NewsBites for Kidz June 15-21 2003

The planet's favorite boy wizard has turned into a global publishing phenomenon. The first four books have sold almost 200 million copies in 55 languages and 200 countries.

An estimated 13 million copies of book five have now rolled off the presses. It has already broken Internet sales records with more than one million advance orders received by Amazon.

New Zealand marked the launch with a bid to set a new world record for the longest ever children's book reading. Prime Minister Helen Clark was one of the first to read aloud at the 27-hour marathon.

"The wonderful thing about the Harry Potter story is that it has captured the imagination of children everywhere and helped to encourage a love of reading," she told Reuters.

In South Africa, more than 500 children and adults converged on a Johannesburg bookshop to get their hands on the book.

"I'm here for my 21st birthday," beamed one girl, tossing her cloak over her shoulder and adjusting her black-rimmed glasses. "I just love Harry Potter!"

From the kangaroo-plains of Australia's outback to its golden beaches, Pottermania swept "Down Under."

Some Australians drove for hours along isolated, desert roads to get their copy, others journeyed in a special 14- carriage Hogwarts Express steam train, many queued for hours with anxious children. And the worldwide spell woven by the teenage wizard was perfectly encapsulated by tiny eight-year-old Madeleine Chapman.

Dressed in a wizard's hat, she stood in silence at the entrance to Sydney's main railway station, clutching her book and reading. Not even the flame-throwing fire eaters nearby could distract her from Harry's latest adventure.

----------------------------------TOP----------------------------------------------

http://abcnews.go.com/wire/Entertainment/ap20030620_2007.html

Harry Potter Book Goes on Sale in Britain

By ED JOHNSON, ASSOCIATED PRESS

LONDON, U.K. June 21 - With a jangle of cash registers and a whoosh of witches' capes, bookstores across Britain rang up the first official sales of "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" just after the stroke of midnight Saturday, bringing the boy wizard's fifth magical adventure to a legion of adoring fans.

"I love it so much I get goosebumps," said 12-year-old Lisa Brummett of Mesa, Ariz., after hours of waiting at the WH Smith bookstore at London's King's Cross rail station to buy the thick new book, J.K. Rowling's first in three years.

"Harry Potter is the most magic thing there is," Lisa said, clutching the book to her chest and grinning from ear to ear. "Once I get out of here, I will start reading."

"It's kind of nice to escape to a place a bit more magical," said her sister, Stephanie, 16, looking forward to the 768-page British edition, the longest yet in the tales of Harry and his pals at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. (The American edition runs 870 pages, but has the same content.)

The girls' family had rescheduled their two-week tour of Europe to be in London for the launch.

-------------------------------------------------------TOP

http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/topstories/story/0,4386,195800,00.html?

Pottermania hits Singapore

Straits Times

Singapore June 20-BOOKSELLERS across Singapore went into high gear yesterday for what has been billed as the biggest book launch in the world today.

At 7.01 this morning, Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix will be unveiled during a synchronised worldwide launch that starts at the stroke of midnight, London time.

--------------------------------------------------------------TOP

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20030620/ap_on_en_ot/harry_potter_book_1

Harry Potter Fans Count the Minutes

Yahoo News

NEW YORK, N.Y., U.S.A., June 20 - The countdown is on for anxious Harry Potter fans, although a few have already gotten really lucky, stumbling into stores jumping the gun on the latest installment.

Despite heavy security and legal agreements, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," has slipped out ahead of the 12:01 a.m. Saturday deadline.

A 14-year-old who snapped up a copy at a Walgreen's Drugstore in Florida says she feels like "the luckiest kid in America and Britain."

------------------------------

http://www.sunspot.net/news/opinion/bal-ed.harry20jun20,0,5636165.story?coll=bal-opinion-headlines

Wild about Harry

Sunspot

Maryland, U.S.A., June 20- The long wait is over. The three-year Potterless drought is ending. It's midnight madness for millions of Muggles all over the world as Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix goes on sale just a tick after 12 tonight.

That's when thousands of eager, sleep-deprived youngsters accompanied (or so we hope) by their indulgent, sleep-deprived parents will line up at bookstores across the United States - and from Canada to New Zealand - to plunk down their 30 bucks, give or take a discount here and a sales tax there, to walk away with their noses buried in a book.

--------------------------------TOP

http://home.nzcity.co.nz/news/default.asp?id=32619&c=w

Top Security for Harry Potter Launch

NZCity

New Zealand, 21 June -Anyone thinking they can get a copy of the new Harry Potter book before 11.01am Saturday is mistaken.

