J.K. Rowling (Blue Banner Biographies) [Library Binding]

Ann Gaines (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 2004 | Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up | Series: Blue Banner Biographies

Joanne Kathleen Rowling (a.k.a. J. K. Rowling) had always wanted to be a writer. In fact, she never knew what else she wanted to do with her life. She wandered from job to job before she thought up Harry Potter and the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. She was ecstatic when Bloomsbury Press offered to publish her book for a few thousand dollars. But the success of the book, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone took everyone by surprise. Since then she has gone on to publish four more books in the series with another one on the way. Faced with almost overnight fame and fortune, Jo (as she likes to be called) still stays grounded. She readily admits that the most important thing to her is spending time with her husband and raising their children. This is an unauthorized biography of J. K. Rowling. It has not been approved nor endorsed by J. K. Rowling.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-6-These series titles are offered as "non-fictionalized stories that present the lives of contemporary, multicultural role models." The font size, ample white space, and vocabulary make them appropriate for transitional and reluctant readers. After introductory chapters about each author's popularity, information is presented in brief, chronological chapters. The material in Rowling is presented in an even manner but the text in Sendak is sometimes choppy and confusing. Additionally, there is some misinformation. (The first line of the book states that Where the Wild Things Are was Sendak's first picture book. It wasn't.) There are too many inaccuracies in this book to recommend purchase. Margin notes clue readers in to what can be found in the texts, but not all correspond to information found on the same page. Each book contains quotes, but the sources are not noted. Average-quality, black-and-white captioned photographs are scattered throughout each volume. Sendak has a list of his selected works, but neither title has a list for further reading. Libraries owning S. Ward's Meet J. K. Rowling (Rosen, 2001) will not need Gaines's title; stick with the collective biographies you already have to supply information on Sendak.
Kathleen Simonetta, Indian Trails Public Library District, Wheeling, IL
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an alternate Library Binding edition.

From the Publisher

This is an unauthorized biography of J. K. Rowling. It has not been approved nor endorsed by J. K. Rowling.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Library Binding: 32 pages
• Publisher: Mitchell Lane Pub Inc (November 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1584153253
• ISBN-13: 978-1584153252
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.7 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,554,859 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars J. K. Rowling, January 3, 2007

By 

Ingrid Jacobs (Tucson, Arizona USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: J.K. Rowling (Blue Banner Biographies) (Library Binding)

I bought this book for my 3rd grade students to use in conjunction with our reading the biography of Helen Keller. I also wanted my students to get an understanding for the "author process." The students enjoyed learning about a favorite author, they were able to understand the language of the book, they could read it by themselves, and they could relate to how they feel about producing a finished piece of writing.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book for Kids, August 17, 2004

By 

Shorty "SAM" (Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: J. K. Rowling (Real-Life Reader Biography) (Library Binding)

I really liked reading this book about the author of the Harry Potter books. It tells how she got the idea for Harry Potter. Great pix in the book, too.