476
MRS_BRENDON_URIE says:
Wow thats really good go her well i no she inspires me./
Posted Oct 7, 2006 at 10:03 PM EST
Wizard
Points: 678
SirPhil says:
Congratulations J.K.R. you changed my life.
Posted Oct 7, 2006 at 10:08 PM EST
Witch
Points: 566
lupinsgal24 says:
Well, she sure changed my life! Glad to see her included on the list. She deserves it!
Posted Oct 7, 2006 at 10:09 PM EST
Student
Points: 266
TheORIGINALMrs.Snape says:
HELL YEAH! JKR is one of the best authors ever! She changed MY life completely. i have a reason to live for.
Posted Oct 7, 2006 at 10:14 PM EST
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