Harry Potter facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Harry Potter

Philosopher's Stone (1997) Chamber of Secrets (1998) Prisoner of Azkaban (1999) Goblet of Fire (2000) Order of the Phoenix (2003) Half-Blood Prince (2005) Deathly Hallows (2007)
Author	J. K. Rowling
Cover artist	Thomas Taylor, Cliff Wright, Giles Greenfield, Jason Cockcroft
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English
Genre	Fantasy
Publisher	Bloomsbury
Published	26 June 1997 – 21 July 2007
Media type	Print (hardback and paperback) Audiobook E-book
No. of books	7

The Harry Potter series is a collection of seven amazing fantasy novels. They were written by the British author J. K. Rowling. These books tell the story of a young wizard named Harry Potter. He and his best friends, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The main adventure follows Harry as he faces Lord Voldemort. Voldemort is a dark wizard who wants to live forever. He also wants to take over the wizarding world and control everyone, including non-magical people called Muggles.

The books first came out in the United Kingdom and the United States. They mix different styles like fantasy, adventure, and mystery. The Harry Potter world explores many important ideas. These include friendship, courage, and understanding others.

Since the first book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, was released on 26 June 1997, the series has become incredibly popular. It has sold over 600 million copies worldwide. This makes it the best-selling book series ever. The books have been translated into dozens of languages. The last four books even broke records for how fast they sold.

Warner Bros. Pictures turned the seven books into an eight-part film series. The Harry Potter world has also grown into a huge franchise. It includes a play called Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. A television series based on the books is also being made by HBO. There are also spin-off films like Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. You can also visit themed attractions called The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Destinations & Experiences parks.

The Magical Story of Harry Potter

The Story Begins at Hogwarts

The Elephant House in Edinburgh was one of the places where J. K. Rowling wrote the first Harry Potter book.

The series starts by introducing a boy named Harry Potter. In the first book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Harry lives with his aunt, uncle, and cousin, the Dursleys. They treat him very badly. When he turns 11, Harry learns he is a wizard. A friendly half-giant named Hagrid brings him a letter. It's an invitation to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Harry discovers that his parents, Lily and James Potter, were powerful wizards. They were sadly killed by the dark wizard Lord Voldemort when Harry was a baby. When Voldemort tried to kill Harry, his curse bounced back. This seemed to destroy Voldemort. Harry survived with a lightning-shaped scar on his forehead. This event made Harry very famous among wizards and witches.

At Hogwarts, Harry is sorted into Gryffindor House. He quickly becomes friends with Ron Weasley, from a large wizarding family. He also befriends Hermione Granger, a very smart witch whose parents are Muggles. The three friends soon become rivals with Draco Malfoy, a student from a wealthy wizarding family. Harry meets the wise headmaster, Albus Dumbledore. He also meets the potions professor, Severus Snape, who seems to dislike Harry. The Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, Quirinus Quirrell, turns out to be working for Voldemort. Voldemort is still alive as a weak spirit. The first book ends with Harry stopping Voldemort from getting the Philosopher's Stone. This stone could give Voldemort everlasting life.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets tells about Harry's second year. Students at Hogwarts are attacked and turned to stone by a mysterious creature. Wizards from Muggle families are often the targets. These attacks seem linked to the legendary Chamber of Secrets. Harry finds he can speak Parseltongue, the language of snakes. This is a rare ability often linked to dark magic. When Hermione is attacked and Ron's sister Ginny Weasley is taken, Harry and Ron find the Chamber. Harry learns that Ginny was controlled by an old diary. Inside the diary was the memory of Tom Marvolo Riddle, Voldemort's younger self. Ginny, under Voldemort's influence, opened the Chamber. She unleashed the basilisk, a giant snake that can kill with a look. With help from Dumbledore's phoenix, Fawkes, and the Sword of Gryffindor, Harry defeats the basilisk and destroys the diary.

