As a former first grade teacher and now the parent of our second first grade child… It’s pretty simple if you ask me:
All emptied out of our first grader’s backpack the day after a four day vacation (in which he was sent to school with a completely clean and organized bookbag.
PS: Insert eye roll 🙄
This blog entry will Chronicle (pun intended) a father and second sons’ first time reading the Harry Potter series together. This time around it’s a twist… As Oliver enters the magical world, this time the narrator will be both dad and big brother!!! I’ll update it after each chapter so that I can capture the most memorable moments. Come back often and check in on our progress and leave us a note or some feedback. Oliver, welcome to Hogwarts!!!
Finally! “I did my waiting! Twelve years of it!” (Well clearly it hasn’t been another 12 years, but I know Oliver has been asking for ages)! I thought we’d be able to make it a bit longer, however there was no keeping this little guy out of Hogwarts any longer. Tonight Oliver and I begin our journey at 4 Privet Drive, Little Whinging… to Platform 9 3/4 and finally on to Hogwarts! Wish us luck… then again, we won’t need luck… we’ll be with Professor Dumbledore (and Jax).
Chapter 1: The Boy Who Lived
Oliver: “What’s a Muggle?“
Dad: “What do you think a Muggle is?”
Oliver: “Your Butt.”
Nothing like a good butt joke one chapter in!!!
Chapter 2: The Vanishing Glass
It’s been a bit since all three of us could actually sit down to read together, but tonight provided some much needed magical reading time.
Jax read a few pages as Oliver rolled around the floor, but like his dad he could seem to pay no attention while completely comprehending the entire chapter.
Oliver’s most important part of Chapter 2: acting out Harry talking to the snake:
Coming Soon
Check back often to see updates from our progress reading each chapter! For now check out Jackson’s Chapter by Chapter:
Sorcerer’s Stone: Jax’ Chapter by Chapter Read Aloud:https://chroniclesofanewdad.com/2021/07/01/harry-potter-and-the-sorcerers-stone-our-first-read-aloud/
Continuing with tradition (for the ninth year in a row) I tweeted at JK Rowling for advice in dropping the boys off at Platform 9 3/4.
I’m sure by now you know that September 1st is a sacred day for witches and wizards everywhere! Back to Hogwarts Day is when the Wizarding World boards the Hogwarts Express from King’s Cross Station heading to Hogwarts.
The hope being JK herself will acknowledge my tweet and show some love to two little wizards who have the unfortunate luck of being born to the biggest Harry Potter fan this side of Privet Drive.
The problem this year????? We were running incredibly late. Almost 10:00pm and by the time we got to Kings Cross Station the entrance to Platform 9 3/4 had sealed itself!!! That’s what we get for procrastinating… or maybe it was Dobby?!????
This blog entry will Chronicle (pun intended) a father and son’s continuation of the first time reading the Harry Potter series together. We finished Book One, Two, Three and Four… now will move onto Book Five: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. I’ll update it after each chapter so that I can capture the most memorable moments. Come back often and check in on our progress and leave us a note or some feedback!
INSERT OBLIGATORY REQUEST TO COHOST MUGGLECAST HERE
I hope you enjoy the journey as much as I know Jax and I will!
Chapter 1: Dudley Demented
Why can’t Harry just be like, “BYE FELICIA…” and go live with Sirius?
Is that the first time HP and the Bye Felicia meme have been intertwined, or is it weird my kid knows that meme?!??
Chapter 2: A Peck of Owls
Dumbledore: “Remember my last, Petunia.”
Jax: “OHHHH… MY….. GODDDD…. Is Aunt Petunia a….. WITCH?!?????”
Chapter 3: The Advance Guard
Jax: “Ok… so I think I have an idea about how the book is called the Order of the Phoenix. The name The Goblet of Fire… was like if you want to enter the Tri-Wizard Tournament… then you can you take a piece of paper and put it in the Goblet of Fire that’s why the GOBLET OF Fire is important and that’s how the book gets it’s name. So, I think this one’s called the Order of the Phoenix, because there’s probably people trying to protect Harry from Voldemort called the Order of the Phoenix?”
Me: “So you think the ‘Advanced Guard’ it’s a group or something?!”
Jax: “Dumbledore‘s bird is called a phoenix remember, the Phoenix’ name is Fawkes. That’s why I think it has to be Dumbledore sending his group to protect Harry!”
He’s a critical thinker and definitely a smart kid!!! I love the fact that he grabs my arm and points to my Fawkes tattoo!!!
