Currently surrounded by an entire industry devoted to related toys, games, action figures, and Harry Potter movies, the success of the brand continues to boil and bubble up to its main source.

As avid Harry Potter fans will tell you ...it's all about the books.

Beginning with "Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone" in 1997, (Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone in the U.S.) author J.K. Rowling won instant critical notice and book awards worldwide, not mention a cult following of millions of children and adult readers.

Popular subsequent titles include Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (1998), Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (1999), Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2000), Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2003) and Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince (2005).

A new book cover for "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" is unveiled in celebration of its 15th anniversary.

The last and final installment, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, hit book stores worldwide on July 21, 2007. .

In all, hundreds of millions of books in the Harry Potter series have been sold in some 61 translations (including Latin, Welsh, Ancient Greek and Irish) in over 200 countries.

Now 15 years on since the publication of the first Harry Potter book comes the announcement that the entire series will be getting a makeover. To celebrate, new covers are being designed beginning with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone in fall of 2013

Around the Web, discover the complete lexicon of Harry Potter books and why it's so popular, how it inspires fear of witchcraft and its perceived influence on children, plus a bit about the author with related "Potter Fodder" fun facts and trivia...

also see -> Harry Potter for Adults

More about Harry Potter books, plots & story lines around the Web:

 

Scholastic.com | Harry Potter - The American publisher with pages devoted to the Harry Potter series with plot summaries, cover art, reference guide and discussion boards, interactive games and fun stuff.

Harry Potter Books from Bloomsbury - The original UK publisher with a fine presentation on their top money-maker including a virtual tour of all six books, short synopses and book cover illustrations, news and updates, FAQ.

The Harry Potter Lexicon - The most comprehensive site of its kind featuring chapter-by chapter guides with notes and commentary, contrasts between British and American versions, book cover gallery, interesting trivia, FAQ, awards list.