The Harry Potter books are some of the bestselling novels of all time. Now that it’s been almost 30 years since the first book was published, you can enjoy the story in pretty much every form. There’s the Harry Potter movies, multiple audiobooks, and a ton of different video games to dive into. But for those just looking to read the original books in a new way, there are also multiple illustrated editions that are great for collectors.
Deciding which illustrated edition set to buy is slightly more complicated than it should be, however. There’s the illustrated editions and then there’s the interactive illustrated editions, both of which have yet to be fully completed. I have experience buying both as gifts, so I’m here to give you a quick rundown of the differences and what to expect from each series.
The Harry Potter Illustrated Editions
First up, there’s the standard illustrated editions. These are illustrated by Jim Kay and began back in 2015. The pictures are vibrant and really do capture the essence of Harry Potter in a way that the movies never really could. There’s a nice mix of story and images as you flip through the pages that make these great for reading to kids or just enjoying as an adult fan of the franchise.
One major note about these editions is that there are currently only five available. The Order of the Phoenix was the last book illustrated by Jim Kay before he decided to leave the project in 2022. It wasn’t until recently that the publisher announced that the sixth book was being taken up by a new illustrator, Levi Pinfold. The Halfblood Prince Illustrated Edition is set to be released on October 6, 2026. You can currently preorder it for $54.99.
The Harry Potter Interactive Illustrated Editions
Alongside the normal illustrated editions, there are also the interactive illustrated editions. The first one of these was published back in 2020 by MinaLima. The interactive element here refers to papercraft hidden within the pages. These are essentially illustrations that spin, open up, or can be played with in some way. I own the first three of these and have really enjoyed playing with the interactive elements, but it’s clear that they aren’t built for heavy use. The illustrations and papercraft here are delightful, but you’ll likely start to experience some wear and tear after a few read-throughs. This is doubly true if younger kids are involved.
Similar to the Jim Kay editions, the interactive illustrated editions hit a bit of a hiccup after design studio MinaLima announced they would no longer be working on these books Scholastic continued on with the project and released The Goblet of Fire just last year with a new illustrator and designer. Although we don’t yet have a release date for the next book in the series, we do know that work is continuing.
Bonus: Hogwarts Library Illustrated Collection
If you’re looking for something outside of the original series, you can also check the Hogwarts Library series of illustrated editions. These are companion books that are tangential to the main story. You can purchase these individually or buy the whole collection at once. Here’s a quick rundown of each book in the collection:
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them – Illustrated by Olivia Lomenech GillQuidditch Through the Ages – Illustrated by Emily GravettTales of Beedle the Bard – Illustrated by Lisbeth Zwerger
Looking for more? Check out our guide to the best Harry Potter gifts to buy right now.
