Pocket Potters: Luna Lovegood by J.K. Rowling. Illus. by Helen Brady

This reader is surprised and delighted that J.K. Rowling has seen fit to write some little pocket guides to the Harry Potter stories. As a teacher and librarian, it has been both heartwarming and heartbreaking to see struggling readers proudly lugging Harry Potter tomes around with them in an effort to be seen to be fully across the Harry Potter books like their peers. These Pocket Potters: Little guides to the Harry Potter stories will make the Harry Potter books more accessible without revealing any surprises that would spoil reading the stories.

The popularity of the Harry Potter series has not abated since Harry Potter and the philosopher's stone was first published in 1997. The books progress in length and complexity but the lexical density stays about the same with Harry Potter and the philosopher's stone having a lexile level of about 880L and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows being about 1030L. The series becomes more complex but many times little kids like to be seen as fully across the whole series. Maybe Rowling herself has seen this - hence the pocket guides. Noone is going to lose any dignity by reading the pocket guides and they provide a lot of insight to everybody (including this reader).

Each of these Pocket Potters has as its subject a different character from the series. It seems that a different artist is selected for each title which happily gives an opportunity for a variety of artists to work on Rowling's books- something that must surely be good for their resumes- a delight to see. Available in the Pocket Potters series are Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger and the newly published Professor Dumbledore and Luna Lovegood (of this review). Hagrid and Dobby will be published in August 2026.  All together they make a desirable series to collect.

Pocket Potters: Luna Lovegood focuses on providing the reader with all the detailed knowledge that they would need to know to understand the character of Luna Lovegood. There is a page that gives the reader the background knowledge that they need to know about Ravenclaw House which is Luna's house. There are pages about her individuality, her relationship with Harry, her special affinity with magical animals and her powerful witch skills. Her whimsical, independent and happy, friendly nature is reflected in the quotes chosen and in the artwork. As Rowling chose to write a little pocket book guide to Luna, we can assume that Luna is one of her favourite characters - one who exhibits qualities that Rowling values.

English illustrator Helen Brady has illustrated the pocketbook with many, many detailed drawings of a muted, pastel colour. The drawings accompany each new topic which occupies a double spread. Some are diagrammatic like the sketch of Luna's house. All are annotated with scattered text fragments of information linked to illustrations by arrows.

Pocket Potters: Luna Lovegood is a delightful and informative little pocket book guide to the character of Luna Lovegood who figures quite largely in the Harry Potter series. You will want to add Pocket Potters: Luna Lovegood to your collection of little guides to the Harry Potter stories.

Themes: Friendship, Magic, Being true to your unique self, Courage, Inclusion.

Wendy Jeffrey