Chapter 4: The Order of the Phoenix
Someone sent me this meme today and it perfectly sums up reading this chapter with Jax tonight:
It was like pulling teeth until the last few paragraphs tonight. As the chapter (and Jax’ energy level) wound down we find Lupin and Sirius talking to Harry about what You Know Who has been up to. Jax then asks, “Why does Voldemort like killing Muggles?” Another smile that was hard to hide widened on my face as he asked another extremely important question (that I just can not answer yet).
However it wasn’t until he unknowingly answered his own question (got to the CRUX of the issue) that my face turned from a smile of excitement into a look of awe: “Does Voldemort get some sort of special powers from killing people?”
Chapter 5: The Order of the Phoenix
Jax isn’t having it that Harry isn’t allowed to be in the Order of the Phoenix! “He beat Voldemort like three times already! What else does he have to do!!!!”
Chapter 6: The Noble and Most Ancient House of Black
Jax begins to wonder what Voldemort’s new terrible weapon is. His initial guesses:
Chapter 7: The Ministry of Magic
SUMMARY TOLD IN JAX’ WORDS: “So, Harry and me and Mr. Weasley went to the Ministry of Magic and went underground through a telephone booth. They went to the right room, but then the time and place was switched to 8 o’clock and they were five minutes late. The elevator wouldn’t take them all the way down, so they had to run down very dark stairs and then Mr. Weasley suddenly stopped, and Harry said, “aren’t you coming?” But, Mr. Weasley was not allowed!!!”
“I predict that they’re doing it down down and down in the Ministry, because they want it to be super secret! Remember they don’t want to believe that Voldemort is back!!!”
PS: Jax, you’ve taken that very same telephone booth to the Ministry:
Chapter 8: The Hearing
Harry goes to the court room. Everyone is talking about how he used a spell outside of school, but he kept telling them it was to help his cousin. Then suddenly Dumbledore shows up to help him. We also meet Dolores Umbridge. Mrs. Figg comes to testify for him too., she said she saw the Dementors.
I think Fudge sent the Dementors to Little Winging to try to get Harry to say Voldemort isn’t back.
(Not too far off buddy! Not to bad if a prediction)
Chapter 9: The Woes of Mrs. Weasley
Mrs. Weasley sees her family dying when she finds the Boggert. Also Ron and Hermione became Prefects. Harry was mad! He wanted to be a Prefect.
Chapter 10: Luna Lovegood
He meets Luna (Looney Lovegood) on the train. She’s reading the Quibbler (a magazine). Harry sees the weird horses (Thestrals) and only Luna can see them too!!!
You never get a second chance for a first impression… Jax summary of Luna after meeting her for the first time:
Upside down magazine.
Wand in her ear
Flower on her head
Her Eyes are so wide open she looks like she was is surprised all the time
Her name is Luna LOVE-good, her name sounds like she has a crush on someone
Chapter 11: The Sorting Hat’s New Song
Some background info on the Four Founders leads Jax to again question me being sorted into Slytherin.
“But Dad, what if I’m in Slytherin?”
The whisper was for his father alone.
In The Sorting Hat’s New Song. The Sorting Hat came up with a song about the four founders of Hogwarts: Helga Hufflepuff. Salazar Slytherin. Godric Gryffindor and Rowena Ravenclaw.
The Sorting Hat told about when Slytherin left the school and the founders split up and went their own way because they were fighting. Slytherin only wanted pureblood students.
The most important part of this chapter is when the sorting hat says, “we all have to come together to fight.”
Chapter 12: Professor Umbridge
“Hem, Hem…” we finally settle on the perfect voice for Umbridge. It’s horrifically annoying and perfect for her character. Jax enjoys doing the “Hem, Hem!”
Chapter 13: Detention with Dolores
He knew right away… as soon as he sat down and Harry said he didn’t have ink for his quill… Jax knew. He literally said, “she’s going to make him write it with his own blood!” How he knew this I’ll never know, but in one of the more terrifying scenes in the series, Jax is now completely sure that Umbridge is a, “right foul git.” (Which Jax has now become accustomed to calling his little brother as well… Thanks Ron!)
Chapter 14: Percy and Padfoot
“Wait, wait… Dad… read that again! I knew it… Sirius just said that Harry scar hurts when Voldemort is Covid back! I knew it!!!”
I am not allowed to reread what I was just asked to reread, because Jackson rereads it himself! Cue the eye brow raise as he realizes he’s right 😳
Chapter 15: The Hogwarts High Inquisitor
“So Umbridge is going into all the teachers’ classes and watching what they do? Isn’t that kind of what you do Dad? She’s kind of like a mean Principal. You’d be a really good principal at Hogwarts, except you don’t know magic!!!”
Chapter 16: In the Hog’s Head
I couldn’t remember the specifics of this chapter… But I kept asking Jackson if he read any hints about the owner of the Hogsheads Inn.
