It's been 20 years since the U.S. publication of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, and we are celebrating in a big way!
First, we woke up to an amazing tweet from J.K. Rowling commemorating the 20th anniversary:
Harry Potter was first published in the US 20 years ago today, so
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) September 5, 2018
I’m sending lots of love to American Potterheads, who’ve given me some of the most memorable moments of my Potter-related life!@Scholastic #HarryPotter20
Then, we released a commemorative video capturing the excitement of readers of all ages and the impact of the iconic series by J.K. Rowling. The video will appear on a billboard in Times Square starting today, but you can watch it right here:
In partnership with NBC’s TODAY Show, we announced “20 Years of Magic: The Ultimate Harry Potter Fan Contest,” where fans answer the question: what is your favorite passage from the book Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and why? Three grand prize winners and their companions will travel to New York City for a magical weekend to see the Tony Award-winning Broadway play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, go on a guided tour of the Harry Potter: A History of Magic Exhibition at the New-York Historical Society which opens on October 5th, have lunch with Arthur A. Levine, U.S. publisher of the Harry Potter book series, and more. The winners will appear on NBC’s TODAY Show in October. For more information and for official rules, click here.
Scholastic published Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone in the U.S. in September 1998 under its Arthur A. Levine Books imprint with an initial print run of 50,000 copies. To date, the Harry Potter series has sold more than 180 million copies in the U.S. alone, and over 500 million copies worldwide. The books are published in over 200 territories in 80 languages and have been made into eight blockbuster films.
“For twenty years, the world of Harry Potter has captivated readers of all ages. And for twenty years, we at Scholastic have seen firsthand the incredible impact of the series—from the early support and enthusiasm among booksellers and educators, to kids discovering the story for the very first time, to families and friends lining up to pick up their Harry Potter books at midnight parties, and to the series breaking publishing records. Thanks to the incredible imagination of J.K. Rowling, the magic lives on as we continue to introduce Harry Potter to a new generation of readers,” says Ellie Berger, President, Scholastic Trade.
What does Harry Potter mean to you? Share your memories of the series using #HarryPotter20 to join in the Potter fandom in today's celebrations.
