Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J.K Rowling

Apologies for the lateness of this post. 

Welcome to my second book review. This week I will be reviewing Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J.K Rowling.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, J.K Rowling, Bloomsbury (UK)(Canada 2010-present) Arthur A Levine/Scholastic (US) Raincoast (Canada 1998-2010)  Published June 26, 1997 (UK) September 1 1998 (US), ISBN – 0-7475-3269-9

When J.K Rowling first published this book I bet she never imagined it would take off in the way that it did! 21 years later, with 7 books, 8 movies, a 2 part play she is now one of the richest authors in the world. (Don’t believe me? Google Richest Authors in the World).

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone is the first in a 7 part series following the adventures of a wizard student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Unsurprisingly, this student’s name is Harry Potter.

The audience is introduced to Harry, an orphan living with his Aunt Petunia, Uncle Vernon and cousin Dudley. Dudley is spoilt rotten by his parents whereas Harry is treated like a slave, living in the cupboard under the stairs.

The first hint that Harry is different is shown during a trip to the zoo with his family, where Harry experiences something strange. This experience concludes with a comical accident involving his cousin Dudley.  

Following this event, things appear to go back to normal. However, in the coming days a number of owls mysteriously drop letters at the house. Uncle Vernon appears to know what they are, and does everything in his power to avoid revealing the truth to Harry.

Next we are introduced to Rubeus Hagrid gameskeeper at Hogwarts who hand delivers Harry letter to him. This is when Harry learns the truth about how his parents died and that he is a wizard.

Hagrid takes Harry to Diagon Alley, a magical street where all the students buy their school supplies. Harry finally gets out of Hagrid the name of the man who kills his parents. That being Lord Voldemort.

The next bit of magic we are introduced to is platform 9 ¾ where the Hogwarts Express awaits the students. This is also where he meets his first best friend Ronald Weasley who is also going into first year.

On the train, they meet a girl who is to become Harry’s other best friend Hermione Granger. When they reach the school grounds, Harry then meets the boy who is to become his arch enemy, Draco Malfoy.

Classes soon begin and the audience is introduced to the subjects the first year students are to take. Transfiguration (taught by Professor McGonagall), Charms (Professor Flitwick), Potions (Professor Snape), Defence Against the Dark Arts (Professor Quirrell), History of Magic (Professor Binns), Astronomy (Professor Sinistra), Herbology (Professor Sprout) and Flying (Madam Hooch).

The two subjects integral to the plot in my view are Potions and Flying. We are introduced to the idea that Professor Snape really does not like Harry and Flying is where Professor McGonagall elects Harry as Seeker of the Gryffindor Quiddich Team.  

Other important aspects of the book which are important to the plot are the ban on entering the third floor corridor and the Mirror of Erised, both of which are key to Harry defeating Voldemort.

When I was first introduced to this book, I didn’t expect much from it. However, after finishing, I was hooked on the world which J.K Rowling has so brilliantly created.

It did not take long for the world to be charmed (pun intended) by this book which has turned into a billion dollar brand.

If you do not already own this book, you can get it from amazon by clicking on the link below.

https://www.amazon.com.au/Harry-Potter-Philosophers-Stone-Rowling/dp/1408834960/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1517025427&sr=8-6&keywords=harry+potter+and+the+philosophers+stone

Tune in next week for my review on The Very Cranky Bear.

Mel 

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Eric Carle, World Publishing Company (US), Hamish Hamilton (UK), Published June 3, 1969, ISBN – 0-399-22690-7 (US) 

Welcome to my first ever book review! This week I will be reviewing The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar is a timeless classic by a very talented author and Illustrator.

Eric Carle is acclaimed and beloved as the creator of brilliantly illustrated and innovatively designed picture books for very young children. His best-known work, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, has eaten its way into the hearts of literally millions of children all over the world and has been translated into 62 languages and sold over 46 million copies. Since the Caterpillar was published in 1969, Eric Carle has illustrated more than seventy books, many best sellers, most of which he also wrote, and more than 145 million copies of his books have sold around the world – (Biographical Notes for Eric Carle, retrieved 11/01/18 from http://www.eric-carle.com/bio.html)

The story is about (you guessed it!) a very hungry caterpillar. He hatches from an egg and on Sunday begins to look for something to eat. The story recounts what he ate every day of the week and uses repetitive language throughout. On Monday he ate through one apple, but he was still hungry. On Tuesday, he ate through 2 pears, but he was still hungry. On Wednesday……3 plums……On Thursday……4 strawberries……On Friday…….5 oranges.

On Saturday, the story changes. He ate through one piece of chocolate cake, one ice cream cone, one pickle, on slice of swiss cheese, one slice of salami, one lollipop, one piece of cherry pie, one sausage, one cupcake, and one slice of watermelon. The story then states that he had a stomach ate that night.

The following day is Sunday again, and the caterpillar ate through a green leaf which made him feel better. Then the audience is told that he is no longer a tiny caterpillar, but a big, fat caterpillar. He builds a cocoon and stays inside it for more than 2 weeks. Then he nibbles a hole in the cocoon and comes out as a beautiful butterfly.

 This is my favourite children’s book because it involves so many learning opportunities for children. It includes literacy, mathematical, scientific and nutrition concepts.

For example, it introduces the days of the week, there are names for five different types of fruit as well as junk food. The mathematical aspect involves counting (e.g. 1 apple, 2 pears etc). In addition there are a memory aspect (you could ask the child to recall which foods are mentioned), the life cycle of a butterfly (science) and the importance of eating healthy food vs junk food (nutrition).

This is a great book for parents to read to their children because it is concise and to the point. It can promote discussions about healthy eating and the consequences of unhealthy eating (i.e. you feel/get sick). It is also a great book for educators as there is so much scope for extending children’s learning.

In conclusion, this is a fun book for children to listen to and read over and over again. And parents can be reassured that a seemingly nonsensical book is in fact educational.

If you do not already own this book, you can get it from Amazon by clicking on the link below.

https://www.amazon.com.au/Very-Hungry-Caterpillar-Eric-Carle/dp/0140569324/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1515724379&sr=1-1&keywords=the+very+hungry+caterpillar

Tune in next week for my review on Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J.K Rowling!

Mel

Welcome

Welcome to Mel’s Book Reviews!

Hi, my name is Melissa Gempton and I am the Parent Consultant at Melissa Gempton’s Parent Consultancy. It’s a new year, so new beginnings are in order. In my spare time, I’ve decided to have a go at writing book reviews.

Ever since I was a small child, I have loved books. I begged my mother to teach me to read when I was four years old, and since then, I cannot go a day without reading something.  I’ve even banned myself from book shops, unless I need a specific book. Unfortunately, I volunteer at an op shop and I can’t avoid them there. LOL!

So, these book reviews. I have another blog entitled “Confessions of an ex-childcare worker”. In that blog, I will be reviewing my favourite children’s books every second week.  So with this blog, I will be doing the same. On the other weeks, I will be reviewing my favourite adult books.  

In addition to this, there will be a link to Amazon should you wish to buy them.

If you are interested in “Confessions of an ex-childcare worker” click on the link below.

https://confessionsofanex-childcareworker.blogspot.com.au/

Tune in next week, for my first ever book review!

Mel