Scholastic planning tenth anniversary edition of first Harry Potter book

Just when you thought it was safe to stop thinking about Harry Potter, US publisher Scholastic announces they'll be releasing a special tenth anniversary edition of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone on 23 September 2008. The new edition will "feature exclusive bonus material from author J.K. Rowling as well as new cover art [see image at right] and a four-color frontispiece by Mary GrandPré."

"It's a real treat for me to get another chance to visually bring Harry back to his fans in not only a new scene, but in a new light," said GrandPré. "Going back to draw the first cover for the anniversary edition was an opportunity for me to show another side of Harry, a vulnerable side. Having come to know and love Harry the way we all have, after experiencing the whole series, I think we can appreciate him even more on an emotional level." The cover of the $30 hardcover depicts Harry looking into the Mirror of Erised.

Since the book's first US publication in September 1998, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone has 28 million copies in print in the US. The seven-book series has sold 375 million copies in 65 languages.