June 10, 2000

The next book in the Harry Potter series isn't due out until July 8.

That's just a month or so, but it might as well be an eternity for fans of the book-- both young and old.

"TWICE, RON ONLY JUST NOTICED IN TIME THAT HARRY AND HERMOINE WERE IN DANGER."

These are the words at the beginning of the Harry Potter series, which have cast a spell on many young readers, and even a few older.

Kids at Jordan Hills Elementary, who are the same age as Harry, have been spellbound by the first three books. But the real magic is that Harry is charming them into becoming readers.

Cole Banks/11-years-old: "I'VE READ THE FIRST BOOK AND THE SECOND BOOK AND I'M READING THE THIRD BOOK."

Brenda Farnworth/11-years-old: "I WAS A BIG READER. BUT AFTER I HAD THE FIRST HARRY POTTER BOOK, I READ A LOT MORE THAN I USED TO."

Kristen Reid/11-years-old: "I DIDN'T REALLY LIKE READING BEFORE, BUT NOW I DO."

The students spent a day this week making Harry Potter wizard hats.

It's not just kids fueling the craze. Adults too, are bewitched.

Liz Ashworth: "I STARTED HARRY POTTER AFTER I GOT THE KIDS IN BED, AND I DIDN'T PUT IT DOWN UNTIL THE NEXT MORNING AT ABOUT 6:00. IT WAS JUST SO GOOD. AND THEN I GOT THE NEXT BOOK AND I DID THE SAME THING."

Book four is scheduled to be released on July 8.

Liz Ashworth: "OH MY GOSH! JULY 8TH, BOOK FOUR IS COMING OUT AND I'M BESIDE MYSELF WITH JOY. I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT SHE'S DOING WITH THIS NEXT ONE."

With the anticipation as high as it is for book four, booksellers say they need a little magic of their own to keep up with the orders.

Sarah Carlson/Story Cupboard: "NUMBER FOUR. IT IS NUTS. EVERYBODY HAS BEEN ORDERING IT AT MANY PLACES. BOOKSTORES, LOCAL BOOKSTORE. NATIONAL STORES. ON THE COMPUTER."

The Salt Lake City library system already has started a waiting list - now at almost 200 names.

The Salt Lake City library will hold discussion group on the series this summer. And they plan a Harry Potter Festival for August as a reward for all their summer reading program participants who read 35 hours. The grand prize at the festival will be a Harry Potter book signed by the author.