In the third book, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry learns that Sirius Black has escaped from prison. Sirius is believed to have helped kill Harry's parents. Dementors, dark creatures that feed on happiness, guard the school while searching for Sirius. Harry struggles with these creatures. He gets help from Remus Lupin, a new professor. Lupin teaches Harry the Patronus charm, a powerful defensive spell. One night, Ron is pulled away by a black dog. Harry and Hermione follow. The dog is actually Sirius Black. Lupin arrives and explains that Sirius was Harry's father's best friend. He was framed by another friend, Peter Pettigrew, who was hiding as Ron's pet rat. As the full moon rises, Lupin turns into a werewolf. The group is then surrounded by Dementors. A mysterious figure saves them by casting a stag Patronus. Harry later learns this was a future version of himself. He and Hermione used a Time Turner to go back in time. They help Sirius escape on a Hippogriff, but Pettigrew gets away.

Voldemort's Return and the Final Battle

J. K. Rowling wrote some of the first Harry Potter chapters in this café in Edinburgh.

During Harry's fourth year, in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Hogwarts hosts the Triwizard Tournament. This is a competition between Hogwarts and two other magic schools. Harry is unexpectedly chosen as a second champion for Hogwarts. This causes some tension with his friends. Harry and Cedric Diggory, the other Hogwarts champion, both grab the Triwizard Cup. However, they are transported to a graveyard. There, Pettigrew kills Cedric. He then uses Harry's blood to bring Voldemort back to full power. Voldemort gathers his followers, the Death Eaters. Harry manages to escape after a duel with Voldemort. Back at Hogwarts, it is revealed that a Death Eater, Barty Crouch, Jr, disguised as Professor Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody, had helped Harry enter the tournament and arranged his teleportation to Voldemort.

In the fifth book, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, the Ministry of Magic refuses to believe Voldemort has returned. Dumbledore restarts the Order of the Phoenix, a secret group fighting Voldemort. Meanwhile, the Ministry sends Dolores Umbridge to Hogwarts. She becomes the High Inquisitor and takes more and more power. When Umbridge stops students from practicing defensive magic, Harry, Ron, and Hermione create "Dumbledore's Army". This is a secret group to continue learning spells. Harry has dreams about a dark corridor in the Ministry. He dreams Sirius is being hurt there. He rushes to the Ministry with his friends, but it's a trap set by Voldemort. Death Eaters attack the group. The Order of the Phoenix saves them, but Sirius is killed in the fight. A duel between Dumbledore and Voldemort finally convinces the Ministry that Voldemort is back. A prophecy about Harry and Voldemort is revealed: one must defeat the other.

In the sixth book, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Snape becomes the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. Horace Slughorn takes over Potions. Harry finds an old textbook with notes by the Half-Blood Prince. These notes help him excel in Potions. Harry also has private lessons with Dumbledore. He sees memories of Voldemort's early life using a device called a Pensieve. Harry learns that Voldemort split his soul into pieces, creating objects called Horcruxes. Harry and Dumbledore travel to destroy one Horcrux. They succeed, but Dumbledore becomes very weak. When they return, Draco Malfoy and Death Eaters are attacking the school. The book ends with Professor Snape, the Half-Blood Prince, killing Dumbledore.

In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the final book, Lord Voldemort takes control of the Ministry of Magic. Harry, Ron, and Hermione learn about the Deathly Hallows. These are legendary items that could give someone power over death. The friends sneak into the Ministry and steal a locket Horcrux. They visit Godric's Hollow and are attacked by Nagini, Voldemort's snake. A silver doe Patronus leads them to the Sword of Gryffindor, which they use to destroy the locket. They steal another Horcrux from Gringotts Bank. Then they travel to Hogwarts, leading to a huge battle with the Death Eaters. Snape is killed by Voldemort. Before he dies, Snape shares his memories with Harry. Harry learns that Snape was always loyal to Dumbledore. He also discovers that he himself is a Horcrux. Harry bravely faces Voldemort and is hit by the killing curse. However, he is not truly killed because his mother's protection lives within Voldemort. The defenders of Hogwarts keep fighting. Harry returns from a magical in-between place. He confronts Voldemort one last time and defeats him.

An epilogue called "Nineteen Years Later" describes what happened to the characters. Harry and Ginny are married with three children. Ron and Hermione are married with two children.

What Makes the Books Special?

