Get a Sneak Peek at the New Harry Potter Christmas Book

Parade has an exclusive look at the new Harry Potter Christmas picture book. Called Christmas at Hogwarts ($19.99; Scholastic; out October 15), it tells the story of Harry Potter’s first Christmas at the school of magic, an event that takes place in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (okay, Sorcerer's Stone ) the first book in the series. This new work combines the words of J.K.Rowling with brand-new illustrations by artist Ziyi Gao…who was discovered thanks to fan art she posted online!

Now, ardent fans of Harry Potter saw some of the artwork Gao created when the picture book was promoted at the Wizarding World website . But Parade is the first Muggles-oriented site to offer a sneak peek at another fantastic spread from the book coming out next week. You won’t see it anywhere else until Christmas At Hogwarts hits stores October 15.

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Zao becomes the latest artist to bring their vision to bear on the world of Harry Potter. We’ve seen other artists create everything from book cover illustrators to theme park rides to the thousands involved in making the movies . They each gave their own personal take on the stories about Harry, Ron and Hermione found in the novels. But Zao is surely the first to receive the books as a child in Beijing, draw fan art in high school imagining scenes from them and then be discovered by the team at Scholastic. David Saylor, Creative Director at the publisher, tells the story.

“I first saw Ziyi’s artwork on a Harry Potter fan site and later found out that she grew up reading the books,” says Saylor. “I was enchanted by her cinematic compositions that immediately engage readers with their warmth and charm. I could see that Ziyi was an artist who loved this world with all her heart: it shows in her work! She brings Harry, his friends, and Hogwarts to life in a way that’s nostalgic, cozy, and magical—and her breathtaking portrayal of this lovely Christmas story invites readers of all ages into the spellbinding world of Harry Potter.”

So let’s have a look!

An Exclusive Look at Harry Potter's Christmas Book

Christmas at Hogwarts from Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone by J.K. Rowling; illustrated by Ziyi Gao ($19.99; Scholastic; out October 15) Buy now on Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Bookshop.org

The Harry Potter books and films are now inextricably linked with the holidays. Half the films were released in November and the other half came out in the summertime. (The books all came out in the summer–thankfully–so kids had time to read them without neglecting their homework).

But the Harry Potter films are now a staple on cable tv and streamers. Like It’s A Wonderful Life and other classics, the films play on a loop it seems from roughly November through the end of the year. (With Halloween tossed in for good measure.) You’re home from school or bored on a weekend during the holidays? Harry Potter films prove the perfect binge watch. The holidays are also a great time for anyone ready to plunge back into the original novels. So Harry Potter = the holidays.

As an orphan with relatives who provided meager lodgings and even meagerer love, Harry never had much to look forward to come Christmas. But in the first book Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, he discovers Hogwarts isn’t just a school of magic, but pretty magical for a kid who doesn’t even expect to receive a gift.

In this spread, Gao shows the classic image of kids at school mostly looking forward to a break from their studies. She also neatly captures the personalities of our three central characters in class. Hermione is working hard, Harry is daydreaming and Ron is fast asleep. Oh and while the owl Hedwig isn’t mentioned in the section of the book the text quotes, she told Wizarding World in an interview she just had to include him somewhere.

Here Hagrid is carrying another tree into the Great Hall, with Ron, Harry and Hermione trailing behind to glimpse the decorating in progress. Professor Flitwick is on a stool putting the final touches on one tree while Professor McGonall directs Hagrid. (Incidentally, this is the first year we’ll be celebrating the holidays without Maggie Smith, the great actor who played her in the films.)

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Now here’s a unique spread from the book, not seen anywhere else until Christmas at Hogwarts hits stores. As you remember from the book and films, Harry did receive some gifts that Christmas. He got treats from the Weasleys (including a green sweater from Mrs. Weasley). But the real surprise is a package with an unsigned note. Here’s Harry, absorbed in studying the note.

The gift contained in the package is of course the invisibility cloak. Harry soon uses it to explore Hogwarts at all hours (against the rules, of course!). The note tells Harry the cloak used to belong to Harry’s late father.

What I love about this spread is how dynamic and engaging it is. This isn’t just a faithful reproduction of a scene described in the book. It has its own visual flair, doing something you can’t easily describe in a book or show in a film: how this note is so important to Harry and dominating his thoughts. You’d be the same if you knew so little about your late parents.

This is a unique picture book tying Harry Potter into Christmas. We’ve had the books and the films and the stage plays and now a TV series is in the works. And yes, the novels have been presented in lavish editions with illustrations. But this spread hints at one other possibility: Harry Potter graphic novels. Maybe next Christmas?

Christmas at Hogwarts from Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone by J.K. Rowling; illustrated by Ziyi Gao ($19.99; Scholastic; out October 15) Buy now on Amazon, Barnes & Noble , Bookshop.org

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