How young is ok to start reading Harry Potter outloud?

[Anonymous]

Got the first book illustrated edition and itching to read it to my almost 5 yr old. Is that too young?

[Anonymous]

It’s fine. By 6, DD was reading them herself.

[Anonymous]

I started reading it when my son was 6. He's pretty mature. My daughter is now 5 and listens but I think glosses over it. Son is now 8 and has read up through book 4. I need to read book 5 before letting him, but probably will. I did edit out some of the fat-phobic language when I read it aloud. I hadn't remembered how nasty she is.

[Anonymous]

keep in mind that when the series was written, the books aged with the audience. A kid who started on book 1 when it was released would have been age appropriate for all subsequent books. Now that they're all out, but the time you near the end of the series, the books may be a little much for a 7 year old who loved the first book or two

[Anonymous]

We started with our twins at 5 yo - they love it!

[Anonymous]

We started at 8 and I’m now reading him the Goblet of Fire. At this point, the books are different than the movies. Also, getting very dark so we will probably end here for now.

[Anonymous]

I would wait until age seven at least. A lot of it is going to go over their heads now. I only read it aloud to my third graders and up. Try the Narnia books now.

[Anonymous]

Keep in mind that starting in book 4, characters start getting murdered.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s fine. By 6, DD was reading them herself.

Give me a break. Maybe, but certainly not comprehending.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Keep in mind that starting in book 4, characters start getting murdered.

+1000

We plan on starting around age 8 and taking it SLOW, so my boys will be old enough by the time we get to those. I also want them to fully comprehend them, not just brag about “reading” them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We started at 8 and I’m now reading him the Goblet of Fire. At this point, the books are different than the movies. Also, getting very dark so we will probably end here for now.

I’ve heard people say this before, but how do you stop in the middle of the series? I read the first book aloud to my 8 year old and she was too impatient to find out what happened next, so she checked the second book out of the school library and started reading it the day after we finished the first book. She plowed through the whole series rapidly and would have been devastated if I’d forbidden finishing it. I guess during a pandemic, a kid can’t necessarily visit the school library, but my dd would have begged and pleaded nonstop for the rest of the books.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would wait until age seven at least. A lot of it is going to go over their heads now. I only read it aloud to my third graders and up. Try the Narnia books now.

+100

And all the minor details in books 1-3 come back as very important details. Comprehension is key and I wouldn’t expect a child under 8/9 to grasp it on a deep level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We started at 8 and I’m now reading him the Goblet of Fire. At this point, the books are different than the movies. Also, getting very dark so we will probably end here for now.

I’ve heard people say this before, but how do you stop in the middle of the series? I read the first book aloud to my 8 year old and she was too impatient to find out what happened next, so she checked the second book out of the school library and started reading it the day after we finished the first book. She plowed through the whole series rapidly and would have been devastated if I’d forbidden finishing it. I guess during a pandemic, a kid can’t necessarily visit the school library, but my dd would have begged and pleaded nonstop for the rest of the books.

“I would want to know what happens next also, Larla! But the books start to get a bit scary. I’m eager to read them with you and I know you’re excited. Let’s wait a bit so we can really enjoy them.”

And then find a new series.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Keep in mind that starting in book 4, characters start getting murdered.

+1000

We plan on starting around age 8 and taking it SLOW, so my boys will be old enough by the time we get to those. I also want them to fully comprehend them, not just brag about “reading” them.

Exactly. Some know it all girl in my DD's 4th grade class (9 year olds) just the other day gave away one of the major plot twists of book 7 to the entire class. I was pissed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We started at 8 and I’m now reading him the Goblet of Fire. At this point, the books are different than the movies. Also, getting very dark so we will probably end here for now.

I’ve heard people say this before, but how do you stop in the middle of the series? E I read the first book aloud to my 8 year old and she was too impatient to find out what happened next, so she checked the second book out of the school library and started reading it the day after we finished the first book. She plowed through the whole series rapidly and would have been devastated if I’d forbidden finishing it. I guess during a pandemic, a kid can’t necessarily visit the school library, but my dd would have begged and pleaded nonstop for the rest of the books.

“I would want to know what happens next also, Larla! But the books start to get a bit scary. I’m eager to read them with you and I know you’re excited. Let’s wait a bit so we can really enjoy them.”

And then find a new series.

I’m sure that works with some kids, but it wouldn’t have worked on me as a child or my dd. Unless your kid is too young to know that there are more books, stopping in the middle of the HP series would be tantamount to torture for voracious readers who love HP.