How the Stories are Told

The Harry Potter novels are part of the fantasy literature genre. They are often called "urban fantasy" because magic exists in our modern world. The stories are mostly serious dramas, but they also have funny moments. They are also "bildungsroman" novels, meaning they show characters growing up. Each book includes elements of mystery, adventure, and even a bit of romance.

The books are like clever mystery tales, similar to Sherlock Holmes stories. Each book is told from Harry's point of view. The series is also like classic British boarding school stories. Most of the action happens at Hogwarts, a magical boarding school. Here, students learn all about magic.

J. K. Rowling mixes the ordinary with the extraordinary. There are two worlds: one for non-magical people called Muggles, and one for wizards. Magical things are often found in everyday places. Paintings move, books bite, and maps show live journeys. This makes the wizarding world feel both amazing and familiar. The characters' names often hint at their personalities. Harry himself is an ordinary, relatable boy. This makes his heroic moments even more special.

Each of the seven books covers one school year. Harry faces challenges and sometimes breaks school rules to solve them. These stories usually reach their most exciting point near the end of the school year. Harry must face Voldemort or his followers, the Death Eaters. The stakes are very high, and characters are sometimes lost. Afterward, Harry learns important lessons from his mentor, Albus Dumbledore. The final book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, is different. Harry and his friends spend most of it away from Hogwarts. They only return for the final battle.

Hidden Meanings and Inspirations

The Harry Potter stories use ideas from old myths and fairytales. For example, Harry pulling the Sword of Gryffindor from the Sorting Hat is like the legend of King Arthur's sword, Excalibur. Harry's life with the Dursleys has been compared to Cinderella's story. Hogwarts itself feels like a medieval castle. It has professors, coats-of-arms, and imaginary creatures like dragons and unicorns.

Many ideas, like invisible objects, magical animals, and recognizing someone by a scar, come from medieval French stories. Owls as messengers and werewolves as characters are also found in these old tales. J. K. Rowling studied French literature, which likely inspired some of these elements.

The series also has some Christian ideas. It can be seen as a story about good versus evil. Harry's journey has been compared to Jesus Christ by some critics. Rowling herself said she didn't reveal these religious parallels early on. She wanted readers to discover them naturally. In the final book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, she includes quotes from the Christian Bible. These verses talk about "living beyond death," which Rowling says is a key idea for the whole series. Dumbledore is also seen as a wise, guiding figure, much like a person of faith might see God.

Important Lessons and Ideas

A big idea in Harry Potter is dealing with loss. In the first book, Harry sees his parents in the Mirror of Erised. He feels both joy and sadness. Learning to accept the loss of loved ones is a major part of Harry's journey. He faces this challenge many times, especially with the Dementors. Other characters in his life also pass away. Harry even faces his own passing in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. The series teaches that growing up means accepting that life has an end.

Love is what makes Harry different from Voldemort. Harry is a hero because he loves others. He is even willing to face danger to protect them. Voldemort is a villain because he doesn't understand love. Harry carries the protection of his mother's sacrifice. Voldemort, who wants Harry's blood, doesn't realize that love is stronger than anything.

Rowling has shared that the idea of loss became central to the books after her mother passed away. She said, "death became a central, if not the central theme of the seven books." Harry is like a window through which she explores this idea.

While Harry Potter seems like a simple story of good versus evil, things are often more complex. First impressions of characters can be wrong. Harry first thinks Quirrell is good and Snape is bad. But Quirrell is working for Voldemort, and Snape is loyal to Dumbledore. This shows that good and evil are choices, not fixed traits. The series teaches about second chances and the chance to make things right. Snape's character, for example, is very complex.

Rowling said that the moral lessons in the stories are "blindingly obvious." In the fourth book, Dumbledore talks about choosing "what is right and what is easy." Rowling believes this is a key message. She says that tyranny starts when people are lazy and choose the easy path.

Many other ideas are explored in the books. These include being normal, dealing with unfairness, and overcoming challenges. The books also show what it's like to grow up and face difficult experiences. Rowling has stated that the books are "a prolonged argument for tolerance." They also encourage readers to "question authority" and not always believe what they are told.

