One of the things I have appreciated most about the Harry Potter books is that it is one of the few series that I think makes good literature accessible to fairly young kids. I probably wouldn't have ventured into the series with the little boys if not for the fact that they are always interested in what the big boys are interested in, but I have enjoyed reading the series to them, and it's been really cool to see/hear Joseph, in particular, exercise skills and insights into analyzing, understanding, discussing literature that just don't get exercised much at this age. We are currently finishing up the 5th one, Order of the Phoenix. Tonight we read the part where Harry and his friends are in the Ministry of Magic, searching the Dept of Mysteries for Sirius. Harry opens a door and they see a big tank of greenish water with brains floating in it. Ron asks, "What on earth are they here for?" Harry tells him he doesn't know, and they decide to move on to the next door. That drove Joseph crazy.
"What ARE they there for, Mom?"
"I don't know, Joseph."
"You HAVE to know. . .you've read all the books!"
"I don't think we ever find out. If we do, I don't remember."
I went on reading. He kept pondering. I finished reading, and he announced, "Mom! I think I've got it! I bet they are the brains of the dementors. By keeping the dementor's brains at the Ministry, the ministry people can make them obey. The dementors will just do whatever anybody tells them to do as long as they don't have minds of their own."