Harry Potter

The Harry Potter books and films have been a cultural event of the first degree for many years. The movies had screenplays for each sequel that became more mature as the child actors grew up before our eyes. This evolution provided a successful formula that is fully realized in the final chapter of the series, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2. " Daniel Radcliffe plays Harry with great screen presence. His long-awaited showdown with the evil Lord Voldemort is the driving centerpiece of the plot.

Harry Potter himself, or rather actor Daniel Radcliffe, said he thinks he might die while braving the Deathly Hallows in the final installment of the Harry Potter series. At midnight tonight, Newport-Mesa readers will have the chance to find out for themselves. Admirers of the fantasy book series can spend today's final hours of anticipation celebrating at Newport-Mesa's Borders and Barnes & Noble bookstores, where first-run copies of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" will be distributed at midnight.

The film version of "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" may be the fastest way for author J.K. Rowling to convey her messages about hope and life. The movie presents ideal images and entertaining excerpts that enable the audience to fully understand the purpose of the story. This movie is about Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger and their quest to conquer the forgotten mysteries of the Chamber of Secrets that exists at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

"I like [books by] Lemony Snicket. They're sad and happy at the same time. It's fun." TAYLOR CORDEIRO, 10 Newport Beach "I like adventure books with dragons and stuff, like Harry Potter and 'Lord of the Rings' and 'Eragon'." CHANDLER GREGORY, 10 Newport Beach "I like Lemony Snicket books because they're really adventurous and make you wonder. My favorite book is 'Where the Red Fern Grows' [by Wilson Rawls]." HALEY BOYKO, 11 Newport Beach "I like Lemony Snicket and Harry Potter because they're kind of adventurous."

Jessica Garrison NEWPORT-MESA -- He may have bewitched readers young and old all around the world, but it seems not everyone here is captivated by teenage wizard Harry Potter. In response to brewing controversy nationwide and locally, Supt. Robert Barbot warned elementary school principals Thursday to be "aware of the controversy" surrounding the popular children's books and to make sure teachers are "using it appropriately." The three Harry Potter books, "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" and "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" have become a worldwide, best-selling phenomenon and -- a first for children's books -- have even topped the New York Times bestseller lists.

"If you learn new words, you learn how to read. I love reading to my 2-year-old sister, Melissa." Karla Galvez, 9 "It helps me read Harry Potter. I love reading that book." Eric Mejia, 9 "It's fun because I learn more words. I like that. Today, I liked learning the new word 'spectacle.'" Michael Scheidt, 9 "I like it because I speak a different language at home, and it helps me speak English better." Autumn Robinson, 9 "I write a journal.

Young Chang When Marilyn Tyler couldn't find anything resembling Norbert the dragon in her garage of miniature collectibles, she scoured the malls for dragon figurines that would bear the Harry Potter character's likeness. She found a creature at Medieval Pines at the Irvine Spectrum. It was too big. She went to Franklin Mint at South Coast Plaza. Theirs was just right. The 70-year-old created an entire British village -- with features including Privet Drive and the wizarding school of Hogwart's -- with this sort of exact care.

JOSEPH N. BELL I finally capitulated to the Harry Potter madness this week -- sort of. I didn't wait in line at any bookstores, just walked to my mailbox and found that the current issue of Newsweek carries the first chapter of the new Potter book. So I read it. I was only vaguely familiar with the wizard terminology that permeates the text, but I found it to be literate, imaginative and often gripping storytelling. It gave me some understanding of the groupie dedication that has surrounded the adventures of Harry Potter since the first book in this series a half-dozen years ago. It also set me thinking about the reading habits of Tom Brokaw's "Greatest Generation" and wondering if we ever went bananas over a literary character as the whole world seemingly has over Harry Potter.

Deirdre Newman The magic of music transported 2,500 Orange County students to the wondrous world of "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" on Thursday at the Performing Arts Center. If you closed your eyes, you could imagine Potter flying back and forth during a heated game of Quidditch as an orchestra led by David Warble played selected suites from the movie. The concert, sponsored by the Philharmonic Society, taught the sixth-graders musical terms such as major and minor keys in the context of characters and scenes from the movie.

Our children are reading again. Isn't this fantastic? Isn't this what we've wanted to happen? With the distractions of television, video games and after-school activities that can take up so much time, our children are sitting down to read -- not just one book, but a series of three -- with more promised to come. Harry Potter is on the bestseller list and well he should be. The "Harry Potter" books are well-written, inventive and clever, appealing to youthful imagination and intelligence.

