#tbt: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's/ Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling

Image: Bloomsbury

Image: Scholastic Inc. 

Happy Thursday! It was twenty-five years ago this month when a debut novel featuring the boy who lived was published in England. It was called Harry Potter and the Philospher's Stone. Shortly after its UK debut, Scholastic renamed the book Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and readers in the US fell in love with Harry, Hogwarts and the wizarding world. Six books followed yearly with increasing enthusiasm. Book stores opened at midnight and hosted parties. Fans eagerly lined up and waited. Publishers finally became convinced that children could and would read long books. Movie adaptations soon followed. Theme parks were developed, and J.K. Rowling became the richest woman in England.

I own the UK edition of the first three books because they were released in the UK before the US, but by book four, they were published simultaneously on both sides of the pond. Book three, HP and the Prisoner of Azkaban is probably my favorite. I will admit to becoming "Pottered out" when book four arrived. It took me a year to finally pick it up.

All three of my boys were fans. There was a hierarchy of reading and strict rules about spoilers in my house. The oldest was the fastest reader, so he got them first and finished even the longest ones in five or six hours. Then the next eldest got his chance, followed by the youngest.

What are your favorite Harry Potter books? Who's your favorite character? I've linked both the UK & US covers. Happy reading!