How the Books Were Created

From Idea to Publication

In 1990, J. K. Rowling was on a train when the idea for Harry Potter suddenly came to her. She describes it on her website:

I had been writing almost continuously since the age of six but I had never been so excited about an idea before. I simply sat and thought, for four (delayed train) hours, and all the details bubbled up in my brain, and this scrawny, black-haired, bespectacled boy who did not know he was a wizard became more and more real to me.

Rowling finished Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone in 1995. The manuscript was sent to many agents. The second agent she tried, Christopher Little, agreed to represent her. He then sent the book to several publishers.

After twelve other publishers said no, Bloomsbury agreed to publish the book. Publishers first aimed the books at children aged nine to eleven. Before publishing, Rowling was asked to use a more gender-neutral pen name. This was to make sure boys would also want to read the book. She chose J. K. Rowling, using her grandmother's name as her second initial.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone was published in the UK on 26 June 1997. It was published in the United States on 1 September 1998 by Scholastic Press. For the American market, the title was changed to Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. Scholastic worried that American readers might not connect "philosopher" with magic. Rowling later said she regretted this change.

The second book, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, came out in the UK on 2 July 1998. It was released in the US on 2 June 1999. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban followed a year later. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire was published at the same time in both countries on 8 July 2000. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is the longest book. It was released worldwide on 21 June 2003. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince came out on 16 July 2005. The seventh and final novel, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, was published on 21 July 2007. Rowling had actually finished the last chapter (the epilogue) much earlier, around 1990.

Rowling kept the rights to digital versions of the books. She released them on the Pottermore website in 2012. All seven Harry Potter novels are also available as full audiobooks. Stephen Fry reads the British versions, and Jim Dale reads the American ones. By November 2022, people had listened to the series for over a billion hours on Audible.

Around the World in Many Languages

The Russian translation of The Deathly Hallows goes on sale in Moscow, 2007.

The series has been translated into more than 80 languages. This makes Rowling one of the most translated authors ever. The books are available in languages like Korean, Arabic, Hindi, and Hawaiian. The first book was even translated into Latin and Ancient Greek. This made it the longest work published in Ancient Greek since ancient times.

Some translators were famous authors themselves. To keep the stories secret, translations could only start after the English book was released. This meant there was a delay of several months. Because of this, many impatient fans in non-English speaking countries bought the English editions. For example, the English version of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix became a bestseller in France.

The United States editions were changed slightly to use American English. This made them easier for young American readers to understand.

The Art of the Covers

For the book covers, Bloomsbury chose classic painted art. The first cover, by Thomas Taylor, showed Harry boarding the Hogwarts Express. Later covers by Cliff Wright and Jason Cockcroft followed a similar style.

Because adults also loved the books, Bloomsbury created special 'adult' editions. These covers first used black-and-white photos of objects from the books. Later, they added some color, like the picture of Slytherin's locket on the final book.

Other artists created covers for international editions. These include Mary GrandPré for the US and Mika Launis in Finland. For a later American release, Kazu Kibuishi designed covers with an anime-like style.

The World of Harry Potter Beyond Books

Its Impact on Other Stories

Sculpture of Harry Potter in Leicester Square, London, 2020.

Harry Potter changed children's literature forever. Before Harry Potter, children's books were often realistic, not fantastic. But the huge success of Harry Potter brought fantasy back into the spotlight. Children's literature became more respected.

The series' growth was unmatched in the children's book market. Within four years, it made up 28% of all children's book sales. Older fantasy books became popular again. Many new authors were inspired to write similar stories.

Rowling has been compared to famous children's authors like Enid Blyton and Roald Dahl. Some critics believe Harry Potter helped shift reading tastes. People started preferring exciting plots and adventures over more literary fiction. This was clear in the BBC's 2003 "Big Read" survey. Harry Potter and other adventure stories ranked very high.

Harry Potter in Our World

"Platform 9+3⁄4" sign on London King's Cross railway station.

Harry Potter has become a huge part of popular culture. The word "Muggle" is now in the Oxford English Dictionary. A real-life sport called Quidditch was created in 2005. It even appeared as an exhibition sport at the 2012 London Olympics. Characters and elements from the books have inspired the scientific names of several animals. These include a dinosaur, a spider, a wasp, and a crab.

