Harry Potter Illustrated

[nicolewi]

I posted recently about my 8 YO son reading Harry Potter. In the end, I let him continue and he's about to start the last book in the series! He is loving it and will be HP for Halloween. I am so surprised he's not scared, b/c he is really pretty wimpy about scary Halloween decorations, scary movies, etc, but he has been okay reading HP.

He expressed interest in getting a set of the books to keep and re-read. Several people mentioned the illustrated ones in my other thread. Are they the full stories (unabridged) with illustrations added? Are you happy with them? Are they worth getting? I think this is a potential gift-list item for his December bday and Christmas. 

[hermione]

Yes, they are unabridged and beautiful. I really love them. That said, i would wait until all 7 are complete to buy the set - I am sure it will be packaged in some cool way, etc.

[devonpow]

The only difference in the text is that that are not the Americanized version, so British slang etc isn’t changed. They also only have through book 4 out currently. But they are beautifully illustrated - I’m using them to read the books to my 7 year old.

[isabel]

My mom has been buying them for me as they come out (I believe the fourth one gets released this year) and while I have never actually read them cover to cover (I usually just read on my kindle), they are beautiful and I am very happy to have them. I do also have a set of the original hardbacks.

[gastro]

We just received the fourth one. They are absolutely beautiful.

[pugz]

we love them! We got a great deal on the set of 3 last year on Black Friday. Going to add the 4th one this year. good reminder that I need to add it to my list!

[dontlook]

I just bought a regular box set bc it’s was $55. I really wish I would have gotten the illustrated version. I might try to sell my box set and use some of that money to buy the illustrated version. I think the kids would like it more.

[dontlook]

Also, Costco has 1-4 illustrated on sale right now.

[dochas]

We've been getting them each year, and they're beautiful. A couple of people I know who have children that grew up reading them decided to get them the illustrated versions now!

devonpow that's interesting, I didn't know that. My sister went to Scotland right after my son read the first one, and she bought him a copy titled The Philospher's Stone. He was so thrilled that he had "the real one" that he read it again right away. LOL

[Loco Coco]

They’re really cool. Our library has them so you could check it out before you bought if you wanted to.

[jaycee]

Only number 4 has been released in the past year and I think they are on a one-a-year type schedule so if you’re going to wait until they’re all released it’ll be a long long time. Also yes get them. They are absolutely beautiful.

[Patsy Baloney]

Two thumbs up. My 6.5 year old was invited to a Harry Potter themed birthday party at the end of this month, and she discovered the illustrated versions on our bookshelf and inspected them with great glee. We've started reading the first one. She keeps asking, "But why didn't he die?"

HONEY, we have a lot more books to get through before you'll know the full answer.

[aspentosh]

They are truly gorgeous. But I agree with Hermione. I'd wait until they had them all if you could, because I imagine the box set will be amazing.

They just released the fourth one, though, so it'll probably be awhile.

[luckystar2]

We have 1-3 (Dd will get the 4th for Christmas) They are beautiful. My Dd started reading the series this way. As a HP fan they are nice but I would never want to read them that way. They are huge and heavy!! But I’m a big ebook fan so a regular book is a bit of a pain but these are way moreso. I think they are a fantastic way to introduce young readers but they wouldn’t be my choice to use to reread.

I would say wait till they are all out for a set/deal but I agree with others that it will be a while. My Dd only wants to read the illustrated version so I read up on them. As the books get longer it’s going to take longer to put them out. It’s been 2 years between 3 and 4. 5 is estimated to come out no sooner than fall 2021. They estimate the last one being out at the end of 2025. So it will definitely be a while before they are all out. I think my Dd will definitely need to finish up reading them with the regular books!

[joy]

Well, I will dissent. If he loves the books and wants to reread, having only the illustrated versions around feels impractical. He can’t easily take them anywhere (trips, planes, friends’ houses) because they are large and - due to cost - I’m sure no one wants them ruined. Also, will illustrated feel immature to him in a few years? I think we all come back around, but I could see a period of pictures in his books being not his thing.

I’d get him a full box set of all seven as paperbacks. They can be read and loved. I’d also probably get the first illustrated one to see how he likes it.

[abs]

The illustrated editions are lovely books and I collect them for myself. They are heavy though and don't really lend themselves to reading upside down on the couch or in bed which is how DD generally reads. I would get a paperback set so he can re-read all 7 as many times as he wants. Maybe a hardcover of the new holiday pop up book or something to go with it.

[isabel]

Oct 15, 2019 5:31:53 GMT -5 joy said:

Well, I will dissent. If he loves the books and wants to reread, having only the illustrated versions around feels impractical. He can’t easily take them anywhere (trips, planes, friends’ houses) because they are large and - due to cost - I’m sure no one wants them ruined. Also, will illustrated feel immature to him in a few years? I think we all come back around, but I could see a period of pictures in his books being not his thing.

I’d get him a full box set of all seven as paperbacks. They can be read and loved. I’d also probably get the first illustrated one to see how he likes it.

I do agree with this. I don't think the illustrated ones are great for actual everyday reading. I view mine as sort of a collector's thing and love having them, but, like I said, I've never actually read the illustrated copies.

[picksthemusic]

DH gets me a new illustrated version every year for our anniversary (they come out around the same time). I usually cry looking at the illustrations since they're so beautifully done.

I just sat there the other day looking at my new GoF copy and sobbing. LOL

ETA: I agree with PP about getting paperback copies for your child since I'd hate for the illustrated copies to be damaged. We have three sets - DH's nearly pristine set that he barely touched but got because he wanted them, my really worn/loved/read a thousand times set that I got prior to meeting DH and will let DD/DS use, and now the illustrated versions (all 4 that have been released).

[abs]

Oct 15, 2019 6:28:50 GMT -5 abs said:

The illustrated editions are lovely books and I collect them for myself. They are heavy though and don't really lend themselves to reading upside down on the couch or in bed which is how DD generally reads. I would get a paperback set so he can re-read all 7 as many times as he wants. Maybe a hardcover of the new holiday pop up book or something to go with it.

Old thread but I had to come back and say I changed my mind. DD has gotten very into Harry Potter and is reading the illustrated version. The font is bigger so she likes them better.