Can it really be so?

Is part of the magic over with the release of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows?"

A publishing phenomenon, the books have enthralled readers from 7 to 70, and each new release encouraged all who love reading to hope the boy wizard could instill a passion for reading in children. It has been thrilling to see such excitement over the release of a book and children engrossed in its pages. Indeed, a sprinkling of magic dust seemed to settle over the world with each new book.

But even magic seems to come with a shelf life. Once the excitement over "Deathly Hallows" dissipates, those of us who live outside the halls of Hogwarts still live in a world in which interest in reading is not all it could or should be.

Harry Potter now takes its place as a classic in children's literature — as it should. But there are magical adventures in other fine books — places where children can let their imaginations soar, their language skills grow and their thirst for knowledge be quenched.

Books open up new worlds and new ideas, provide a link to history and the panoply of cultures, and offer a forum for the future.

There is much competition for children's time, but we hope they can be encouraged to look beyond Harry Potter, step away from the computer and find ideas in the pages of a variety of books.

That would truly be magical.