Earlier this week we shared surprising news from Scholastic: The paperback Harry Potter books in the United States will be released with new covers designed by Kazu Kibuishi.
Now we’re learning a bit more, if Barnes & Noble’s product listings are to be believed.
UPDATE: Scholastic and editor Arthur Levine tell us that the “bonus material” is “still being worked out.”
UPDATE 2: There is “no strict laydown date” for these books in September, says Scholastic. We still hope they’ll hit on September 1 to time with the new Hogwarts term.
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The massive book seller has the revamped Harry Potter series debuting on September 1. Sound familiar? That’s the date Hogwarts term begins every year. While this date is not confirmed by Scholastic (yet), we hope it’s final because the publisher could use that specific date to promote “new term” and “new covers.” “A new year at Hogwarts, with new covers!”
Equally interesting, Barnes & Noble says each of the books has “bonus material in the back.” There are no further details, and we’ve reached out to Scholastic for confirmation, but this has us speculating already. Could it be material we’ve already seen? Material from within Pottermore? Or J.K. Rowling’s site? Or could it be new information that’s never been released before?
The retail prices are as follows (these are before retailer discounts):
– Sorcerer’s Stone: $12.99
– Chamber of Secrets: $12.99
– Prisoner of Azkaban: $12.99
– Goblet of Fire: $14.99
– Order of the Phoenix: $14.99
– Half-Blood Prince: $14.99
– Deathly Hallows: $16.99
– Box set: $100.00
The box set also has a unique feature: “The box itself is beautifully designed with new artwork by Kazu Kibuishi, and the books create a gorgeous, magical vista when the spines are lined up together.”
It looks like we will get additional artwork on the box set, in addition to the seven new covers.
All in all, we’re going to be treated to a lot of new Harry Potter material this September. At this time, only the Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone cover has been released.