Here’s everything you need to know about Harry Potter At Home: some new ways to bring the magic closer to you, all specially created by different members of our wide Wizarding World family.
For over twenty years now, Hogwarts has been an escape for all – for readers and fans, young and old. During the strange times we now find ourselves in, we want to welcome you back to Hogwarts, where you will find a friendly retreat for you, your family and those you are caring for.
Over 500 million Harry Potter books have been sold across the globe, so it’s comforting to know many homes already have a door to the wizarding world waiting to be opened once again. And for those who’ve never visited the wizarding world before, welcome!
Our new Harry Potter At Home project is very much a team effort, combining the resources of Harry Potter UK and US publishers Bloomsbury and Scholastic, Pottermore Publishing, leading spoken-word producer and provider Audible, library supplier OverDrive, and of course, our own magic-makers here at WizardingWorld.com.
So, what exactly is Harry Potter At Home and how can you get involved? We’re pleased to say – in all sorts of ways!
Hogwarts’ doors are open for teachers everywhere
J.K Rowling and her team have already announced a special, open licence for teachers to read the seven Harry Potter books aloud to their pupils in virtual read-a-long sessions on video. This means if you’re a teacher you’ll be able to record yourself reading Harry’s Hogwarts adventures and share these with your pupils online. Learn how to get involved here.
Many teachers around the world have already been in touch!
One said, ‘this is amazing! I started reading book 1 to my second graders about a month ago. I was worried we wouldn’t be able to finish. Now I can finish reading it to them’
Another added, ‘Thanks, @JK_Rowling ! I’m a teacher of English in France and suggested my pupils read the Potter books. In these dark times, I’m twice as grateful for the world you’ve created. 20 years later, it is still a safe place for me...’
The first Harry Potter audiobook for free for everyone
A big thank you to our friends at Audible, who invite you to listen to the first Harry Potter book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone as many times as you like in the coming weeks. This is one of many classic books that will be available on Audible’s new platform, stories.audible.com. – take a look and see what you can find.
The first Harry Potter book will be available to listen to for free in six different languages (English, Spanish, French, Italian, German and Japanese). And our American readers will be interested to know that this is the Stephen Fry edition of the audiobook, rather than the US version which features the equally talented Jim Dale. So, you’ll get to hear Harry’s story told with an entirely new voice! We can confirm that Stephen does an excellent Dumbledore.
Visit our new Harry Potter At Home hub
Here on WizardingWorld.com, we’ve built a dedicated space for you to visit which we’ll be updating all the time for your enjoyment. This special Harry Potter At Home hub is where you’ll find all the latest things to keep you occupied – from special activity kits from Bloomsbury to Scholastic, to nifty magical craft videos (teach your friends how to draw a Niffler!) fun articles, quizzes, puzzles and more. We’re casting a Banishing Charm on boredom.
You can visit the Harry Potter At Home hub here – and keep on visiting the page whenever you like. Just like Hogwarts and its staircases, this page will be changing all the time.
Harry’s first adventure will also be made free for all OverDrive library patrons online throughout April
Pottermore Publishing will also be teaming up with digital library supplier OverDrive to gift the first book in its digital form. Patrons of OverDrive libraries will be able to borrow Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone as an eBook or audiobook in over 20 languages from participating local and school libraries, including via OverDrive’s Libby app, and the Sora app for schools.
This offering will last until the end of April, so if you can, why not have a browse?
And that is simply the start
Along with all the other members of our Wizarding World family, we’re going to keep finding new ways to bring magic into your world during this time.
So, however you like to get your Wizarding World updates, be it here, on our Wizarding World app, or, of course, through our new Harry Potter At Home hub – we’ll keep bringing you the joy of reading. Remember, Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home.
For weekly Harry Potter At Home updates and so much more, we’re also launching a newsletter – so we can deliver all of our latest news, activities and more, straight to your inbox in one nice package. To opt in, don’t forget to click the check box when asked during registration. No owls required!
Illustration by Jonny Duddle © Bloomsbury Publishing Plc