How do you celebrate the 15th anniversary of the publication in the United States of the first book in the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone? Publisher Scholastic has announced that new trade paperback editions of all seven books in the series will be released with new cover art by Kazu Kibuishi in September 2013. A boxed collection of the paperbacks with the covers by Kibuishi will also be available in September.

Introducing Kazu Kibuishi

Artist Kazu Kibuishi, whose cover for the first book in the series is above, will be creating all of the new cover art. Kibuishi is an award-winning graphic novel and comic book author and illustrator who is perhaps best-known to kids for Amulet, his graphic novel series, and Daisy Kutter: The Last Train, which was honored as a YALSA Best Book for Young Adults.

What else is Scholastic doing for the 15th anniversary?

A new boxed set, Hogwarts Library, will be available in November 2013. It's the first to include all of the following: Quidditch Through the Ages, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, and The Tales of Beedle the Bard. These are all books by J.K. Rowling that are related to the Harry Potter series. J.K. Rowling has selected two charities for sales from the boxed set to support. They are Lumos, which Rowling co-founded, and whose goal is for all children to be "raised in a safe and caring environment," and Comic Relief, a major UK charity that fights poverty through entertainment.

What about the original cover art by Mary GrandPré?

The cover art by Mary GrandPré for the original editions of the series has been enormously popular and will continue to be used for the hardcover editions. GrandPré enjoys working with pastels and paint. For many young readers, her cover portraits of Harry Potter perfectly match their perception of how the young wizard looks at various stages of his life.

How Do You Feel About the New Artwork?

Take a look at the new cover artwork above and compare it to the original cover of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. Do you like the idea of cover art illustrating a scene from the book and featuring a variety of characters, such as Kibuishi's cover art above, or do you prefer that the focus be on the title character, such as is found in Mary GrandPré's cover art? Share your preference by responding to the question below:

How Popular Is the Harry Potter Series By J.K. Rowling?

As of the beginning of 2013, the popularity statistics for the Harry Potter series were amazing!

• In just the U.S., the number of Harry Potter books in print totals more than 120 million.
• More than 450 million copies of books in the series have been sold throughout the world.
• The Harry Potter books are available in 73 languages.
• The series has been published in more than 200 territories.

(Source: Scholastic press release, 2/13/13)

What Has J.K. Rowling Been Doing Since She Finished the Series?

In 2011, J.K. Rowling announced the development of a new Web site for Harry Potter fans. Read What Is Pottermore by J.K. Rowling? to learn more about the site and available eBook versions of the Harry Potter series.

In 2012, Rowling's first book for adults, The Casual Vacancy, was published. To learn more, read the book review by the About.com Contemporary Literature Guide and the review of The Casual Vacancy by the About.com Bestsellers Guide.

J.K. Rowling continues to receive awards and honors for both her books and her philanthropy.

Rowling continues to write but as of early 2013 had not released any definitive information on her next book.