Scholastic Reads - Episodes Tagged with “Harry Potter”

20 Years of Magic Part 3: The Making of Harry Potter

Scholastic Inc. — Thu, 20 Sep 2018 18:00:00 -0400

From editorial and art direction to publicity, marketing, sales, and legal — publishing the Harry Potter series involved a dedicated team across all divisions at Scholastic. In the third and final installment of our special Harry Potter series, we're talking with some of the people who have helped bring the books to life over the last twenty years.

Our guests include:

Arthur A. Levine, publisher of Arthur A. Levine books and the American editor of the Harry Potter series
David Saylor, creative director
Rachel Coun, vice president of marketing and brand management
Kris Moran, director of publicity at Scholastic in 1998
Mark Seidenfeld, vice president and deputy general counsel
Lizette Serrano, executive director of educational marketing and event strategy
Roz Hilden, sales representative

Additional resources:

Special thanks:

Music composed by Lucas Elliot Eberl
Sound mix and editing by Daniel Jordan and Christopher Johnson
Produced by Emily Morrow

20 Years of Magic Part 2: The Artists of Harry Potter

Scholastic Inc. — Thu, 13 Sep 2018 17:00:00 -0400

In part two of our special Harry Potter series, we're talking with some of the illustrators who have brought Harry to life over the last 20 years, including: Mary GrandPré, the illustrator of the original U.S. editions of the Harry Potter series; Brian Selznick, the illustrator of the 20th anniversary edition covers; and Jim Kay, the artist behind the fully illustrated editions.

Each artist will talk about what it was like to join the Harry Potter universe and bring to life their vision of the Boy Who Lived.

Additional resources:

Guests:

Mary GrandPré has illustrated over 20 picture books, but she is perhaps best known for her illustrations on the Harry Potter books. She has also worked as the conceptual artist on Dreamwork’s animated film "Antz” and on Blue Sky Studios’ animated film “Ice Age.”
Brian Selznick is the Caldecott Medal-winning creator of the #1 New York Times bestsellers The Invention of Hugo Cabret, adapted into Martin Scorsese’s Oscar-winning movie Hugo, and Wonderstruck, adapted by celebrated filmmaker Todd Haynes, with a screenplay by Selznick; as well as The Marvels. His books have garnered countless accolades worldwide, and have been translated into more than 35 languages.
Jim Kay won the Kate Greenaway Medal in 2012 for his illustrations in A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness. Jim studied illustration at the University of Westminster and since graduating has worked in the Archives of Tate Britain and the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew. Jim has produced concept work for television and contributed to a group exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. He now lives and works in Northamptonshire, England, with his wife and a rescued greyhound.

Special thanks:

Music composed by Lucas Elliot Eberl
Sound mix and editing by Daniel Jordan and Christopher Johnson
Produced by Emily Morrow

20 Years of Magic Part 1: The Harry Potter Fandom

Scholastic Inc. — Thu, 06 Sep 2018 10:00:00 -0400

In September 1998, Scholastic published Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, introducing U.S. readers to the orphaned boy living in a cupbord under the stairs. Since then, the Harry Potter series has become a global phenomenon, selling more than 500 million copies, translated into more than 80 languages, and adapted into eight blockbuster films.

To celebrate the 20th anniversary, we're hosting a series of special episodes. Over the next few weeks, we'll talk with some of the extraordinary illustrators behind the stories, as well as Scholastic employees who were with Harry from the very beginning.

But first, we're going to talk about the fandom. This week, you'll hear from fans themselves about what Harry Potter means to them. You'll also hear from two librarians who are bringing the books to new generations of readers every day.

Additional resources:

Guests:

Eti Berland is a youth and teen services librarian at Lincolnwood Public Library in Illinois.
Robin Brenner is the teen librarian at the Public Library of Brookline in Massachusetts.

Special thanks:

Music composed by Lucas Elliot Eberl
Sound mix and editing by Daniel Jordan and Christopher Johnson
Produced by Emily Morrow