TEXARKANA - Young wizards once again were summoned by Texarkana Museums Systems on Saturday to represent the honor of their Houses as determined by the Sorting Hat last weekend at the Museum of Regional History.
This weekend, the children's magical education during Harry Potter month continued during a DIY Monster Book event at Discovery Place.
The Monster Books, as detailed in both the book and film "The Prisoner of Azkaban," were books cared for by Hagrid, who looked after the various beasts of the Hogwarts school. Hagrid also taught a class using the Monster Books as texts.
"A Monster Book has sharp teeth and eyes and will try to bite you sometimes," said 10-year-old Jackson Carter, a Ravenclaw initiate and young master in the ways and care of a Monster Book. "When you pet the spine, the book calms down, then you can open it."
Jackson was particular in the making of his Monster Book, seeing its utility well beyond today's exercise.
"I just want to make it as real as possible, then I want to draw in it and use it for school," he said.
Liz Carter, Jackson's mom, is going through the month's Harry Potter activities along with her son. She took part in the day's activities with every bit as much enthusiasm as her son. She is a fan of fantasy literature, though she notes Harry Potter is more optimistic fare than some of her other reads.
"I've read the Divergence series, Matched, I love fantasy literature. But the Harry Potter books are amazing. They are so descriptive and take you to another world that is simply magical," she said.
The students built their Monster Books, starting with a notebook, a fur covering, and various parts to make the book's face.
Skylar Nations is relatively new to the world of Harry Potter.
"I'm more into the movies than the books. I watch them with my mom," she said. "My favorite so far is the first book ("The Sorceror's Stone"). I like the emotions from scenes like when Hagrid first met Harry and told him, 'Yer a wizard, 'arry.' I like how he met his friends, especially Ron (Weasley). It all started with a chocolate frog. And I like chocolate."
Loraine McBride, Skylar's mother, share's her daughter's fandom.
"I love the sense of being able to go into a whole other world and being able to straddle the two, the mundane world and the wizarding world. Also, with these stories, being able to connect with the younger generation that sometimes can be difficult."
Texarkana Museum Systems' Harry Potter month continues through August.
On Aug. 17, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., children will make travel trunks at the Ace of Clubs House. Every young wizard at Hogwarts needs a travel trunk to store their books and more items from a magical menagerie, of course. These trunks, though, will be perfect for children to store small knickknacks.
Then the Potions Class on Aug. 24, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the P.J. Ahern Home, allows crafty concoctions to be made. These magical bath bombs are, naturally, dragon's eggs.
"It's kind of like a chemistry class, too, so we'll have to add different elements together so that it bonds. And then we'll put it in a mold and push it all together," said Burgandy Farris, curator at Discovery Place Interactive Museum. Children will learn how to creatively make a bath bomb.
A Feast of Victory back at Discovery Place gives these magical youth a chance to celebrate with a Hogwarts-worthy feast. Held Aug. 31, starting at 5:30 p.m., the feast gives youth a chance to dress up for the occasion in their Potteresque best and enjoy a victory meal.
This is the second year in a row for Potter month activities at TMS. "I think kids anywhere from elementary to junior high will enjoy this," Farris said.
Children enjoy going to Discovery Place and making something they can take home. And for each successive event in August, they'll be able to take a bit of Harry Potter home. "I think they'll have a lot of fun," Farris said.
Event admission: $10 per person, $5 for TMS members. Registration is recommended. To register and find more information, visit TexarkanaMuseums.org/Events or call 903-793-4831.