Harry Potter : A tool against prejudice

Started the Harry Potter series with my kids, and we are all loving it (no surprise really). 

Not only is J.K, Rowling a mastermind at storytelling - entertaining us all, from ages 5-34 - her stories are changing us all because, "exposure to "Harry Potter" stories changes the attitudes of children and young people toward people from disadvantaged backgrounds, specifically refugees, immigrants and gay people. So it turns out "Harry Potter" may be an effective tool against prejudice," which, for me, is as a good a reason to read anything.

The Adventures of Pinocchio, by C. Collodi

When your boy is struggling to trust in authority, that they see a much bigger picture, this is a great read. 

Here is one of my favorite scenes:

"Pinocchio threw himself at the feet of Fire Eater. Weeping bitterly, he begged in a sad, quiet voice, "Have pity, kind sir!"

"Well, what do you want now puppet?"

"I beg for mercy for my poor friend Harlequin. He has never done any harm in his life."

"There is no mercy here, Pinocchio. I have let you go. Harlequin must burn in your place."

"In that case," announced Pinocchio, "I see what I must do. Come, officers! Threw me on the flames. It is not fair for Harlequin to do in my place!" (pg 40)

Not only is Pinocchio beginning to see the consequences of his actions, he is beginning to learn what love is. This is still early in the book, but that's another lesson easily and appropriately grabbed from this book - just because you "get" something, doesn't mean you are forever perfect after. This, along with the skill and ability to trust in a bigger picture, is crucial for young kiddos. 

Princess Bride, by William Goldman

Not often do movies trump books, but in this case, it might be true. To be fair, I love this book and my kids laughed out loud often, but the movie is better. Not because the lair under the tree was more enjoyable or because shrieking eels makes more sense then shrieking sharks, but really, because of Buttercup. Her character doesn't make sense in the book version. 

If Wesley is all that Goldman creates him to be, than why would he be so in love with such a dits? On this, the movie got it right. Make her pretty, but also make her smart, confident, and strong. Make her worthy of Wesley, and Wesley worthy of her.

The extent of their differences are spelled out here:

For more on . . .

Stealing from the Princess Bride

The Magician's Elephant, by Kate DiCamillo

"At the end of the century before last, in the market square of the city of Baltese, there stood a boy with a hat on his head and a coin in his hand. The boy's name was Peter Augustus Duchene, and the coin that he held did not belong to him but was instead the property of his guardian, and old soldier named Vilna Lutz, who had sent the boy to the market for fish and bread."

"That day in the market square, in the midst of the entirely remarkable and absolutely ordinary stall of the fishmongers and cloth merchants and bakers and silver-smiths, there had appeared, without warning or fanfare, the red tent of a fortune-teller. Attached to the fortune-teller's tent was a piece of paper, and penned upon the paper in a cramped but unapologetic had were these words:"

The most profound and difficult questions that could possibly be posed by the human mind or heart will be answered within for the price of one florist.

"Peter read the small sign once, and then again. The audacity of the words, their dizzying promise made it difficult suddenly for him to breathe. He looked down at his coin, the single florist, in his hand . . ."

 (an excerpt from chapter 1)