Security for the release of 'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix' is unprecedented in New Zealand.

At 11.01am exactly, the boxes can be opened and the books handed out.

--------------------------------TOP

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1052251869431&call_pageid=968867495754&col=969483191630

No kid too cool for new Harry Potter

CHRISTOPHER HUTSUL, ENTERTAINMENT REPORTER

Toronto, Canada, Jun. 18-Sometimes, when riding on a bus or in a car, Jessica Lee begins to daydream.

In her fantasy, she receives a letter from Hogwarts School Of Wizardry, the mythical backdrop to J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series.

"I'd see Harry Potter and say, `Harry, can you give me your autograph?" she sighs. "He'd be like, `Oh sure Jessica ...'"�

Lee's voice trails off, in an enchanted kind of trance.

Three years after the Grade 6 student was introduced to Harry Potter, the fascination hasn't waned.

Graham Hutchings, 12, says there's a group of students who've taken on a too-cool-for-Potter attitude, but suspects that those kids are covertly lusting after it.

"I think people, after seeing those kids' movies, and after seeing smaller kids not being able to wait for the book, are getting the message that they're too old for it," he says. "So they might be secretly looking forward to the book � but are trying to deny it."

Hutchings, who was 9 when he started reading the books, says he's actually gained interest in the series over the last three years. Improved comprehension skills mean he can enjoy the books more than ever.

"Before, I would read it, and maybe struggle a bit," he says. "But now I can totally appreciate the book because I have better reading skills."

Ada Law, a 14-year-old, used a Toronto Star Web poll to express her devotion to the Potter series.

"When people think of Harry Potter, they think of some fantasy book for little kids ... and some people make a big deal about it," she writes. "I can't tell you how much I love the Harry Potter series ... I can't wait! I seriously cannot wait! Whoever says Harry Potter is so out, maybe you guys aren't interested, so just leave the fans alone."

Of course, if Rowling takes four years to complete all seven books, fans who began reading at 8 will be in their late teens by the time the final one appears. Lee, who would be 16, says she wouldn't hesitate to complete her collection.

"Yeah, I'll pick up the book," she says. "I won't be buying posters or waiting in line, but I'll pick it up."

--------------------------------TOP

http://www.dcmilitary.com/navy/trident/8_20/features/23704-1.html

�

Contest winners stoked for extreme summer

by Martha Thorn, Trident Feature Editor

Ananpolis, Md., U.S.A. June 20-Two Annapolis Area Complex youngsters know exactly what they'll be doing this summer.

The 12-year-olds wrote winning essays in the Navy Teen Camp Scholarship Contest ran by the Morale, Welfare and Recreation Headquarters, Millington, Tenn.

The two winners, Dan Foley and Brooks Kennedy, will both attend the Woodward X-Sports Camp in Woodward, Pa., July 20-26.

Foley, son of MU1 Mary Foley of the Naval Academy Band and retired MUCS Tim Foley, competes in BMX (bicycle motocross) riding.

Kennedy, son of Cmdr. Steven Kennedy, executive officer of the Naval Station and his wife, Kelly, prefers skateboarding.

In Foley's essay, he talks about becoming addicted to biking at age 7 and progressing to BMX riding at age 9.

Foley writes about dirt jumps and grinding benches, two jumping tricks he performs with his bike. In the former he uses a dirt pile as a jumping ramp. In grinding benches, he uses a grinding rail his dad made from PVC pipes. He uses a wooden ramp to jump the same as he does dirt jumps.

While he spends two to three hours a day on a wooden jump in his front yard in Arnold, Md., he looks forward to meeting top pros and learning new tricks at the extreme sport summer camp.

"I have read about this camp in magazines and they say it's the best place for action sports," Foley wrote. "It would really sharpen my skills and would be the best summer week ever if I went."

-------------------------------TOP

http://www.publicopiniononline.com/news/stories/20030620/localnews/515707.html- click for pics

Rainbow of faiths meet at Maryland camp for children

Goals are tolerance, understanding

By EMILY PHELPS, Staff writer, Public Opinion

Sharpsburg, Md., U.S.A. June 20- An interfaith day camp in Sharpsburg, Md., Thursday brought children from different religions together.

Approximately 40 children ages seven to 12 and more than a dozen teens and adults gathered at Shepherd's Spring Conference Center.

The goals of the camp were to help children of different faiths get to know each other and gain a better understanding of their religions.