Although his name is never mentioned, we assume the owner is Aberforth, who serves Butterbeer to the students attending the first Dumbledore’s Army meeting secretly being held at the inn.
Jax hasn’t figured it out yet… but he picked up on the “goat odor”.”
Luckily there wasn’t a “Goat Odor” when we visit it the Hog’s Head Inn in Florida!
Chapter 17: Educational Decree Number Twenty-Four
“BY ORDER OF THE HIGH INQUISITOR OF HOGWARTS all student organizations, societies, teams, groups and clubs are henceforth disbanded.”
Jax: Wait? “So what about Quidditch?!??“
(Good catch dude!!!”)
Chapter 18: Dumbledore’s Army
“So that’s where “Dumbledore’s Army” comes from!??!!!”
Chapter 19: The Lion and the Serpent
Umbridge kicks Harry, Fred and George off the quidditch team… Jax response: “Ok so this lady is the worst!”
Chapter 20:
I’m not sure when Jax mentioned Hagrid was out in a mission for Dumbledore, but we now have confirmation that he has been on a “mission for Dumbledore” to find and recruit giants to the fight against Voldemort.
The looks this kid gives me when he knows he’s right should upset me… but honestly… they’re impressive.
Chapter 21: The Eye of the Snake
“Dad, Harry was dreaming, but seriously could he be seeing into Voldemort’s dreams or something?”
He summarizes the chapter and is confident that somehow Voldemort is trying to posses Harry.
I’m now confident that my son is smarter than me!!!
Chapter 22: Chapter Twenty-Two: St Mungo’s Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries
Jackson is starting to struggle with who is right and who is wrong (is that a thing). Harry is trying to figure out what is happened; the Weasley’s wan to know why he is dreaming about attacking their dad; but Jax is just S confused as Harry is.
There is nothing better as an educator than eliciting confusion and wondering. Having a student (son) wonder what’s happening and measure their thoughts with facts and data from what they’ve read is why we do what we do.
Jax fan theories:
Chapter 24: Occlumency:
POSTSCRIPT: Also, click here for our other alouds:
Sorcerer’s Stone: Chapter by Chapter Read Aloud:https://chroniclesofanewdad.com/2021/07/01/harry-potter-and-the-sorcerers-stone-our-first-read-aloud/
Chamber of Secrets: Chapter by Chapter Read Aloud:https://chroniclesofanewdad.com/2021/09/24/harry-potter-and-the-chamber-of-secrets-part-two-in-our-read-aloud/
Prisoner of Azkaban: Chapter by Chapter Read Aloud: https://chroniclesofanewdad.com/2022/02/23/harry-potter-and-the-prisoner-of-azkaban-part-three-in-our-read-aloud-series/
Goblet of Fire: Chapter by Chapter Read Aloud: https://chroniclesofanewdad.com/2022/08/17/harry-potter-and-the-the-goblet-of-fire-part-four-in-our-read-aloud/
Pizza Rat is an internet sensation based of of the most famous NYC rat since splinter taught those crazy turtles karate. The thing is… how can this brown rat carrying a slice of pizza down the steps of a New York City Subway station in Manhattan be any cuter than our very own (above) pizza rat?!????
Continuing with tradition (for the eighth year in a row) I tweeted at JK Rowling for advice in dropping the boys off at Platform 9 3/4.
I’m sure by now you know that September 1st is a sacred day for witches and wizards everywhere! Back to Hogwarts Day is when the Wizarding World boards the Hogwarts Express from King’s Cross Station heading to Hogwarts.
The hope being JK herself will acknowledge my tweet and show some love to two little wizards who have the unfortunate luck of being born to the biggest Harry Potter fan this side of Privet Drive.
This blog entry will Chronicle (pun intended) a father and son’s continuation of the first time reading the Harry Potter series together. We finished Book One, Two and Three now will move onto Book Four: Harry Potter and the the Goblet of Fire. I’ll update it after each chapter so that I can capture the most memorable moments. Come back often and check in on our progress and leave us a note or some feedback!
I hope you enjoy the journey as much as I know Jax and I will.
Chapter 1: The Riddle House
(The first few chapters Jax asked if he could “talk to text” his summary of the chapter. Why not, right?)
“I was reading the chapter 1 the Riddle House and I was wondering what going to happen right away. So, when my dad read me the first page it made me, kind of like happy and then I thought this book was going to be good, but then the next page made me kind of suspicious about what this chapter might tell us.”
“So, we read on the next page that all the Riddle family were all killed by something and I thought it was the gardener Frank that takes care of their house when they’re gone.”
