I am going back to one of first books that made me fall in love with reading! I chose this book for May because I read to our boys at night and thought they may be interested in Harry Potter. I told them that I would read the first 5 chapters and if after that they don't like the story or aren't interested, then we can stop. After chapter one, they were hooked!
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone is book one of the beloved book series by British writer J.K. Rowling. In the UK this book is called Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, but they changed the title in America. The story starts with young Harry Potter who lives with his aunt and uncle and cousin Dudley. Harry's parents are dead and he was sent to live with his aunt and uncle since he was a baby. He is not treated well and sleeps in the space underneath the stairs. Strange things seem to always happen around Harry- unexplained things.
On Harry's 11th Birthday a man shows up named Hagrid to tell Harry that he is a wizard and that he has been selected to attend Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Hagrid takes him to buy his school things: robes, a cauldron, books, and a wand. Harry is speechless. He will not have to stay with the Dursley's for the school year! He also discovers that he is famous in the wizarding world. They call him "the boy who lived." When Harry was a baby, his parents (who were also wizards) were hiding from the Dark Lord Voldemort. When Voldemort discovered their whereabouts he set off to kill the entire family, Lily Potter sacrificed her life for Harry. Her love protected him against the killing curse that Voldemort cast. Harry was left with a lighting bolt scar on his forehead and Lord Voldemort was defeated leaving him without a body. Voldemort has not been heard from since.
Since Harry is a first year student, he learns how to get to the Hogwart's Express train (run through platform 9 3/4) and is an awe of everything new around him. On the train that takes him to the school, he sits with Ron Wesley and Hermione Grainer. They become his friends and they go on many adventures over the series of the books. We go along with Harry as he has many new experiences in the wizarding world such as the sorting hat ceremony, flying lessons, wearing an invisibility cloak, and learning potions and magical spells. He discovers something that Dumbledore is hiding at Hogwarts and there is a connection between that item and Voldemort. Harry's curiosity gets the better of him as he searches Hogwarts at night, spends time in the restricted library section, and tries to figure out what the 3-headed dog is actually guarding.
This book has wonderful illustrations by Jim Kay. I enjoyed this new element of reading the book series again. There were some pictures that my kids thought looked scary. Overall for a Harry Potter fan, I could appreciate the beautiful art work. I would recommend this book for those new to the Harry Potter series and also those who read the books again each year.
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