Public Servant Lifestyle

Research from the Department for Education and Skills’ ‘Get On’ campaign reveals that both parents and children alike say the Harry Potter books are their favourite read.

The ‘Get On’ campaign - which has already helped over 100,000 adults improve their reading skills to date, asked parents and children to name their favourite children’s books.

After the Harry Potter series, adults then ranked C.S. Lewis’ famous fantasy series The Chronicles of Narnia (comprising: The Magician's Nephew; The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe; The Horse And His Boy; Prince Caspian; The Voyage Of The Dawn Treader; The Silver Chair; and The Last Battle) in second place and the various Enid Blyton adventure stories in joint third place - with Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Fantasy

Interestingly the continued dominance of fantasy works was shown by children aged 11-16 who were asked, who voted J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy in second place.

Ivan Lewis, Minister for Young People and Adult Skills, urged parents who might feel they are missing out on the experience of sharing books with their children to see what the ‘Get On’ campaign could offer them: "We have invested £1.6billion in our Skills for Life strategy to help adults ‘Get On’ and improve their literacy. I encourage any mums and dads, who feel they are missing out, to call 0800 100 900 and register for one of the thousands of free literacy courses available across the country, which will help them get on and conquer their literacy ‘gremlins’."

Confidence

Mother-of-four Deborah Bent, from Sutton-in-Ashfield, passed the National Literacy Test in 2001: "I never felt confident enough to read to my oldest child once he reached the age of nine, because of my literacy problems, and this used to upset me and disappoint him. However, since I went on the adult basic skills course, I now really love reading Harry Potter books to all my children. I just wish I’d taken the course sooner, as I found it a really welcoming and enjoyable experience, and not at all intimidating. Now I’ve really got the learning bug - I’m taking an Access Course in English and History, and I’ve got a conditional place at Derby University to do a combined degree in English and Teaching. If I can do it, anyone can!"

Auction

A first edition of JK Rowling's Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone has actually been upstaged at an auction, in the city where it was written. The book sold for £1,400 at a Bonham’s sale in Edinburgh, but arguably the (other) most famous author in the English language proved his staying power when a signed letter by Charles Dickens inserted in The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby reached £11,000.

The Harry Potter book, one of the first 500 copies originally published in 1997, was expected to fetch £400. It was fitting the best-selling story of the schoolboy wizard should be sold in Edinburgh, where Rowling wrote much of the tale. The volume was bought by a private collector who plans to give it to his 15-year-old daughter - an avid collector of first edition Harry Potter books - when she finishes her school exams later this year.

A spokeswoman for Bonhams said the hardback book - which refers to the author as Joanne Rowling - was sold by a woman on the Isle of Mull whose grandmother bought her the book. "It is the first time a first edition Harry Potter book has been sold in Scotland and although the books have only been in circulation some six years, collectors have driven the prices up." She said.

Charles Dickens

The Dickens letter was originally estimated to make between £800 and £1,000, but was eventually bought by a private collector for £11,000 after lengthy bidding. Cooper Hay, head of books, manuscripts and maps at Bonhams in Scotland, said: "Although we gave the Dickens a conservative estimate, an autographed letter by the great author gives the book a rarity value."

The research into the reading habits and preferences of adults and children was conducted by the Central Office of Information, with a sample size of 3,769 adults aged over 20, of which 1,029 had children aged 4-16; and 518 children aged 11-16. Callers to the ‘Get On’ freephone number 0800 100 900 can receive a free information pack, or speak to a learndirect advisor to enable them to get information on courses in their area. The free information pack contains a video which features learners who explain the benefits of taking basic skills courses.

The ‘Get On’ promotional campaign is a key part of the Skills for Life strategy launched in 2001. The Government’s aim is to raise the skills levels of 750,000 adults by 2004 and of 1.5 million adults in total by 2007.

Meanwhile the long-awaited and much anticipated fifth volume in J.K. Rowling’s magical Harry Potter series - Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, is available now in hardcover.

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