“Everyone in the town thought he killed them too, so they arrested him and then were like, ‘you’re innocent and you didn’t do anything,” so they let him go!”
“One night after getting out of jail, Frank woke up and the lights were on in the house and there were people jumping around the house. He was like those ‘darn kids again’ he thought. So, he went to the house and it wasn’t kids. There was a fire and then he went upstairs; he looked inside a small opening of a door in a bedroom. He looked and he saw a weird man that had his face covered and also a man that looked very old and looks and sounds like a rat. (We met them in the last book… The Prisoner of Azkaban… Peter Pettigrew.”
“Then a weird snake walked into the door and then the strange man that had the hood on said, ‘how are you doing Nagini’. (Nagini was the snake)… so Nagini, who was now in the room told the man with the hood that there was somebody waiting outside listening to all they were talking about. Then the man opens the door and said, ‘come in man’.”
“So Frank walked inside and then what he saw was the last thing he ever saw in his life… a GRREN FLASH!!!!! And then just like that, he’s laying on the ground, dead.”
“DEAD AS EVER!!!!”
Chapter 2: The Scar
“So Harry woke up with a SCREAM and was YELLING. The Dursley‘s were banging on the wall and telling him to… like, ‘shut up’ and he woke up and his Scar was burning more than ever!”
“When he woke up, he found a strange bird, he opened the window and found the bird was from Sirius Black! The letter said, ‘Hello Harry, I hope you’re having a good time, but I also know you aren’t really having a good time, because the stupid Dursley‘s are really rude to you.’”
“So, then Henry sent a note back that said, ‘Yeah I’m doing a little bit fine. But, my Aunt Petunia found Dudley smuggling donuts in his room yesterday. He’s on a diet so they took away his money and he threw his PlayStation out the window. Also, my Scar hurts really, really bad!’”
Chapter 3: The Invitation
(For clarification purposes we are still in Jax-Talk-to-Text summary mode)
“Not much really happens in this chapter, but I can tell you a little bit… So in Chapter 3 the Invitation, Harry got a letter in the mail from Ron that had about 38 stamps on it and there was just a little bit of writing in the middle. It said, ‘Harry we’re gonna come and pick you up to bring you to the Quidditch World Cup.’”
Chapter 4: Back to the Burrow
“Harry woke up on a simple morning same as always, went downstairs and Petunia and Vernon commanded him to make breakfast. So it was a normal morning until they heard something and the flames in the fireplace turned green, it was hotter and hotter in the room, he heard a whoosh, they saw legs… then they heard something that sounded like the Weasleys.”
“They were stuck in the fireplace! Mr. Weasley destroyed everything they were crumbs everywhere from the fireplace. Out spilled Mr. Weasley, Ron and the two twins Fred and George (you can’t tell them apart)!”
“As they were leaving Fred and George accidentally dropped some kind of magic candy. Dudley ate the candy one by one. Dudley ate all the candy and then his tongue grew 100 pounds! And the Dursleys were freaking out!!!”
Chapter 5: Weasley Wizard Wheezes
“Fred and George (the two twins), they love, love, love… (like, you can say love one million times????) love jokes. They once played a joke on their mother and they make fake wands and fart bombs. So now they decided to make a joke shop.”
Chapter 6: The Portkey
(Back to you’re regularly scheduled summary of chapter by chapter)
“…Portkeys. They’re objects that are used to transport wizards from one spot to another at a prearranged time.”
Jax: “So dad, if anything can be a Portkey… can we use your weights from the basement, it’s not like you use them anyway!”
Chapter 7: Bagman and Crouch
We’re getting to the point in the story where we are meeting so many new and IMPORTANT characters… it’s hard to keep track of them. But most of all, they’re all suspects!
“Dad, this Crouch guy doesn’t seem to be all that trustworthy! Look at his mustache, very creepy!!!”
Chapter 8: The Quidditch World Cup
“So… Krum is like Aaron Judge of Quidditch!???”
Chapter 9: The Dark Mark
As we read the chapter Jax is starting to worry about the book a bit… it’s starting to get a bit dark and now that we meet actual Death Eaters and see the Dark Mark, “Dad, THE DARK MARK IS A SNAKE!!??!!… Syltherin?!?!!!” Things in the Wizarding World and Chapter by Chapter are getting real!
Chapter 10: Mayhem at the Ministry
This chapter is a bit of a quiet one compared to the last couple. I have to be honest, it took us a couple of nights to get through this one! 💤💤
Chapter 11: Aboard the Hogwarts Express
Thanks to this chapter, every time I ask Jax to take out the trash… I’m confident he’s going to go all Karate Kid on the garbage cans. of course he found this hilarious.
