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Credit: Warner Bros.Who needs the Harry Potter reboot when a brand-new Harry Potter book has been revealed? Something festive this way comes…
Whether it’s the books or the films, once you reach the graveyard scene in Harry Potter and the Goblet Fire, things become increasingly dark as the series goes on. So much, in fact, that it’s easy to forget all the magic that made you fall in love with Harry Potter in the first place.
The first two stories, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (AKA Philosopher’s Stone) and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, are also incredibly festive, which makes them all the more enchanting (though festive in its own right, we think Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban leans more into Halloween movie territory).
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The film adaptations of Sorcerer’s Stone and Chamber of Secrets are easily the most Christmassy in the series, too, which is no surprise considering they were directed by Chris Columbus of Home Alone (1990) and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1991) fame.
But it’s fair to say that the wintry scenes in Sorcerer’s Stone are fleeting, even if it is incredibly cozy watching Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) open his presents on Christmas morning and play Wizard Chess with Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) next to a crackling fire.
Fortunately, in the book by JK Rowling, we get a closer look at all the festivities. There’s simply nothing more magical than Christmas at Hogwarts.
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But soon, fans will be able to relive Harry’s first-ever Christmas at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, as WizardingWorld.com has confirmed that a new book titled Christmas at Hogwarts (2024) will be hitting shelves on October 15.
The upcoming children’s picture book from Scholastic and Bloomsbury details the Boy Who Lived’s first Christmas within the magical castle walls, featuring text lifted from JK Rowling‘s Sorcerer’s Stone and artwork from Beijing-born illustrator Ziyi Gao.
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To give us a flavor of what we can expect, the website has shared an exclusive look at some truly exquisite artwork. There’s also a teaser, which you can check out below, courtesy of Written by J.K. Rowling, the X/Twitter page “dedicated to JK Rowling and her works”:
Scholastic and Bloomsbury are releasing “Christmas at Hogwarts”, an illustrated holiday gift book with selections from “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone”. The book is releasing on October 15th, 2024 and it’s lavishly illustrated by Ziyi Gao.
Scholastic and Bloomsbury are releasing “Christmas at Hogwarts”, an illustrated holiday gift book with selections from “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone”. The book is releasing on October 15th, 2024 and it’s lavishly illustrated by Ziyi Gao.
pic.twitter.com/cspULKsdyr— Written by J.K. Rowling (@rowlingmore) February 28, 2024
The Rowling Library on X has also shared a look at some of the spellbinding images:
If you missed it: Bloomsbury to publish new Harry Potter book: “Christmas at Hogwarts”
If you missed it: Bloomsbury to publish new Harry Potter book: "Christmas at Hogwarts" 👉 https://t.co/5m9PrImxS6 pic.twitter.com/QV5J3FH6ar
— The Rowling Library (@rowlinglibrary) March 1, 2024
Per WizardingWorld.com, Gao describes the book as an “immersive visual experience,” saying, “Though the owl delivering my acceptance letter to Hogwarts missed me, I consider myself immensely fortunate to have become one of the illustrators for this beloved series of books, contributing to the construction of its world with my own vision. In this book, I have woven together elements from the enchanting wizarding world and traditional Christmas festivities. I wish to bring an immersive visual experience for every child and adult longing to spend a happy Christmas alongside Harry and his friends at Hogwarts.”
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Per Bloomsbury, here’s the official description for the book:
Christmas was coming. One morning in mid-December, Hogwarts woke to find itself covered in several feet of snow.
So begins Chapter 12 of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, the story of Harry Potter’s magical first Christmas at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. From the wonder of the Great Hall decked with sparkling, decorated fir trees to cosy evenings by the fire in the Gryffindor common room and the joy of opening presents on Christmas morning, it’s a school holiday filled with warmth, friendship, treats and magical surprises that Harry will never forget.
With text drawn directly from J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone and luminous artwork by Ziyi Gao, this favourite moment, showing Harry’s very first Christmas amongst friends, is now fully illustrated for the whole family to enjoy. Sure to be treasured by Harry Potter fans of all ages, it’s the perfect gift to put under the tree or read together at Christmas – the beginning of an enchanting new festive tradition.