Conversations with J. K. Rowling
If you're a Harry Potter fan who knows more about J.K. Rowling than you  know about most of your own family, then you won't find much new in this slim,  large-type book. But younger kids (and Muggle grownups hoping for some insight  into the world of Harry Potter) will learn quite a bit about this phenomenally  successful series and its unassuming author.Divided into roughly three sections,Conversations with J.K. Rowlingbegins with some fairly general questions about the author's early childhood  ("Did you have any pets?"), school days ("Did you watch much television as a  child?"), and career ("Can you describe the process of creating the stories?").  The book then follows with an excerpt-assisted overview of the first four Harry  Potter adventures (again, great for Muggles), and ends with a smattering of  quotes from Rowling's interviews with Larry King,Newsweek, Oprah  Winfrey'sOmagazine, andEntertainment Weekly.Kids will get a kick out of many of the anecdotes (Rowling can't remember her  little sister's birth, just eating the Play-Doh that she was given that day to  distract her), while older readers should enjoy more sophisticated insights into  her books (like how she decided to write full-time when she still had a daughter  to support). Certainly a light (and quick) read, but fun for what it is. (Ages 9  to 12)--Paul Hughes