GLOBAL HARRY POTTER PUBLISHERS AND PARTNERS COME TOGETHER FOR SUMMER HOLIDAYS! TO CELEBRATE STARTING HARRY POTTER CAMPAIGN FOR CHILDREN, TEACHERS AND FAMILIES
StartingHarryPotter.com | #StartingHarryPotter | July 2023
This summer, global publishers, retailers and Harry Potter partners come together once again! To inspire children to fall in love with magic, storytelling and reading with the annual Starting Harry Potter campaign.
STARTING HARRY POTTER
StartingHarryPotter.com is an online destination… Developed by Wizarding World Digital to support and engage young readers as they embark on their journey of discovering the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling. This initiative provides free and fun activities to do throughout the summer holidays. For children, teachers and families. Making it the ideal place for adults and children to dive into the Harry Potter stories together.
INTERACTION
StartingHarryPotter.com has had over 1.5 million visitors and 16 million views since launch last year. And it brings together a huge host of interactive ideas, games and fun activities which encourage children to get creative and play.
SPARK
The bite-sized, visually rich content has been developed to engage young minds, harness children’s enthusiasm for the magic of the stories and further spark their imagination. There are challenges and ideas which will help new readers and fans to think more about what they have read or listened to.
HOGWARTS
You can access StartingHarryPotter.com by clicking the ‘for kids’ tab on Wizarding World Digital. Or by visiting www.StartingHarryPotter.com! You will find pages jam-packed with free, fun, interactive story-led ideas… From games to play, crafts to make, as well as character introductions! Also ideas to try at home, quizzes and other essentials every wannabe Hogwarts student needs to know!
ARTWORK
This year there will be a brand-new interactive feature appearing on the site, allowing visitors to explore Hogwarts and its grounds.
Showcasing the remarkable art of Peter Goes, it will feature illustrations (including a previously unseen artwork) from the first official companion to the Harry Potter books – The Harry Potter Wizarding Almanac – which publishes on 10th October, 2023 (published by Bloomsbury in the UK and Scholastic in the US).
The feature will also include associated audio from Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, from digital publisher Pottermore.
AUDIOBOOK
In the UK, US and Canada, Audible members will be able to stream the first Harry Potter audiobook throughout the campaign. In association with digital publisher, Pottermore.
MULTILINGUAL
For the first time there will also be dedicated hubs in French run by Gallimard Jeunesse, Spanish run by Salamandra and Polish by Media Rodzina, and further activities and activations in several other countries.
AVAILABLE NOW
The campaign has already started with new activities dropped throughout the month of July. Culminating on Harry Potter’s birthday on 31st July 2023 with activity packs for children. Also, adults can submit children’s drawings, paintings and other creations inspired by the Harry Potter stories for the chance to be featured on StartingHarryPotter.com.
SUMMER READING CHALLENGE
Throughout the summer, children can log their Harry Potter reads as part of the national Summer Reading Challenge. Run by The Reading Agency. Delivered in partnership with public libraries and
national children’s charity the Youth Sport Trust, this year’s Challenge ‘Ready, Set, Read’ aims to empower young people and unleash the power of play, sport and physical activity through reading.
BROUGHT TO LIFE
From July to September, children will be able to join the Challenge for free at their local library and navigate a fictional summer obstacle course brought to life with characters by children’s illustrator Loretta Schauer.
Children will be rewarded with free incentives including stickers and libraries will be putting on a summer of fun activities. With a world of wizarding tournaments and games to explore, the Harry Potter books are a perfect way to dive into this year’s Challenge.
MAGIC
And the magic continues this September! When Scholastic will be celebrating the 25th anniversary of the US publication of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and will kick-off a year-long national campaign to celebrate reading in bookstores, libraries, and schools across America. In October, Bloomsbury in the UK will celebrate Harry Potter Book Day, joined by global Harry Potter publishers and partners, with further activity and activations in several other countries.
PARTNERSHIP
The Starting Harry Potter weekly content has been produced through a partnership between WizardingWorld.com and the Harry Potter publishers. Including Bloomsbury in the UK, Scholastic in the US and Pottermore Publishing.