Scholastic Unveils First Of Seven New Covers For The Harry Potter Books In Celebration Of The 15th Anniversary Of Harry Potter And The Sorcerer's Stone

Harry Potter fans and young readers just starting their journey through the world of Harry Potter will have something new and exciting to add to their bookshelves this September. Scholastic (SCHL), the global children's publishing, education and media company, today unveiled an all new cover for Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone- the first of seven new covers to appear on U.S. trade paperback editions coming in September 2013 to celebrate the 15 th anniversary of the U.S. publication of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, the original book in J.K. Rowling's best-selling Harry Potter series.

The stunning art for the new editions is by critically acclaimed artist Kazu Kibuishi, best known for his #1 New York Times bestselling graphic novel series, Amulet. Kibuishi is a longtime Harry Potter fan who called this opportunity, "more than a little surreal." Each of the seven new covers will depict a distinctive and memorable moment from the respective book. The collection, which will also be released in September as a boxed set, will offer new readers just reaching the age to begin the series a glimpse of J.K. Rowling's magical world and the epic story they are about to enter.

"The Harry Potter covers by Mary GrandPre are so fantastic and iconic," said Kibuishi. "When I was asked to submit samples, I initially hesitated because I didn't want to see them reinterpreted! However, I felt that if I were to handle the project, I could bring something to it that many other designers and illustrators probably couldn't, and that was that I was also a writer of my own series of middle grade fiction. As an author myself, I tried to answer the question, 'If I were the author of the books-and they were like my own children- how would I want them to be seen years from now?' When illustrating the covers, I tried to think of classic perennial 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."

The inspired original art for the series, created by the talented Mary GrandPre will continue to be featured on the U.S. hardcover and digest paperback editions.