Librarians have noted that the books encourage children to read much more. The seven books together have over a million words! While the books are fun, they also have qualities of serious literature. However, some research suggests that while many kids read Harry Potter, it didn't necessarily make more children read other types of books.

Many fan fiction stories and fan art have been created by fans. In March 2007, "Harry Potter" was the most searched fan fiction topic online. Teachers have even used examples from the books to discuss good and bad teaching methods. Sociologists have found that the books illustrate important social concepts.

For a while, there were news reports about Harry Potter causing people to buy pet owls. Then, these owls were supposedly abandoned. However, research found no real evidence that the books or movies affected owl sales or abandonment in the UK.

By 2003, a sign for Platform 9 3/4 was put up at London King's Cross railway station. A trolley appearing to go through the wall was added by 2005. The location of the trolley moved after renovations. A Harry Potter-themed shop opened nearby in 2012.

1 September, the day Harry Potter usually started school, became known as "Back to Hogwarts Day." This became very popular starting in 2015. J.K. Rowling had suggested on social media that this was the year Harry would be sending his own children to Hogwarts. In 2024, fans gathered at King's Cross Station. Organizers had encouraged virtual events instead due to past crowding.

British publisher Bloomsbury started "Harry Potter Book Night" in 2015. In 2023, it was renamed "Harry Potter Book Day" and moved to October.

Awards and Recognitions

The Harry Potter series has won many awards. These include a platinum award from the Whitaker Gold and Platinum Book Awards (2001). It also won three Nestlé Smarties Book Prizes (1997–1999). Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire won a Hugo Award for Best Novel in 2001. The books have also been listed as notable books and editor's choices by the American Library Association and The New York Times.

In 2002, Harry Potter was called a British pop culture icon, like James Bond. In 2003, four of the books were in the top 24 of the BBC's The Big Read survey. This survey asked people for their favorite novels in the UK. In 2007, the US National Education Association listed the series in its "Teachers' Top 100 Books for Children." Time magazine named Rowling a runner-up for its 2007 Person of the Year. They noted her inspiration to fans. In a 2012 survey, three books were among the "Top 100 Chapter Books" of all time.

In 2007, the seven Harry Potter book covers appeared on a series of UK postage stamps. The opening ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympics in London featured a huge image of Lord Voldemort. This was part of a segment showing UK cultural icons. In November 2019, the BBC listed the Harry Potter series among its 100 most influential novels.

Harry Potter on Screen and Stage

The Magical Movies

The locomotive that features as the "Hogwarts Express" in the film series.

In 1999, Rowling sold the film rights for Harry Potter to Warner Bros. for about £1 million. Rowling had creative control over the film series. She made sure the main actors were British and Irish.

Chris Columbus directed Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, released on 14 November 2001. He also directed Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, released on 15 November 2002. Alfonso Cuarón directed Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, released on 4 June 2004. Mike Newell directed Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, released on 18 November 2005. David Yates directed the last four films: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (July 2007), Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (15 July 2009), and the two parts of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (19 November 2010) and Part 2 (15 July 2011).

Spin-off Prequel Films

A series of five prequel films is planned. These stories take place before Harry's time. The first film, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, was released in November 2016. The second, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, came out in November 2018. The third, Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore, was released in April 2022. Rowling wrote the screenplays for all three films.

Games and Digital Adventures

Many games based on Harry Potter have been released. These include board games like Cluedo Harry Potter Edition and Lego Harry Potter models.

There are fourteen Harry Potter video games. Eight of these follow the stories of the books and films. Electronic Arts (EA) produced these games. The first game, Philosopher's Stone, came out in November 2001. It became one of the best-selling PlayStation games ever. The games usually take place at Hogwarts. They follow the plot and characters of the films. The last game in the series, Deathly Hallows, was split into two parts. Part 1 was released in November 2010. Part 2 came out in July 2011.

Spin-off games include Lego Harry Potter: Years 1–4 and Lego Harry Potter: Years 5–7. Other spin-offs like Book of Spells and Book of Potions used the Wonderbook. The Wizarding World is also featured in Lego Dimensions. In 2017, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment opened Portkey Games. This studio focuses on Harry Potter-themed games. They released Hogwarts Mystery in 2018 and Hogwarts Legacy in 2023.

