Harry Potter and the myriad mothers: the maternal figure as lioness, witch and wardrobe

Families are important in the Harry Potter series. Harry\u27s loss of his parents is a key focal point of the narrative, and the series is bookended by scenes that focus on family. Book One begins with Harry\u27s placement as a baby into the Dursley family environment-the opening sentence of the series setting up the issue of families, normality, and belonging-while Book Seven concludes with a scene about the adult Harry\u27s own family with his wife and children. A particular recurring theme is Harry\u27s mother\u27s love that protects and sustains him as he endures many trials and adventures. In this respect, mothering becomes a key concern throughout the series

The Role of School Librarians in Enhancing Science Learning

School librarians play a pivotal role in facilitating learning of all subjects in primary and secondary schools in the United States, but their potential contributions to science have not been explored. In this paper, we show how school librarian practices can directly enhance aspects of science education by providing concrete examples from a study where we engaged school librarians to co-design and co-implement a science-infused after-school program. We found that librarians are a strong asset in science learning, as they foster youth engagement in authentic inquiry practices and engage young people’s everyday life interests in science learning. This study contributes new insight into how librarians can use their expertise to enhance science education efforts in schools