Harry Potter...book vs. movie for 6.5 year old?

[zoestargrove]

another option is to borrow the book on cd from the library. I thought it was really well read.

[wendmatt]

Are they going to watch the movie at the party? I wouldn't worry about it, as long as she knows who Harry Potter is, a wizard boy, it's just a party. We just started HP 1 and DD is 8.5. We'll watch the movie after we finish the book.

[KpbS]

Originally Posted by kijip

I personally think it should be based on if your daughter is ready for the themes. My almost 8 year old son is not down with it. It would scare him, especially Quirell being hosting/being controlled by Voldemort. Some 5 year olds would be ok with it. It is all based on the child. T has not watched or started reading HP yet.

I would not be all that worried about being confused at the party. She is smart, she will catch on and it is a party.

My 6.5 yo would LOVE to start HP but I know he is not ready. He is very sensitive and I really want him to be able to enjoy the books (and then the movies) when he is ready emotionally.

I would give her a basic summary of the plot/characters and let her enjoy the party. They won't have all seen the movie and certainly not have read the books as many aren't there with their reading skills.

[jent]

Originally Posted by kijip

I would not be all that worried about being confused at the party. She is smart, she will catch on and it is a party. Many people basically just have a de facto paper goods and favor theme. I can't imagine there will be a Quidditch rules quiz!

That's what I would think, too. I would guess you can enjoy the theme without knowing everything. Just like DD likes the princesses, even though she's yet to see a single princess movie (hey, she complains that Dora is too scary sometimes!)

[sarahsthreads]

Thanks for all the thoughts!

We started reading the book to her tonight - DH read the first chapter and I read the second, and she was begging me to keep going! I always put our read-aloud books on the very top shelf of her closet so she can't get them down herself and finish them with a flashlight under the covers, but I'm not sure that's enough precaution for this book.

I convinced DH to start with the book, because she can imagine things to be as scary (or not scary) as she wants. I'd have to rewatch the movie, but I vaguely remember it being pretty dark and scary at the end?

Probably she'd be OK at the party without having read the book or seen the movie, but the invitation mentioned that they'd be sorted into houses, and take potions and herbology classes, and so on. By the time I manage to explain all the things in the invitation, we might as well read the book. If we don't finish it by the party, at least Harry will have gotten to Hogwarts and started classes, and she'll have an idea what muggles and quidditch and butterbeer are!

I also skimmed the end of the book to refresh my memory, and it "ends" enough that we can probably stop with book 1 and wait a bit for the next book. (Besides, we're interrupting me reading The Long Winter and DH reading My Father's Dragon to get in as much of HP as we can before the party. Have to get back to those eventually...)

Sarah

[SnuggleBuggles]

The end of the movie is scary for like 5-10 seconds. I close my eyes when you think Voldemort is gone. It's that last little surprise where he comes back that is scary. Not really a dark, scary though just a suspenseful one with a bit of cartoonish type "gore" as Quirrel turns to dust.

Beth

[sariana]

I convinced DH to start with the book, because she can imagine things to be as scary (or not scary) as she wants.

I was going to post something along these lines earlier, but my computer was having problems. I'm glad you're reading the book with her. I don't think my DS (almost 7) is ready for it yet, and DH is not a fan.