If Harry’s good for literacy, why can’t Rowling authorize e-books?
The Net’s the favorite medium of many young people. So, if the Harry Potter series is really good for literacy, why can’t e-book editions appear–beyond the technophobia of author J.K. Rowling and various business people? Hey, even the dinos at CBS News are waking up. Legal e-book editions would make more money for Rowling. And if that’s not the case? Well, consider the literacy argument. Rowling is a former teacher and, as a billionaire, isn’t about to starve. The Project Gutenberg angle: Potter isn’t the easiest reading. New hope for the classics?
More details: From the Scotsman of July 10 via LISNews:
New research by the Federation of Children’s Book Groups (FCBG), shows that JK Rowling’s storytelling has had a major impact on literacy and reading habits in the UK.
Almost six out of 10 children (59%) think the books have helped them improve their reading skills. And 48% say Rowling’s creation is the reason they read more.
Teachers are even clearer about the effect Rowling’s series of books, the sixth of which will be released this week, have had on reading: 84% say Harry Potter has helped improve child literacy and 67% claimed the series has turned non-readers into readers.
Colin Harrison, professor of literacy studies at the University of Nottingham, who contributed to the research, said: “The sheer pervasiveness of JK Rowling’s books means Harry Potter will certainly have impacted on children’s literacy levels.
“Reading and re-reading books is very valuable in building fluency, and there is a strong link between reading books for pleasure and improvement in word recognition and comprehension.”
Reading a Harry Potter book stretches a child’s ability. More than half (51%) of the 1,000 children surveyed thought the books were tough to read but worth sticking with.
Teachers also think Rowling’s clever writing and plot development are a challenge to youngsters, with 73% claiming to be surprised that children manage to read the books at all. However, 61% of those surveyed by the FCBG, an independent voluntary organisation, say Rowling’s books are so good that the length of them does not matter.
September 9th, 2007 at 5:38 am
[...] people believe that J.K.Rowling should already have realsead Harry Potter in digital format. Perhaps the digital revolution is finally [...]