Harry Potter Gets a Makeover
15 years ago we learned that Harry Potter wasn’t just any ordinary boy with messy jet black hair and round owl glasses. He is famous in his world, with a lightning bolt scar striking down his forehead. For that he is known as “The Boy Who Lived”
One night he got an unexpected visit by a half-giant named Hagrid. Harry was told by half-giant that night that would change his life forever.
“You’re a wizard, Harry!”
J.K Rowlings’s Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone was first published in 1998 (1997 in UK), the popularity of the books are still growing after 15 years.
To celebrate the 15 year anniversary, Scholastic Books, the U.S publisher of the Harry Potter series, announced they will be reprinting all seven books with newly designed covers. Each cover design will represent a memorable event from each book.
The artist that created these new covers, Kazu Kibuishi, took a different direction than the original book covers that were designed by Mary GrandPre.
When illustrating the covers, I tried to think of classic paperback editions of famous novels and how those illustrations tend to feel. In a way, the project became a tribute to both Harry Potter and the literary classics.”
Fans that grew up with Harry Potter will still see the old covers published in the future. As for Kibuishi, he wanted to reach readers who are coming of age today that can read the series.
So far, only the cover of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone was released, showing the moment that Harry first stepped into Diagon Alley with Hagrid. It was a highlight of Harry’s life joining into the wizarding world. The most memorable moment of his trip is receiving his school supplies, his owl Hedwig as a birthday gift and his phoenix feather wand.
The multibillion dollar franchise will release the books to the Muggle world in Sept. 2013.