Chapter 12: The Triwizard Tournament
Dumbledore announces the Triwizard Tournament and we are ready to win! It’s pretty obvious from the title, but we are at the point where Jax realizes that if something is going to go wrong in these books, it’s going to involve Harry!!!
Chapter 13: Mad-Eye Moody
This is one of the chapters that I’m so excited to watch with Jax in the movie! When Malfoy attacks Harry, but Moody turns Malfoy into a ferret is one of the only scenes that’s better in video form!!!
Chapter 14: The Unforgivable Curses
Another chapter filling in lots of details and setting the stage for a lot of things to come. Interestingly, we talk a lot about the Unforgivable Curses.
Chapter 15: Beauxbatons and Durmstrang
“There’s way too much homework at Hogwarts!” Jax apparently isn’t a fan of homework?!??
Chapter 16: The Goblet of Fire
Dumbledore introduces the Goblet of Fire to the students and explains that those who wish to enter the Tournament should place their name on a slip of paper inside the goblet; he adds that he has drawn an age line around its perimeter, meaning that no one under the age of seventeen can approach.
Jax is fascinated by the age line and can’t fathom why anyone wouldn’t just tie something heavy to piece of paper with their name on it and throw it from behind the age line into the Goblet of Fire… (Hey Jax, maybe you should have told that to Fred and George before they tried an aging potion)!
“Dad, can’t they just ask someone older to drop their name in for them?!?? (Again, pretty good critical thinking Jax).
Jax face when Harry’s name came out of the Goblet:
Chapter 17: The Four Champions
Professor Dumbledore sends Harry into the back room. Everyone is like, “what?!?? Well that’s new!”
They are trying to find out who put his name in the Goblet of Fire. Jax thinks Malfoy did it because, “he’s a jerk,” but then remembers he’s not old enough… so changes his mind and says maybe it was Dumbledore.
Chapter 18: The Weighing of the Wands
Jealousy is such a deep rooted and higher level consciousness. I can’t expect Jax (a third grader to pick up on the subtleties of jealousy in a friendship that is in a book.
Then again…
“Ron is so mad!!! He thinks Harry snuck his name in the Goblet of Fire!!!” (Then again he’s still stuck on the fact that the Twins turned into old men!)
Chapter 19: The Hungarian Horntail
Jax has just about had it with Rita Skeeter at this point.
Jax is also becoming slightly obsessed with where Bertha Jorkins is. Sirius says that she was last seen in Albania, oddly enough, where Voldemort was last sighted. “That’s it, she’s done for! I know Voldemort had to have killed her…!!!”
Chapter 20: The First Task
We read this chapter as Jax holds his wand (he’s confident that he knows the spell to beat the dragon).
Chapter 21: The House-Elf Liberation Front
I’m not going to exaggerate to make this chapter by chapter something it isn’t. Jax is secretly happy Harry and Ron are friends again. But we struggled through this chapter and considering how unbelievably exciting the chapter before was, that’s not surprising here.
Chapter 22: The Unexpected Task
They needed to find people to go to the ball with. Harry decided to go with Cho Vhamg but she was already going with Cedric Difgiey. Then he found out he needed to dance with a girl. I would NOT want to dance with a girl at the dance (well except my “girl” friend ____.
Chapter 23: The Yule Ball
When Dobby wakes Harry up and gives Harry his present: a pair of mismatched socks he made himself I asked Jax why he thinks Dobby is so obsessed with socks.
He said to me that it’s obvious, “Socks set him free!”
He then turns to me and says (deadpan), did someone set you free with sneakers?
Chapter 24: Rita Skeeter’s Scoop
Empathy is such an important trait that so many people lack. I’m watching Jackson empathize with characters in this series. Rita Skeeter writes a defamatory article about Hagrid and Jax becomes quiet for a little while (anyone who knows him, knows that this happens very infrequently). A few minutes later he asks me, “why there are so many mean people in the world.”
Chapter 25: The Egg and the Eye
After reading this chapter we are now apparently ordering a hot tub and tons of scented and colored bath bombs!
Chapter 26: The Second Task
Jax: “Dad what’s a Grindylow?”
Me: “Grindylows are very aggressive water demons known to live in the Black Lake at Hogwarts. Or in other wards, you and your brother when I’m trying to relax in the pool.”