Coordinators also focused on showing children how to have cooperative, creative, non-violent fun.

"Our children exist in a violent world," said Susan Pritchard of Shepherdstown, W.Va. and coordinator of the camp.

Children need to be reminded of simple fun that doesn't involve competition or violence, she said.

The kids also made themselves into "human spaghetti" and had to work together to untangle their limbs.

This is the second year for the camp. Last year's one-day session was inspired by 9-11. Parents in Shepherdstown realized they didn't know much about the Muslim faith. They invited parents and children from the Islamic Society of Western Maryland, which is in Hagerstown.

Leah Numbers of Myersville, Md., attends B'nai Abraham and found out about the camp a month ago. She said she was looking forward to learning more about different religions.

Laura Newberry of Smithsburg, Md., is a parent who volunteered to help with the event. Newberry said she wanted to participate because in these times, it's important for people to get to know each other. She also wanted her son, who is five, to learn about diversity.

"I wanted to learn more about other faiths," said Hasan Pasha, 14, Hagerstown, a member of the Islamic Society.

Pasha, who attended last year's camp, was helping the adults Thursday. He said he was glad there were more people there to get to know.

----------------------------------TOP

http://www.zwire.com/news/newsstory.cfm?newsid=8462136&title=Students%20serve%20in%20park%20cleanup%2C%20help%20daycare%20kids%20build%20skills&BRD=1371&PAG=461&CATNAME=Top%20Stories&CATEGORYID=410

Students serve in park cleanup, help daycare kids build skills

By� Staff Writer , CNI Newspapers online

Milwaukee, Wi., U.S.A.,� Jun 19 -For Range Line Elementary School students, TEAM means "together everyone achieves more."

About 70 fourth-graders recently demonstrated the principle by participating in a TEAM Day cleanup project at River Barn Park, on Cedarburg Road north of the Milwaukee/Ozaukee county line in Mequon.

The group spent the morning working at the tree line in the park, collecting garbage and clearing weeds from an area along the Milwaukee River slated to eventually have a walking trail.

---------------------------------TOP

http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=55102

Akkad Bakkad Bambe Bo

Shailaja Tripathi

New Delhi, India, June 17- From fairytales to Microsoft. That�s how far an average Indian child has come now, says Irshaad Alam. The mime artist, who runs a theatre group called Talent, is translating this belief into two plays�Akkad Bakkad and Ek Paheli. The plays...will mark the end of a two-month long workshop that Alam is conducting for students of MCD schools in Old Delhi.

His actors aren�t rich kids who pursue theatre as a hobby. Wahid, a class 12 student of Government Senior Secondary school in Daryaganj, works as a vegetable vendor after school. College student Tamseel Malik�s father is a scrapdealer.

----------------------------------TOP

http://www.guardian.co.uk/parents/story/0,3605,979582,00.html

Too much, too young?

Joanna Briscoe on the It Kids phenomenon, The Guardian

Europe and U.S.A., June 18- Kids these days, they're spoilt rotten, what with their Beyblades and their Disney DVDs - whereas we, of course, grubbed around with second-hand peg dolls and mud pies, and our parents played with stones. But today's standard bratlings are mere waifs and strays compared with the new crew of It Kids. As our celebrity culture becomes ever more entrenched and a fresh generation of snub-nosed faces rises from the pages of Heat, the lifestyle of the celebrity kid can provide a highly enjoyable gawp-and-snort. The rich, it seems, are different. .....

----------------------------------TOP

http://www.themoscowtimes.com/stories/2003/06/17/014.html

Water, Soccer and 4 Meals a Day

By Oksana Yablokova, Staff Writer

Moscow, Russia, Jun. 17-With the school year now complete, many working parents face an age-old question: where to send their children for the summer.

Numerous parents are frightened by the prospect of having their children home all day in a polluted city for three months. For the summer, they look for a place to send their kids to have them back rested, fit and ready for the challenges of a new school year in September.

During Soviet times, every governmental agency, ministry and state-run company operated a free summer camp for employees' children. All children of school age were Young Pioneers, and were thus subjected to strict discipline and daily marching.

In contemporary summer camps -- many of which were revived on a commercial basis from the Soviet-era camps, along with doma otdykha, or rest houses -- discipline exists, but children and teens are treated more like vacationers exhausted by a tiresome school year rather than like annoying hooligans.......................

This season, several Russian tour operators offer package tours to two summer camps near the southern Turkish cities of Kemer and Alanya.