Live on Stage

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child playing at the West End's Palace Theatre.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: Parts I and II is a play. It continues the story nineteen years after the last book. Jack Thorne wrote it, based on a new story by Thorne, Rowling, and John Tiffany. It opened at the Palace Theatre in London on 7 June 2016. The script was also released as a book.

The New TV Series

A live-action television series based on the books was confirmed in development on 12 April 2023. It is planned to stream on Max (formerly HBO Max). On 23 February 2024, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav announced the series would debut on Max in 2026. On 25 June 2024, it was announced the series moved to HBO. The series plans to adapt one book per season, with seven seasons in total.

An open casting call for the three main young actors in the UK and Ireland was announced in September 2024. Reports stated that 32,000 children auditioned. Filming is expected to start in summer 2025. In November 2024, Mark Rylance was reported as a top choice to play Dumbledore. On 25 February 2025, American actor John Lithgow confirmed he was cast as Dumbledore. He acknowledged the discussion about an American playing the role. He also mentioned he had started reading the books. News reports in March 2025 speculated that a casting notice for extras near Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden was for the series. On 7 March 2025, it was reported that English actor Paapa Essiedu and English actress Janet McTeer were in talks to play Severus Snape and Minerva McGonagall. On 27 May 2025, it was announced that Dominic McLaughlin, Alastair Stout and Arabella Stanton were cast as Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. On 9 June 2025, Bel Powley was revealed as Petunia Dursley and Daniel Rigby as Vernon Dursley. Other cast members announced included Lox Pratt as Draco Malfoy, Johnny Flynn as Lucius Malfoy, Katherine Parkinson as Molly Weasley, Leo Earley as Seamus Finnigan, Alessia Leoni as Parvati Patil, Sienna Moosah as Lavender Brown, and Bertie Carvel as Cornelius Fudge.

Audio Adventures

In 2024, it was announced that the novels would be adapted into full-cast audio productions. These will feature over 100 voice actors. In August 2025, it was announced that these audio dramas would be released monthly, starting on 4 November 2025.

Cast

Real-Life Wizarding Worlds

Hogwarts Castle as depicted in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, located in Universal Orlando Resort's Island of Adventure.

Universal and Warner Bros. created The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. This is a Harry Potter-themed area at the Islands of Adventure theme park in Florida. It opened on 18 June 2010. It includes a recreation of Hogsmeade village and several rides. The main attraction is Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, inside a recreation of Hogwarts Castle.

In 2014, Universal opened another Harry Potter area at Universal Studios Florida. This area includes a recreation of Diagon Alley. Its main ride is the Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts roller coaster. A working full-size replica of the Hogwarts Express connects the two parks. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter also opened at Universal Studios Hollywood in 2016. It opened in Universal Studios Japan in 2014. Other Harry Potter roller coasters include Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure at Universal Islands of Adventure.

Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter is a behind-the-scenes walking tour in London. You can see real sets, costumes, and props from the films. The attraction is at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden, where all eight films were made. It opened in March 2012. A similar studio tour in Japan opened on 16 June 2023.

More Stories and Information

Rowling expanded the Harry Potter universe with short books for charity. In 2001, she released Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and Quidditch Through the Ages. Money from these books went to the charity Comic Relief. In 2007, Rowling wrote seven handwritten copies of The Tales of Beedle the Bard. This is a collection of fairy tales from the final novel. One copy was auctioned to raise money for children with mental disabilities. The book was published internationally on 4 December 2008. Rowling also wrote a short prequel story in 2008 for a fundraiser. All these books add more details about the wizarding world.

In 2016, she released three new e-books: Hogwarts: An Incomplete and Unreliable Guide, Short Stories from Hogwarts of Power, Politics and Pesky Poltergeists and Short Stories from Hogwarts of Heroism, Hardship and Dangerous Hobbies.

Rowling's website Pottermore launched in 2012. Users could be sorted into houses and chosen by their wands. The site also offered new information from J. K. Rowling. The site was redesigned in 2015 and is now called WizardingWorld. It focuses on existing information about the magical world.

See also

In Spanish: Harry Potter para niños

• The Worst Witch
• Mary Poppins

Images for kids

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  The logo used in British, Australian, and Canadian editions before 2010.