Chapter 27: Padfoot Returns
Jax quotes this chapter:
Answers:
POSTSCRIPT: Also, click here for our other alouds:
Sorcerer’s Stone: Chapter by Chapter Read Aloud: https://chroniclesofanewdad.com/2021/07/01/harry-potter-and-the-sorcerers-stone-our-first-read-aloud/
Chamber of Secrets: Chapter by Chapter Read Aloud: https://chroniclesofanewdad.com/2021/09/24/harry-potter-and-the-chamber-of-secrets-part-two-in-our-read-aloud/
Prisoner of Azkaban: Chapter by Chapter Read Aloud: https://chroniclesofanewdad.com/2022/02/23/harry-potter-and-the-prisoner-of-azkaban-part-three-in-our-read-aloud-series/
Our second child is graduating pre-school. Next year, he’ll be entering Kindergarten. I know, I know. You’re thinking, “Your baby is growing up!” Most parents get all teary at this revelation. In fact, the teachers gave parents tissues at the gate before the ceremony… all the parents in my son’s class get glassy-eyed when we talk about “graduating.” Especially those, like us, whose youngest child is the upcoming pre-school graduate.
Last week, mom wrote the last check we’ll ever write for preschool. For the better part of the last eight years, we’ve have had a kid in daycare or “preschool”. We loved our boys’ schools. Everyone one of them. Their teachers, their email updates during the day with pictures of our children interacting and having fun with their friends.
In preschool, there are programs for every holiday. Sweet little songs and children dressed up in costumes. Handmade Christmas gifts with photos of our kids and Mother’s/Father’s Day poems and stories and some very sketchy art projects that often resembled those ink blots that you see psychologists use in movies.
The preschool teachers are family. They are more than one and done. They have watched Oliver grow from the time he was a few months old until now, in cap and gown accepting his preschool superlative Caring Classmate (I would have voted for Crazy Classmate).
Preschool graduation means no more hand-holding while walking into school. Oliver, our baby, will trade in the preschool drop-off, for the big, yellow school bus. His class size will double. We will say goodbye to the teachers who have known him since he was born. We will say goodbye to many of those hand made gifts. Kindergarten is the big time, but this time we’re ready. (Or at least we say we are). There is no doubt that Oliver is ready for the big time. He’s a leader, kind, helpful, FUNNY and his graduating class’ Caring Classmate.
Mom and I watched our baby on the preschool stage (wood chips) wearing a pint-size cap and gown, we sat through the slide show from the past five years, we saw pictures of our little boy across multiple rooms from his past five years, but the tears I anticipated didn’t come.
Instead this time, all I could do was smile and nod. This time, I was prepared, ready and confident that we did the best we could. I was confident that nothing can ever be totally planned and that the most important aspect in life is trusting that what got you to where are now will help you continue to succeed. So with that being said, Oliver keep being the caring, crazy classmate you are! Mom and I could not be anymore proud of the little boy you have become.
Oliver, you will be successful in whatever you do as long as you always put forth your best effort. Always be kind to others, treat those who need help with respect and kindness and never stop asking questions and learning from everyone you meet.
So with kindergarten on the horizon, I didn’t think I would be… but I’m ready this time. And, more importantly, so is our son.
Dear Jackson,
Eight going on EIGHTEEN! Seriously, when I woke up this morning I feel like you had a full beard and were reading the Wall Street Journal. It’s insane to me how much you have grown. You are such an exceptionally hard worker, a fierce, fierce friend and most importantly a loving big brother.
Eight years after you were born and we (mom and I) are still amazed by you every single day. Yes, you drive us crazy, there is a lot more talking back and many, many more “No’s” than all those years ago, but we wouldn’t trade it for the world.
Covid has put a damper on so much of your childhood, but you continue to persist. Masks, virtual learning, vaccinations and social distancing are as much part of your birthday as cake and balloons. Yet, here you are… eight years old and still making the best of everything.
I’ve watched you pick up your brother when he falls, then push him back down five minutes later, then pick him back up again! I’ve watched Oliver have a meltdown and you try to calm him, then laugh. (Always with him, never at him… just like a big brother should do and I would know!)
You have become such a leader in your school and among your friends. You know right from wrong and always make sure to advocate for anyone that needs help.
Mom and I want nothing more than you to be happy, healthy and grow into a caring, kind and respectful young man… and if the past eight years are any indication… then you’re already there!
Happy Birthday, Jackson. We all love you very much!
Love Always,
Dad
“It matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be.” -Albus Dumbledore
This blog entry will Chronicle (pun intended) a father and son’s continuation of the first time reading the Harry Potter series together. We finished Book One and Two and now will move onto Book Three: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (my personal favorite of the series). I’ll update it after each chapter so that I can capture the most memorable moments. Come back often and check in on our progress and leave us a note or some feedback!
I hope you enjoy the journey as much as I know Jax and I will.
