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Harry Potter Book Night Announced

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February 5th 2015 will see the first ever Harry Potter Book Night. This exciting event gives new and existing fans a chance to share the wonder of J.K. Rowling’s unforgettable stories and, most excitingly, to introduce the next generation of readers to the unparalleled magic of Harry Potter. You are hereby invited to embrace the magic and banish the midwinter* blues!

Bloomsbury Children’s Books is inviting schools, bookshops, libraries and community groups to host early-evening events in celebration of Harry Potter Book Night. We’re creating a complete Harry Potter Book Night Kit – available for free download – offering you everything you need to plan and host an unforgettable evening. The only missing ingredient is your own ideas and flair!

 

The kit includes invitation templates, an event poster, games, activities and quizzes as well as ideas for dressing up and decorating the venue. Booksellers, librarians and teachers, register now to receive the kit. Registration will close on Friday 28th November.

via Harry Potter | Harry Potter Book Night.

Harry Potter New Children’s Editions

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Bloomsbury Children’s Books are to repackage the children’s hardback and
paperback editions Harry Potter series. Redesigned inside and out, all seven books will feature covers by award-winning artist Jonny Duddle.

Along with the brand new artwork and an updated author biography, the editions will also be reset “to create a more child-friendly reading experience for a new generation of readers”.  All seven titles will be published on 1st
September 2014.

Pottermore will publish the eBook editions of all seven books with the Jonny Duddle jackets at the same time.

Duddle is best known for his award-winning picture books, including The Pirate Cruncher and The Pirates Next Door (winner of the Waterstones Children’s Prize and shortlisted for the Roald Dahl Funny Prize). He has a background in the computer games industry and is highly skilled at character development. His work has appeared in Aardman films and Terry Pratchett novels.
Bloosbury added:

This is only the beginning of an exciting new era for the Harry Potter books. As previously announced Bloomsbury and Pottermore will publish Jim Kay’s fully illustrated colour edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone in autumn 2015. The books will be available in hardback and eBook formats and the remaining titles will publish annually from then on. Even more exciting Harry Potter plans will be announced at the London Book Fair in April.

http://harrypotter.bloomsbury.com/magic

Meet the new Harry Potter artist, Jim Kay (Guardian interview)

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Jim Kay, the Carnegie medal-winning illustrator of Patrick Ness’s A Monster Calls, has been chosen to illustrate all seven Harry Potter books in full colour and design the new book jacket image. He explains how he’ll tackle the commission and why it was accompanied by ‘an implosion of brain-freezing terror’

What tips would you offer to young people who are keen to become artists/illustrators?

I’ve met a lot of children who say they can’t draw or paint very well and believe that a life as an artist or a designer is therefore closed to them. It’s tragic because the ideas they have are often incredible and I think ideas are the most valuable possession of anyone in a creative industry. Drawing and painting is a bit like playing the guitar; if you practise enough you will get better with time, so don’t worry about that side of it, just concentrate on getting your ideas down, because that’s what makes you different from everybody else. And don’t forget, if you have a great idea, it will shine through the crudest of drawings, in the same way a great song might only need three chords on a guitar to bring it to life.

via Meet the new Harry Potter artist, Jim Kay | Children’s books | theguardian.com.