The fifth book in the beloved, bestselling Harry Potter series, now illustrated in brilliant full color.

For a special gift you might go for a box set, in red for Gryffindor, blue for Ravenclaw, green for Slytherin or yellow for Hufflepuff. Pay attention if you are buying the box set online as some sets don’t include all seven books.There is a door at the end of a silent corridor. And it's haunting Harry Potter's dreams. Why else would he be waking in the middle of the night, screaming in terror? It's not just the upcoming O.W.L. exams; a new teacher with a personality like poisoned honey; a venomous, disgruntled house-elf; or even the growing threat of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Now Harry Potter is faced with the unreliability of the very government of the magical world and the impotence of the authorities at Hogwarts. Despite this (or perhaps because of it), he finds depth and strength in his friends, beyond what even he knew; boundless loyalty; and unbearable sacrifice.

Those in industries such as tourism and merchandising happily go with the lucrative flow, but others have sometimes wondered what all the fuss is about. After all, Harry Potter was not the first book about a young wizard or life at a magical boarding school. For example, The Dark Is Rising by Susan Cooper (1973) features a boy who on his eleventh birthday discovers that he has magical powers, and as the last guardian of the Light must vanquish the terrifying evil of the Dark. In A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin (1968) a boy is sent to a wizard school where he meets an aristocratic rival. Eva Ibbotson’s The Secret of Platform 13 (1994) features a forgotten door at King’s Cross station which is the entrance to a magical kingdom, and a protagonist being raised in the normal world by a family that doesn’t treat him well. There are also The Worst Witch series by Jill Murphy (1974-2018), Diana Wynne Jones’s Chrestomanci chronicles (1977-2006), Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series (1983-2015) and Anthony Horowitz’s Groosham Grange (1988). We wish Jim Kay the best with his mental health and look forward to seeing the work of the artists who will close out the series. The illustrated Harry Potter books were on a yearly cycle until Goblet of Fire, which was published two years after Prisoner of Azkaban. The longer wait between the two books was no surprise, because the fourth book in Rowling’s series is drastically longer than POA. A longer book means more illustrations are needed, and Kay simply needed more time.Bloomsbury Children’s Books said, ‘Working with Jim on these wonderful books has been a magical experience. Readers feel a deep, emotional connection to his work, appreciating the stories in new ways as they marvel at the richness and artistry of each piece. We feel so grateful and privileged to have enjoyed Jim’s vision of the wizarding world, and recognise the staggering amount of dedication and work it represents. We will miss collaborating with Jim enormously, but he will always have a very special place in our Harry Potter family of unparalleled illustration talent.’ J.K. Rowling has received many awards and honours for her writing. She also supports a number of causes through her charitable trust Volant and is the founder of the children’s charity Lumos. For as long as she can remember, J.K. Rowling has wanted to be a writer, and is at her happiest in a room, making things up. She lives in Scotland with her family. Bloomsbury Children’s Books also made a statement, expressing how Kay’s beautiful work has connected with readers. That’s a long wait, but it’s absolutely understandable. Creating all of these gorgeous illustrations takes time, and since there will probably only be one set of Illustrated Editions ever created, we understand Kay needs lots of time to create a perfect set of books. Harry Potter Box Set in epic style, with illustrations by Mary GrandPré and cover art by Kazu Kibuishi

Artist Jim Kay, who has been bringing the wizarding world to life through Bloomsbury’s Harry Potter illustrated editions, has announced he will be stepping down from the role to focus on his mental health. Kay has illustrated five Harry Potter books, beginning with Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, which was published in 2015.And as if we weren’t spoiled enough, there’s another Illustrated Edition in the works: MinaLima, the graphic artists behind the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts movies, will release an illustrated edition of Book 1 this October. Judging by the fact that it says “Year 1” on its spine, it’s possible that MinaLima intends to illustrate the entire series. Early First Look A date for the next Illustrated Edition has yet to be announced, but do sign up to our newsletter here to hear the latest news. Seeing Jim Kay's illustrations moved me profoundly. I love his interpretation of Harry Potter's world, and I feel honoured and grateful that he has lent his talent to it' - J.K. Rowling We feel so grateful and privileged to have enjoyed Jim’s vision of the wizarding world and recognise the staggering amount of dedication and work it represents. We will miss collaborating with Jim enormously, but he will always have a very special place in our Harry Potter family of unparalleled illustration talent. Two of the Harry Potter spin-off books by Rowling, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and The Tales of Beedle the Bard, have also had Illustrated Editions published in recent years. The Quidditch Through the Ages Illustrated Edition will arrive October 2020 — that’s the year in between GOF and OOTP.