Will Harry Potter last as long as 'Boxcar Children'?

Will the adventures of Harry Potter be as popular half a century from now? Teacher and author Gertrude Chandler Warner published the first of her Boxcar Children books in 1942, and then went on to write 18 more. Later, other writers continued the series about the adventures of orphans Henry, Jessie, Violet and Benny Alden and their dog, Watch, who once lived in a railroad boxcar. Book No. 95 is due out this month.

At Putnam Public Library, where a revolving rack of Boxcar Children books testifies to the series popularity, Tina Aubin, children's librarian, let me browse through a box of Warner memorabilia, including several of her manuscripts, written in longhand.

I asked if my childhood favorites, Nancy Drew mysteries, are still read today. "They do go out," she replied.