"This type of vacation would suit independent-minded children who do not need to be led by the hand everywhere," said Irina Redkozubova, manager of the Piramida tour agency.

The discipline in the camps might appear to young campers to be rather lax.

Campers swim, play water sports and have unlimited access to meals. In reality, Redkozubova said, young vacationers are under constant watch, accompanied by guides from the moment they board a charter plane in Moscow.

Summer camps in Bulgaria, a popular destination for Russians since Soviet times, can be a cheaper option. Many aging Bulgarian Black Sea resorts have been renovated and turned into summer camps for children and teenagers.

Campers aged 7 to 10 can stay at the Smakiniti camp, near the city of Burgas, while older teens lodge at nearby Primorsk, an international youth camp.

�--------------------------------TOP

http://www.siliconvalley.com/mld/siliconvalley/6093658.htm

Tween idols

MARKETERS ADORE THE 8-TO-12 AGE GROUP

By Cecil Johnson, Knight Ridder

�

Jun. 15-Never talk down to ``tweens'' if you want to sell them anything.

``What's a tween?'' you ask. In his latest book, ``Brand Child,'' branding guru Martin Lindstrom defines a tween as a member of the global consumer group of people 8 to 14 years old. According to Lindstrom, tweens spend about $300 billion annually and have a significant impact on nearly $2 trillion in purchases worldwide

�

That study found strong similarities in attitudes, tastes and interests among urban tweens around the planet. The obvious reason for that, Lindstrom says, is the increased connectivity among the global population of tweens that has been fostered by TV, the movies and the Internet.

``The instant communication across the globe between tweens has made it possible for the entire generation to adopt and develop certain trends and keep them alive for months. I call this phenomenon fish streaming. In theory, one tween can influence tens of others, and in almost no time at all, millions of tweens are following,'' Lindstrom says.

In explaining fish streaming, Lindstrom, divides tweens into four groups -- the ``edges,'' the ``persuaders,'' the ``followers'' and the ``reflexives.''

Here's how he distinguishes between those categories:

� The edges are the rebels who break all the rules and come to be perceived by their peers as trendsetters. They are likely to try new products before anyone else and find ways to modify them to make them cool.

� The persuaders ... adopt new trends quickly and their popularity makes other tweens want to imitate them.

� The followers are just that. Most tweens fall into that group. They are never the first to try anything. They listen to the persuaders and try to keep an eye on what the edges are doing.

� The reflexives are an out group that tries to gain popularity and acceptance. They rarely pick up fashion trends, don't go out and don't have many friends.

BRAND CHILD :Insights into the Minds of Today's Global Kids, By Martin Lindstrom with Patricia B. Seybold

-----------------------------------------------TOP

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A2312-2003Jun16.html?nav=hptoc_ed

The Lessons of Summer

Noted Adults Recall the Value of Leisure, and Colleges Remind That Strenuous Study Isn't Always Best

Louis Sachar, author

"In elementary school, I played Little League and other than that just played with my friends. When I got older, I just hung out and went to the beach in Southern California. I can't imagine my wife doing this today, but my mom would just drop us off at the beach, 20 miles away, and would just pick us up. The summer of my junior year in high school, I did go to [the University of California at Santa Barbara] and take one or two classes of summer school, but even that was more for the fun of just getting away from home."

What do you look for in college admissions regarding how applicants spend summer?

� Jack Blackburn, admissions director, University of Virginia

". . . . From working as a stevedore on the docks with longshoremen to traveling in France to going to summer school, what really matters is what the students take from the experience."

� Ted O'Neill, admissions director, University of Chicago

"Just summer school, just international travel, just a bike trip in Alaska or [National Outdoor Leadership School] or whatever is all good but doesn't matter much in our deliberations. . . . It is what an applicant does with the experience that matters to us."

� Jackie Geter-Hunter, assistant director of marketing, University of Maryland

"We look at about 26 factors [in making admissions decisions] -- grades, SAT scores and others. Activities is one of them, and summer is one piece of that. . . . Some kids may just need to rest, and that's okay."

� Robin Mamlet, admissions dean, Stanford University

"It's not so much what a student has done but what a student has learned or how she has grown from an experience that matters most."

-----------------------------------TOP

NewsBites for Kidz� is published by the News for Kidz� website. It is a free weekly e-newsletter, sent by subscription to kids all over the globe. It is a digest of condensed news stories published by international media, of the news in the life of kids.

Each news story is copyright of the original news source quoted with it.
To subscribe, please send email to [email protected] with "Subscribe" in the subject line.