In my second semester of post-secondary studies I enrolled in a children’s literature class at the University of Lethbridge.
Over the Christmas break, our book list was posted online. One of them was this new book nobody had heard of, ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.’
I didn’t think anything of it; the class reading list also included a book of obscure short stories as well as more well-known fairytales and books like The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.
It was the second novel we tackled that semester. I finished the book in one night and began recommending it to anyone who would listen.
“Trust me, it’s not your typical children’s story,” I’d tell them.
I didn’t know how right I was at the time.
Now, nearly 20 years later (yikes), that one new book has transformed into a six-book series and a franchise that took the world by storm.
My kids love it. My oldest read the series years ago, and my 10-year-old is on the fourth book.
They’re looking forward to the Wizarding World of Okotoks, when they can enter into the world of Harry Potter right in their own home town.
One will don a wizard’s costume as a volunteer, and the others are eager to take in Quidditch games, Azkaban prison, Hogwarts and the Ministry of Magic.
The Okotoks Arts Council has been working tirelessly to bring some wizardry to all of us muggles in town. From Platform 9 3/4 at the Okotoks Art Gallery to Diagon Alley downtown, there’s bound to be a little magic in the air on Oct. 28.
