For those of you who have read some of my other reviews, you know that I'm not fond of the concept of the "Complete Idiot's Guides." The title drives me crazy, because to me, it violates the basic premise of learning something new: if you think you're "an idiot" it tends to be a self-fulfilling prophesy. With that said, I have to admit that the Idiot's Guides that I have reviewed have been full of interesting information that I haven't found in most other publications, and the Complete Idiot's Guide To The World of Harry Potter by Tere Stouffer is no exception.
The Complete Idiot's Guide To The World of Harry Potter covers all seven of the Harry Potter books, and they're broken down into five major sections:
Wizards, Monsters, and Creatures of All Sorts
Where and How the Wizards Are
Magical Places
Spells, Potions, and Other Ways Of Performing Magic
Regulating Magic and the Wizards Who Perform It
Each section has chapters dealing with specific aspects of Rowlings' wizarding world from miniature Hogwarts wizard biographies, game directions, wand ingredients to herbology vocabulary, and wizarding tourist spots.
There are little Harry Potter "tourist tips" and "magic tales" throughout the book that highlight some of the author's favorite snips of knowledge in the book. For those of you who are vocabulary fans, there are even "King's English" snippets, which explain the difference between British English and American English.
The information is easy to read, well organized, and engaging. The Complete Idiot's Guide To The World of Harry Potter is a wonderful companion book to J.K. Rowlings Harry Potter series. Even my daughter, who has read each of the books at least 6 times each, found information that she was surprised to find in this book. Recommended for Harry Potter fans of all levels.
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