PARENTS AND CHILDREN VOTE HARRY POTTER NUMBER ONE

[Brian Cordova]

2003/0033

4 March 2003

PARENTS AND CHILDREN VOTE HARRY POTTER NUMBER ONE

As World Book Day approaches, research from the Department for
Education and Skills' 'Get On' campaign reveals that both parents and
children alike say Harry Potter books are their favourite read.

The 'Get On' campaign, which has already helped over 100,000 adults
improve their reading skills to date, asked parents and children to
name their favourite children's books. After the Harry Potter series,
adults then ranked CS Lewis' 'Chronicles of Narnia' in second place
and Enid Blyton stories in joint third place with Charlie and the
Chocolate Factory; but children aged 11-16 voted 'The Lord of the
Rings' in second place.

Ivan Lewis, Minister for Young People and Adult Skills, urged parents
who might feel they are missing out on the experience of sharing
books with their children to see what the 'Get On' campaign could
offer them:

"We have invested #1.6billion in our Skills for Life strategy to help
adults 'Get On' and improve their literacy. I encourage any mums and
dads, who feel they are missing out, to call 0800 100 900 and
register for one of the thousands of free literacy courses available
across the country, which will help them get on and conquer their
literacy 'gremlins'."

Mother-of-four Deborah Bent, from Sutton-in-Ashfield, passed the
National Literacy Test in 2001:

"I never felt confident enough to read to my oldest child once he
reached the age of nine, because of my literacy problems, and this
used to upset me and disappoint him. However, since I went on the
adult basic skills course, I now really love reading Harry Potter
books to all my children. I just wish I'd taken the course sooner, as
I found it a really welcoming and enjoyable experience, and not at
all intimidating. Now I've really got the learning bug - I'm taking
an Access Course in English and History, and I've got a conditional
place at Derby University to do a combined degree in English and
Teaching. If I can do it, anyone can!"

The 'Get On' promotional campaign is a key part of the Skills for
Life strategy launched in March 2001. The Government's aim is to
raise the skills levels of 750,000 adults by 2004 and of 1.5 million
adults in total by 2007.

NOTES TO EDITORS

This Press Notice applies to England.

1. Research into the reading habits and preferences of adults and
children was conducted by the Central Office of Information, with a
sample size of 3,769 adults aged over 20, of which 1,029 had children
aged 4-16; and 518 children aged 11-16. The extrapolation to the
total population was calculated using the 2001 Census statistics of
the total population aged over 20.

Rank
Children % vote
Adults % vote

1
Harry Potter books 26%
Harry Potter books 13%

2
The Lord of the Rings 12%
Chronicles of Narnia 10.3%

3
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory 9%
Famous Five / Secret Seven 10.1%

4
Chronicles of Narnia 3.3%
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory 10.1%

5
Books by Jacqueline Wilson 3.1%
The Lord of the Rings 9%

2. The 'Get On' adverts promote a freephone number 0800 100 900.
Callers can receive a free information pack, or speak to a
learndirect advisor to enable them to get information on courses in
their area. The free information pack contains a video which features
learners who explain the benefits of taking basic skills courses.

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