The Harry Potter books and films have been a cultural event of the first degree for many years. The movies had screenplays for each sequel that became more mature as the child actors grew up before our eyes. This evolution provided a successful formula that is fully realized in the final chapter of the series, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2. " Daniel Radcliffe plays Harry with great screen presence. His long-awaited showdown with the evil Lord Voldemort is the driving centerpiece of the plot.

  Each new Harry Potter film moves into more adult territory as Harry and his companions get older and more sophisticated. The good and bad players in the drama remain the same. But their focus and attitudes become more grown-up as the story goes forward. The latest installment is "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1. " It's definitely more dark and complex than the previous films and not really kid friendly. Harry and his friends are now being hunted by the minions of the Dark Lord.

Costa Mesa City Councilman and restaurateur Gary “Skosh” Monahan is growing his hair out, dying it to remove the gray and shaving his beard and mustache to look like a 16-year-old. He will be tending his bar dressed as fictional child wizard Harry Potter on Wednesday in recognition of the release of the newest movie in the popular fantasy series, “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.” Don’t worry, the image overhaul is not part of an underage drinking sting operation or an attempt to attract the 10-to-15-year-old demographic to the bar: Monahan’s children and their love of Harry Potter, coupled with the obvious novelty value of the stunt, were the motivation behind it, he said.

Ready, set, read! The Newport Beach Public Library is kicking off its annual Summer Reading Program on June 20 with enough games, prizes and events to get any kid excited about reading. This year?s program, ?Be Creative @ Your Library,? will make reading fun with prizes, weekly drawings, crafts and games. ?It?s a good combination of fun, and it gets them to pick out a good variety of books, ? said Debra Walker, branch and Newport Beach?s children?s coordinator. The Summer Reading Program is a statewide program to encourage children to read and is open to everyone ?

Usually when you see the numbers 666 you think of, well, the devil. Satan. Mephistopheles. Beelzebub. (OK, well, maybe not Beelzebub, but you don’t often get to work that word into an editorial, and we couldn’t resist the temptation). Anyway, it’s because in the book of Revelations 666 is associated with the mark of the beast; or, basically, the devil. If you grew up in Costa Mesa, chances are you associate 666 with Bethel Towers, the large apartment building for seniors.

?Harry Potter, because all the books are great and he?s courageous and always gets him and his friends into mischief.? Newport Beach ? ?Emily Osment [character name Lilly] from ?Hannah Montana? because she?s really inspiring and stuff, and I look up to her as a role model.? Katie Scott, 11, Newport Beach ? ?Lilly in ?Hannah Montana? because she?s not perfect and she?s funny.? Katharine Noe, 12, Newport Beach ? ?Probably Eragon from the book.

At age 9, Davis Ferrero is the envy of all his friends in school. His parents, Heather and Tony Ferrero, are locking a rag-clad Davis and his 12-year-old brother Will in cages suspended from the ceiling of their Bonita Canyon home this weekend and are inviting all their friends and neighbors over to watch. Davis’ mom expects the line to wrap around the block. “I’m going to say, ‘Don’t let them take me, help,’” Davis said. “I’m a prisoner.

Harry Potter himself, or rather actor Daniel Radcliffe, said he thinks he might die while braving the Deathly Hallows in the final installment of the Harry Potter series. At midnight tonight, Newport-Mesa readers will have the chance to find out for themselves. Admirers of the fantasy book series can spend today's final hours of anticipation celebrating at Newport-Mesa's Borders and Barnes & Noble bookstores, where first-run copies of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" will be distributed at midnight.

We have watched gifted actor Daniel Radcliffe grow up as Harry Potter in this blockbuster film series. Thankfully, the screenplays for these movies have matured along with Harry. The first film was kid-stuff fluff. But following the lead of subsequent efforts, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" reflects the growing adult situations the young upstart wizard confronts. A new headmistress from hell takes over Hogwart's School and banishes Harry's benefactor, Professor Dumbledore.

On Saturday, June 23, at 10 a.m., the Newport Beach Public Library kicks off its 2007 summer reading program. All ages are invited to join in reading for fun, winning prizes and participating in fantastic programming. It's all free, with performances beginning at 10:30 a.m. Hear Brother Yusef sing the blues at the Central Library, see Annie Banannie twist balloons along with tales at the Balboa Branch or discover science secrets with Claire and Monte Montgomery at the Crean Mariners Branch.