The world of wizards, Quidditch, and Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans is just a week away from reappearing on the big screen.

A year ago, that would have sent young boys, like the flag footballers playing at this Arleta middle school field, flying to the nearest theater. But ask

these 12- and 13-year-olds about next week's opening of "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets," and it seems a game of flying broomsticks isn't high on their to-do lists.

"I'll go see it, I guess," says eighth-grader Spencer Brown, "but I didn't think the kids could act very well."

His friends agree. Seventh-grader Andrew Boggs wants to see the movie, but not as much as he did last year.

The reason is simple, parents say. "There's no new book to keep their interest in the series," says Spencer's mother, Barbara. "There's no pull for the kids to want to get back into the character."

While the opening of the second Harry Potter film will undoubtedly draw crowds and book sales remain strong, there's plenty of evidence suggesting the Harry Potter mania that soared even higher with last year's film is experiencing a "fifth-inning stretch." Fans are growing weary of waiting for the fifth installment.

When J.K. Rowling's first book was published in 1997, it inspired millions of kids and their parents across the globe to read about Harry, Hermione, and He Who Must Not be Named.

Three more books followed in short order, one released each year. But a fifth book that has been promised for almost two years still has no firm publication date.

Other series, such as the Lemony Snicket books (See story), are filling the gap.

"I don't sense there's a big rush to see this movie," says Pam Green, children's librarian at the Beverly Hills public library for 21 years.

She says interest in Rowling's first four books has waned as well. Harry Potter "is just not new anymore. Everyone has done it, read the existing books.... The kids are far more interested in the next book," she adds.

Ms. Green says her library ran a Harry Potter Club during the summer and fall of 2001. This year the library is not doing anything special. Green says part of the reason is the glut of merchandise. "The children are saturated with Harry Potter stuff," she says, but adds the main reason they've passed is that it's passé.

The Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) system has experienced the same lull in the Harry Potter craze. During November 2001, each of its 67 branches was required to run Harry Potter programs, ranging from mock Quidditch games to magic shows and crafts programs where children made their own wands.

This year, the branches are simply handing out Harry Potter bookmarks, says 29-year veteran, Ilene Abramson, who runs the children's services for the branches.

"Enthusiasm is a little lagging right now," she says with a small laugh.

Some observers say the book-first attitude among Harry Potter fans tells an important tale about the role of books versus films in our culture.

Page: 1 | 2