Chicago Harry Potter event celebrates JK Rowling
Open Books hosts a night of wizarding family fun
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Tuesday, September 18, 2012
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I still remember laying on my bedroom floor and reading
the Harry Potter books cover-to-cover when I was a child. My mom
would deliver food to my room and beg me to get some sleep, but I
refused to stop reading until each year at Hogwarts had come to a
close. But I know that's not a very unique story when it comes to
J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series.
There's no doubt Harry Potter and his wizarding world
had a magical impact on children's literature. According to The
Scholastic Kids and Family Reading Report, 51 percent of children
between the ages of 5 and 17 years old said they did not read books
for fun before reading Harry Potter.
To honor J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series, non-profit bookstore
Open Books is inviting all Chicagoland muggles to a "Growing Up
with Harry Potter" party on September 27 at their River North
location. The event also celebrates the release of Rowling's latest
book, The Casual Vacancy.
Spokesperson Rosie Gillam said the store hopes the event can be a
bridge between Rowling's magical Harry Potter world and new
writing.
"So many kids grew up with Rowling and she really nurtured their
love for reading and Open Books shares that mission. They want to
celebrate Rowling's first adult novel with an evening of
nostalgia-remembering their childhood, remembering Potter,
remembering when they first fell in love with reading," Gillam
said.
"Growing Up with Harry Potter" will feature a costume contest,
temporary tattoos, Harry Potter quotes trivia and music by wizard
rock band Tonks and the Aurors. Open Books
also will hide five golden snitches
across the store for kids to discover.
Attendees will receive 20 percent off of all used books during the
event, and can pre-order The Casual Vacancy at a 20 percent
discount.
Space is limited, so RSVP in person at the Open Books store or
email store@open-books.org.
Alaina is the digital content editor at Chicago Parent. She lives in Chicago.
See more of Alaina's stories here.
Contact Alaina at alaina@chicagoparent.com
