What I think makes the Harry Potter series so important isn't so much the work itself as it is that it opened
so many doors for YA fiction (and as such, the YA audience) as a viable market in literature, giving kids
and adults options beyond the cookie-cutter fare that was so prominent when I was growing up. Even if that wave of popularity is ebbing some, I'm convinced that that market will stay open and valid. Harry Potter's show that if you give kids something with more substance than Sweet Valley High, they
will stick around and read it, and I think that's awesome. I'm excited for the RJ series. All of my cousins are definitely going to be getting copies for Christmas.
And holy blast from the past, Batman! I haven't thought of Encyclopedia Brown in
ages... And that reminds me of another old favourite: anyone remember The Three Investigators? Presented by Alfred Hitchcock, I don't think it lasted too long, but man, the original eight or that my dad had from his youth were my very favourites.