The number one worldwide bestseller Over half a million copies of the hardback sold in 3 months

Winner of Smarties Book Prize 9-11 Category 1999 and Whitbread Book Awards: Children's Book Category 1999 and Good Book Guide Award 2000 and Whitaker Platinum Book Award 2001 and Smarties Book Prize Gold Award 1999 and Whitbread Prize (Children's Book) 1999. Runner-up for The BBC Big Read Top 100 2003. Shortlisted for Blue Peter Book Award 2000 and Carnegie Medal 2000 and LA Carnegie Medal 2000 and BBC Big Read Top 100 2003 and Guardian Children's Fiction Prize 2000.

'I can honestly say I can't remember the last time I encountered an author who has had this effect on me. For the first time in years the book lives up to the hype ... perfection' Daily Express 'Extraordinarily vivid and exceptionally well-imagined' Independent on Sunday 'Rowling deserves all the plaudits that are being heaped upon her. For once, the word phenomenon is an understatement' Scotland on Sunday 'The most remarkable publishing sensation for a generation ... the story is told with such momentum, imagination and irrepressible humour that it can captivate both adults and children' Sunday Express

Since publication of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone in 1997, the Harry Potter novels have sold 350 million copies worldwide and have been translated into 64 languages. J.K. Rowling has generated huge popular appeal for her books across the generations in an unprecedented fashion: she was the first children's author to be voted the BA Author of the Year, and also to win the British Book Awards Author of the Year.