Chapter 1: Owl Post
The excitement is building and we are officially at the point where the second one book ends Jax is ready for the next book. Ollie came along for the ride of chapter one tonight too, but only made a few pages deep before he was off with visions of Cornish Pixies dancing in his head!
A short chapter (for a late night before school after a long weekend is just what Madam Pomfrey ordered. Harry finally gets to enjoy a birthday as he gets some pretty cool gifts including what Jax would describe as, “the book that wants to eat Harry!” (Care of Hagrid). Jax brings up an interesting point… Hagrid has some really cool pets (Norbert, Fang, Fluffy, Aragog and now the Monster’s Book of Monsters).
…and the answer is no Jax, we can not get a three headed dog… and we can definitely not get a dragon 🙄
Chapter 2: Aunt Marge’s Big Mistake
About to get to a phenomenal part of the book (and one of the better done parts of the movies) and Oliver is already snoring next to us. I love that he is so interested in the books, or maybe it’s just soaking up special time with his big brother and dad? Either way, Aunt Marge is about to get blown up like a hot air balloon!
I love how this chapter plays out. Harry is starting to understand the line between the Muggle World and the Wizarding World. Jax loves that Harry says a curse word! Glad this book is playing out to our maturity levels!
Chapter 3: The Knight Bus
There’s a lot to digest in this chapter, but Jax focus is on a new way for wizards to coexist unnoticed with the Muggle world—the Knight Bus, a vehicle that seamlessly navigates through Muggle traffic undetected.
Instantaneously we are both transported back to the summer when Jax met Stan Shunpike and Dre (the shrunken head).
https://youtube.com/shorts/JMIKDpntF9s?feature=share
There’s many questions left unanswered in this chapter… why does Harry keep using magic when he doesn’t mean to? (Jax makes a connection to the glass at the zoo here too). How did Sirius Black escape? Why didn’t he get in trouble for doing more magic around muggles?
Chapter 4: The Leaky Cauldron
We met Crookshanks and now all Jax can think about is getting a cat.
Chapter 5: The Dementor
Dad was at a Board of Education meeting so we had a guest reader for Chapter 5! Mom and her “not so great, but tries really hard” Harry Potter voices!
Jax summary of this chapter… and I quote:
“The train stopped when it was pouring rain and then, we were like, ‘what is it?’ Then we flip the page we thought it was a dead Dumbledore with no head, but we figured out what it was. It was a Dementor; they are like a ghost. What they do to you Is they kill you by trying to get all the happy feelings out of you.”
“The Dementors are like, you know sometimes when you feel really, really sad and your heart hurts a little bit? That’s like with the Dementors make you feel like. “
“We also got a new person for the Defense of the Dark Arts: Professor Lupin!”
Chapter 6: Talons and Tea Leaves
Jax considers who this dog really is and why Harry keeps seeing it after in Divination class Professor Trelawney predicts Harry’s death from the Grim. It only took a few chapters before Jax has had enough of Malfoy again.
Chapter 7: The Boggart in the Wardrobe
Two things in this chapter caught my attention in terms of Jax’ reading comprehension and I was thoroughly impressed.
1. When Harry steps up to the Boggart and Lupin immediately jumps in front of him, Jax says, “Lupin must have thought the Boggart was going to turn into Voldemort! You can’t have Voldemort just sitting in your classroom one day!!!”
2. After Lupin jumps in front of the Boggart, Jax is quick to notice the vaguely described “ball of light” (orb) that the Boggart turns into. “That’s weird, what could that be that he’s afraid of?” He asks inquisitively.
There’s nothing better than turning slowly towards him with a sly smile and telling him that he might be on to something and that he’ll find out soon enough!!!
Chapter 8: Flight of the Fat Lady
This is a chapter that I know I’m going to regret reading. Jax knows we don’t call people names or make fun of people for any reason including looks. But of course we know have “The Fat Lady” starring in this chapter and he enjoys reading her name. 🙄
Overall though, the book begins to turn a bit dark here. Jax isn’t scared per say, but he does have a worried look on his face when he finds out Sirius Black attacked the Fat Lady!!!
Chapter 9: Grim Defeat
I always loved this chapter in both the book at the movie. The night after Black’s break-in, all the students sleep in the Great Hall, while the professors, led by Dumbledore, search the castle for Black. I always liked the closeness of the houses, being all together in the Great Hall… in the movie one of my favorite quotes:
Of course Jax focuses in on how funny Sir Cadogan is!
Chapter 10: The Marauder’s Map
This was a super confusing chapter for a young reader. There was a lot of backstory given in the present time with so many intricate details that intertwine the past and present.
It was fun to have a chapter that was a bit confusing to Jax for once. Readers need to struggle… they need to figure out how to grapple with text they don’t understand. This was one of the first times Jax was really confused and I loved listening to his questions to try to clarify his confusion! (Of course I left him hanging!!!)
