Do you think the Harry Potter books have helped people inprove their reading?

I think so, yes. I know that I personally got caught on the books when my oldest (who absolutely HATES reading) came to me with the book that he had read and wanted the movie LOL I have read them all and now awaiting the last book. They are wonderful books--well written. You can SEE what the author is describing. And to think how far JK Rowling has come--from Welfare mom to Best Selling Author. Excellent and a big WTG for women everywhere.

Absolutely, practice make perfect and these books are big enough and enjoyable enough to encourage reading many times and get much practice.

My little nephew was just out of kindergarten when he started reading these books. He struggles a whole summer with the 1st one, now he reads way ahead of grade level. And he writes with great imagination, I know JKR was the biggest influence in his enjoyment of reading and writing.

Even though I am sad to see the series come to an end, I can't wait to see what she comes out with next. Can she top herself? The woman is a force to be recked with. A self-made millionaire or is she a billionaire.

yea very much indeed.i have read all the books of harry potter and some maybe more than once.and i think it has improved my reading.and people read it cause its a great story and this has helped them alot.

HI to you...IL2knit.....
Well I perfevtly agree with you. You got it right.
Its the Harry Potter books that made improvement to
peoples reading habits, very very much.

I my self is the perfect specimen of your proposed theory.
Let me tell you I was very much lazy in reading. I dont even
read my school text. But I'm an exception only for Harry Potter books.

I have read all six books TWICE by now, also a couple of fanfictions!
Even I am also surprised What happend to me? What made me a book worm?

But know I realize its only Harry Potters Magic!

Yes they have I think. Many children who never picked up a book for themselves were hooked on Harry potter.
People are sometimes turned off reading by being made to read books because they are 'good for them' then these books came into the shops and children were asking their parents to buy them. My son was given book 2 as a birthday present way back and we went straight out and bought book 1 after we read it because it was so good.
I think Enid Blyton did much the same thing in the 1930's as hardly an childrens writers were writing about things the kids were interested in back then either.

I have watched this movie, but I have not been able to read it. I love to see the movie. I think that it is very funny and I love the main character in this movie. He is really excellent for his wonderful performance. The Harry Potter don't get dull if you have watched it 24 times. Thanks.

Yes, I do think that Harry Potter books have done a lot for the cause of reading. They have hooked a lot of young children who might not have found the joy of reading otherwise. I think they are wonderful!

I do think that Harry Potter has been great for young readers (and old alike, for that matter). I saw many children return to reading on their own without external influences because of them. In many cases it caused them to then go on and try other books as well .... Lemony Snickets, Lord of the Rings etc and that is a very positive thing.
I am an former educator and I have had this discussion with many teacher friends who love the influence they see this having on their students desire to learn.

Absolutely. I mean, there was a small snippet about this on the news the other day that I thought was so thought provoking and made a lot of sense. Think about the numbers of children who "grew up" with the book. I mean, if you started reading Harry Potter 10 years ago at elementary school age, you'll be in college or getting ready to hit college now and this book could have had an incredible impact on growing up and learning reading skills. I know that it helped me, and I was in high school and college through the span of Harry Potter. I specifically recall reading each book more than once; it helps because you begin to take notice to different words or writing prose that you might not notice prior. It can teach you to be extra attentive in reading to to look past the words. Harry Potter did that for a generation and maybe more, as much as books like Goosebumps and the Hardy Boys also helped me out.