Nothing's hotter than Harry Potter

In anticipation of the November 16 film release of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, book sales for the best-selling series are rising faster than Harry's Nimbus Two Thousand broomstick in a championship Quidditch match. The paperback version of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban recently shot to the No.1 spot on the bestseller lists, and author J. K. Rowling must be asking herself, Does it get any better than this?

We'll soon find out because the witching hour is almost upon us, and we may all be in danger of falling under the spell of this film based on the first book in Rowling's fantasy phenomenon. Director Chris Columbus (no less) set out to discover the U.K. and preserve the story's British flair. True to the book, the cast and shooting locations are completely British. Daniel Radcliff as Harry is surrounded by Richard Harris, Maggie Smith, Julie Walters, Robbie Coltrane and John Cleese.

REVIEWS BY KAREN TROTTER ELLEY

If you want to know more about the woman behind the myth, pick up J. K. Rowling: The Genius Behind Harry Potter by Sean Smith. It is the rags-to-riches story of the quiet, shy, single mother whose dream world of imagination transformed her life and created some of the most popular characters in contemporary fiction.


Scholastic Books is offering several ways for Muggle children to enter Harry's magic world, including a sneak preview of 15 movie stills in The Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone Movie Poster Book. Another choice is a magical 3-D, two-story, pop-up carousel, Harry Potter Hogwarts School. With nine punch-out characters, pull tabs, movable pieces and secret passageways, it gives the wizard school "real" appeal. To relive the adventures of six of the key scenes in the saga, open up Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone: A Deluxe Pop-up Book. Deluxe is the key word for both books, and each one has plenty of pop-ups, pull tabs and 3-D components for hours of interactive fun. Last but not least, Muggles have access to two of the classic books from the Hogwarts library in a boxed hardcover set: Harry Potter Schoolbooks: Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them and Quidditch Through the Ages. Written by Rowling under the pseudonyms Newt Scamander and Kennilworthy Whisp, both books are designed to look like Harry's actual textbooks with silly scribblings from Harry, Ron and Hermione. Proceeds from the set will go to improving and saving the lives of children around the world.


Add to your Hogwarts reference library with The Sorcerer's Companion: A Guide to the Magical World of Harry Potter by Allan Zola Kronzek and Elizabeth Kronzek, a father and daughter team who share a love of magic, history and Harry Potter. Topics in the book range from arithmancy (Hermoine's favorite form of divination) to zombies, as the authors reveal the origins of potions, spells, hippogriffs, wands, boggarts, broomsticks and much more. In The Sorcerer's Companion, discover the true history of Nicholas Flamel and find out how the Sorcerer's Stone got its power. A note at the end of each section shows readers where to find the reference in the Harry Potter books. Even Professor Quirrell would be impressed.


If you have lost or loaned your copy, or (gasp!) never even read Harry Potter, then you need the Harry Potter Boxed Set: Books 1-4. These hardcover editions make Harry's literary magic more lasting, so your children's children can enjoy this fantasy series destined to become a classic. Gryffindors forever!

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