J.K. Rowling became the world's first billionaire author with the story of young Harry Potter and the magical wizarding world of Hogwarts. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone is Rowling's literary debut and the first of the seven novels which make up the original Harry Potter series. Translated into over 80 languages, the story of the boy wizard Harry and his fight against the Dark Lord Voldemort captured the world's attention. According to Scholastic, Harry Potter titles have sold over 400 million copies.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone introduces readers to the series namesake, Harry, and the magical world of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Orphaned as an infant, Harry is raised by his cruel and indifferent aunt and uncle alongside his dopey cousin Dudley. On his eleventh birthday, he learns that he is a wizard and has been accepted to Hogwarts, where he will learn magic alongside other witches and wizards his age. Rowling's writing transformed ordinary locations like shopping districts, banks, and train stations into magical havens called Diagon Alley, Gringotts Wizarding Bank, and Platform 9 ¾. At Hogwarts, Harry meets the primary series characters, including Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, Professor Snape, Professor Dumbledore, and Hagrid, the Hogwart's groundskeeper.
Rowling came up with the idea for the children's story that would eventually become Harry Potter during a long train ride to London. She wrote the book between 1990 and 1995 and initially struggled to find a publisher in part because it was such a long book – roughly 90,000 words. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone eventually found a home at the publishing house Bloomsbury after the story caught the eye of British publisher Barry Cunningham. It was published in the United Kingdom on June 25th, 1997. Scholastic eventually acquired the book rights for the United States market and updated the title to Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone for American audiences.
Falling Up is a charming children’s poetry collection written and illustrated by the esteemed American writer Shel Silverstein. It was first published in 1996 by HarperCollins. Falling Up is Silverstein’s third collection of children’s...
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The Rainbow Fish is a beautifully illustrated modern classic, and is still the perfect bedtime story.Its popularity spurred the creation of a book series, short film, and television series. But, '90s kids know where it all began.
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Holes author Louis Sachar captivated a generation of nineties young adult readers with the story of Stanley Yelnats and the mysterious Camp Green Lake. The iconic blue and red cover captured the weird and humorous nature of this best-selling novel,...
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Notorious inmate Sirius Black has escaped the heavily fortified prison of Azkaban, and there is a rumor that he intends to kill Harry Potter. This is probably not the best news to receive as Harry starts his third year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
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Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is a fantasy novel, and the follow-up to Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. It is the second of the seven books which make up the original Harry Potter series written by J.K. Rowling. The story picks up...
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Oh, the Places You'll Go! is a book about transitions. Its relevancy is present whether you are graduating from elementary school, college, or transitioning from one phase of life to another. The classic illustrated children's story was written by...
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While you were laughing with the rest of your third-grade class as Chicken Licken got crushed under the table of contents, your parents and teachers were quietly patting themselves on the back. The twisted and subversive nature of The Stinky Cheese...
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Once again, you can be the coolest kid at recess, utilizing only your shoelace and sleight of hand. Take your cat's cradle game to a whole new level by learning some impressive new tricks.
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This powerful novel by Tim O'Brien focuses on the lives of American soldiers in the Vietnam War. As a popular novel for school reading assignments in the '90s, it exposed a new generation to the realities and harshness of war.
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Is it really middle school if you don’t have a dogeared copy of The Giver bouncing around in your backpack? Published in 1993 by Houghton Mifflin, Lois Lowry’s young adult dystopian novel was an international bestseller and introduced millions of...
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