Chapter 11: The Firebolt
It’s a bit early (I wish) for Jax to start considering the consequences of friendship. He’s so sharp… he is starting to consider the intricacies of the “Golden Trio’s” relationship.
Chapter 12: The Patronus
This is exactly what Jax and I picture Harry looked like in this chapter:
Chapter 13: Gryffindor versus Ravenclaw
Another complex chapter. Jax must have asked 437 questions this chapter.
Chapter 14: Snape’s Grudge
Jax is obsessed with the Marauder’s Map. He’s starting to understand how the Invisibility Cloak and the Map are quite the combination for a mischievous group of friends.
Chapter 15: The Quidditch Final
The face Jax makes when Hermione slaps Malfoy is a mixture of admiration, excitement and the knowledge that hitting someone in our household would lose you your iPad for at least two days!
Chapter 16: Professor Trelawney’s Prediction
“Dad, I’m telling you, something is up with this rat!!!!”
Chapter 17: Cat, Rat, and Dog
SPOILER ALERT…
When you find out Scabbers has been Peter Pettigrew all along:
Chapter 18: Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs
Jax: “Wait a minute!!!! So Mooney?!?? You know who that must be… is it Lupin?!?? The moon? Mooney! It’s not an orb he’s scared of from the Boggart!!!! It’s the moon because he’s a werewolf?!!”
Chapter 19: The Servant of Lord Voldemort
“Wait… no way!!! Did Hermione just kill Snape!!! Well she definitely believes that Scabbers was really Peter Pettigrew.”
What a comment from Jax. For Hermione to perform a spell on a teacher is very, very out of character for her. It goes to show how Jax really gets her character arc.
Chapter 20: The Dementors’ Kiss
This is “low key” one of my favorite chapters in the book. So many things have to unfold just right and it’s incredible how carefully planned this book is compared to the first two of the series. So much had to be meticulously planned in order for the events of this chapter to make sense and for the big reveal of this book to work.
There’s a ton here to unpack… One of the most heart-wrenching moments is watching Jax think that Harry is going to get to live with his godfather and finally get away from those “jerks” the Dursleys. He was so excited (at one point jax even thinks it would be funny if Sirius bits Harry as a dog and they get to live as a dog family).
That’s what these books do to you though. As a reader who is really processing so much information (ie: character traits, and how other characters influence them and the world around them), he is beginning to make emotional connections to some of the characters in the story.
Chapter 21: Hermione’s Secret
From a teacher’s perspective this chapter looks at two main plot points that literally effect the entire series:
To Jax it was another HP/Tattoo Connection:
I loved this chapter for how well JK writes the time travel bit. Time Travel can be an albatross to a reader, both confusing and arduous to follow, because it’s one of the toughest literary techniques to pull off well. Time and time again (pun intended) it’s not done well, but she does just enough to help a young reader like Jax make connections to the foreshadowing that takes place throughout this book while keeping the time-space continuum (Back to the Future reference) stable enough for the readers to believe what is happening.
Jax finally realizes the Time Turner is how Hermione kept popping up in/ disappearing from random places and why she was always so tired. He also realizes who actually casts the Patronus Charm to save Harry and Sirius. There’s almost nothing better than how JK foreshadows in this series, the only thing better, watching Jackson figure it out!
Jax is also starting to see how powerful of a wizard Harry is becoming. We were impressed with how hard he worked with professor Lupin to learn the Patronus Charm and how most “fully grown” wizards can’t do it! (The movie does this scene PERFECTLY).
Chapter 22: Owl Post Again
Besides time traveling, freeing Sirius and Buckbeak, not getting caught, Harry getting back both the Maunders Map and his Invisibility Cloak this chapter was uneventful!
The questions begin pouring in… where is Sirius, is Lupin going to be OK? Can Harry use the Time Turner to go back and kill Voldemort before he kills his parents!!??
Then the question I’ve been waiting three books for: “Dad, do we have to wait until tomorrow to start the next book?!??!”
And just like his dad after reading the third book, Jax is absolutely hooked!
POSTSCRIPT: Also, click here for our other alouds:
Sorcerer’s Stone: Chapter by Chapter Read Aloud: https://chroniclesofanewdad.com/2021/07/01/harry-potter-and-the-sorcerers-stone-our-first-read-aloud/
Chamber of Secrets: Chapter by Chapter Read Aloud: https://chroniclesofanewdad.com/2021/09/24/harry-potter-and-the-chamber-of-secrets-part-two-in-our-read-aloud/
Sorry Son: Chronicles of a New Dad 