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Northern News Services
They have all been beaten into the dirt by a young boy/nerd wizard who goes by the name of Harry.
 Grade 4 student Emily Davison gets into the spirit of Harry Potter Night at Ecole St. Joseph Nov. 13. - Mike W. Bryant/NNSL photo |
Even if you haven't seen the film yet, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, or read any of the books by J.K. Rowling on which the film is based, the hype is difficult to ignore.
"My kids are driving me crazy," laughs Laurette Debogorski, while wandering through the aisles at the Book Cellar.
"I got to take my kids to the movie or that's it."
Unlike other fads directed at children, Debogorski says that part of Harry Potter's charm is its wide-spread appeal.
She's even beaten her kids to the punch by reading all four books before them.
"Initially, I was reading to the kids, and then I began to sneak off and read them myself," Debogorski admits. "My son would ask, 'Where's my book?' and I would say, 'Oops, it's on my night table.'"
The craze, which seems to have swept through every corner of the world, has not ignored Yellowknife.
At the Book Cellar, retail clerk Debbie Welsh showed off rows of paraphernalia dedicated to the Harry Potter phenomenon.
Besides the books, one can find stickers, bookmarks, Rowling's autobiography -- there is even a board game. Assumably, action figures will not be far behind.
At the library, Deborah Bruser, who is in charge of planning programs for children, says the books have done wonders in getting children interested in reading again, but is a bit leery about the movie.
"I was a little disappointed to see the book evolve into a movie," says Bruser.
A poll conducted in Bruce Doig's Grade 8 class at Mildred Hall elementary school indicated there is a split between hardcore purists who prefer the books and those who praised the movie.
Out of 28 students, 16 have seen the movie thus far, and 21 have read the books. In the days to come, the number of movie-goers in the class is likely to grow, yet some argue no film can capture Rowling's unique imagination.
"I've read the books, but there's so much hype with the movie," says Ian Vaydik.
"Coke (Coca-Cola) practically owns it. It's no longer J.K. Rowling."
