Harry Potter, the book series that so many of us have been obsessed with since our adolescence, is getting an upgrade with a bit of a makeover. The first in the franchise, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, which was released on June 27, 1997, rang in its 20th anniversary last year. In 1998, the book was then reintroduced in the U.S. as Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Seven books, and our whole lives later, the series is still thriving in popularity. It may be the only novel we read as children that is also frequently assigned as a teaching tool in college.
To celebrate its anniversary, this year the Harry Potter novels are being re-released by Scholastic with brand new covers. Brian Selznick illustrated the seven cover designs for Scholastic, all different and significant for the book it covers, yet cohesive with one another.
Get a closer look at the beautiful new 20th anniversary editions with designs by Brian Selznick. Four pictured here - head to @Scholastic for the full set and read on for more: https://t.co/oVkMS9jWeZ#HarryPotter20pic.twitter.com/7JeUd9b9PX
— Pottermore (@pottermore) April 10, 2018
“I’m a huge Harry Potter fan (a proud Hufflepuff!) and to be asked to illustrate the 20th anniversary edition covers was an absolute honor,” Selznick said in a statement, according to Entertainment Weekly. “I knew this project came with so much responsibility to the stories, as well as to the readers. I revisited the books and was especially moved by the relationships between the characters in J.K. Rowling’s magical world, so I wanted these covers to reflect that. One of the most challenging and rewarding aspects of the process was drawing seven independent covers that would stand on their own, while making sure that they also lined up to create one single satisfying image. It took dozens and dozens of sketches to get it right, and I am thrilled to share my great love for the books with these new illustrations.”
Earlier this year, books with house-themed covers to represent the novel’s school houses, were released by Bloombury, as announced on Harry Potter’s online world, Pottermore. The covers came in house colors, as well as black with stripes of the colors. These covers, while pretty, only came with options for the Philosopher’s Stone and Chamber of Secrets novels. Now, readers will have the chanve to enjoy the two decade old series with reinvigorated style.
We can't wait to get our hands on these new Scholastic paperback versions—even if the originals are still on our shelves.