Harry Potter News: Bloomsbury announces "Pocket Potters" for young readers

Harry Potter is a series that can let its readers grow up with the characters as they make their way through Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, but it can be hard to decide at what age to introduce young readers to The Boy Who Lived. Now, the publisher of the original series is making this decision easier with the release of three new books.

What are Pocket Potters?

According to a January 28 article on HarryPotter.com. the books are a "new, first-of-its-kind series of companion books to the iconic Harry Potter stories." The editions in question are to be called Pocket Potters: Little guides to the Harry Potter stories by J.K. Rowling. The first three, which cover the "Golden Trio" of Harry, Ron, and Hermione, are et to be released by Bloomsbury Childrens' Books in 2025, "with even more fun to come in 2026 and beyond."

A sample illustration shows the fun illustration style unique to this project. We see a depiction of the Sorting, with quotes from the Sorting Hat's song and introductions to the professors. "Making Friends" depicts various moments ranging from the discovery of a three-headed dog to tea with Hagrid. It does point out Draco Malfoy and his cronies and we can't help but love Fang hanging out under the tablecloth at Hagrid's hut.

This work by Natalie Smillie "has captured the personality of the Boy-Who-Lived perfectly." We know that she's not the only contributor, since "a range of illustrators have worked across the series, using their unique artistic flair to bring the wizarding world to life." Olivia Muza, who contributed artwork to The Harry Potter Wizarding Almanac, turns her artistic eye to Ron in a brilliant way with a page that shows not only his love for flying and feasting, but his fanatical devotion to the Chudley Cannons. Hermione is brought to life by Laura Proietti and hrer artwork is predictably chock-full of books as well as bushy hair. I particularly enjoyed the illustration of a troll leg beneath the quote about becoming friends after knocking out a mountain troll.

The Pocket Potters series is due to be published on August 26, 2025 and is available in 25 languages. We will be on the lookout for more details of this wonderful project.