Harry Potter Series by J.K.Rowling

 

I don't think Harry Potter really needs any introduction, you've probably read or watched it,  have seen the Lego sets, the museum or maybe just the adverts but just in case you have somehow missed out...

Harry Potter is an ordinary boy, so why do strange things keep happening. Somehow he can understand snakes and sometimes things just happen, and then there's the scar was it really made by a car crash? Bullied and unloved Harry lives in London with the Dursleys. Dudley his oversized cousin and his Aunt Petunia and her husband Uncle Vernon are all trying to keep it secret but finally there is no more hiding it.

The whole series of Harry Potter is great, although, my favourite books are probably Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. The reason I like the first one is because it describes everything in much more detail than in other books. The reason I enjoy Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is because there is a lot more action and questions solved.

My favourite characters in the Harry Potter series are mainly Fred and George. I like them because whatever happens they always have a laugh. Other characters that I particularly enjoy reading about are, Snape and Ginny. The reason Snape is one of my favourite characters is the depth of his character, Snape is very intriguing and I like Ginny because she is a girl version of Fred and George.

You may be wondering why X years after it's publication I am still on the last book and it's simply because J.K.Rowling's Harry Potter is a great book to read aloud.   For us, Harry Potter has been a family event and although it does take longer to get through than if you read it to yourself you are able to appreciate the cliff-hangers at the end of every chapter. For example, those who have read Harry potter might recognise this, if a chapter ended 'THEY ARE COMING' you would automatically read on and so the atmosphere of the cliff-hanger would loose it's  power.

PS  Alnwick Castle in the background!

Where The Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls

Where the Red Fern Grows is a great book for anyone aged 8 to 80. It would also be a great read aloud for those under 8, however, it might be better to wait as there are so many other amazing childhood classics that you might miss out on. For example A.A. Miles' Winnie the Pooh. This is one of those books that you definitely shouldn't judge by the title (or the first few chapters). The basic premise is all about a boy who wants two hounds. That doesn't sound like a great story, but persevere because you will be rewarded.

Billy is a persistent boy and he isn't giving up, even if it takes him years. He wants a dog and not just any dog, a hound dog and on top of that he wants two of them. The problem is his family can't afford it. So Billy has to find a way.

I like the character of Billy because he is determined, faithful and hard-working. No matter what, he tries his best even if it seems impossible.

Mathematicians Are People Too by Luetta and Wilbert Reimer

Mathematicians Are People Too is a very easy read it can be read in about half an hour straight or if you do not like reading much you could read a chapter a day. All the stories are different and are quite short so it is an easy book to pick up and put down.

Each story is about a different famous mathematician for example Isaac Newton, Sophie Germain and Blaise Pascal each has a different story about how they discovered their talent and passion for maths. Whether in a school fight with a bully or having a bad toothache these geniuses managed to find out many amazing mathematical facts.

Personally I find maths quite boring and extremely difficult so people who are good at and enjoy maths can seem very unnatural. However this book isn't mathematical at all and tells mainly of the interesting experiences these people had in their lives which are 'normal.' For example their struggles in mathematics and their eagerness to learn.