Cover art

The cover for each Harry Potter book possess a similar style. The British publisher Bloomsbury does books in both adult and children's editions, with the adult edition depicting a particular object or place in the cover, and the children's one featuring a major event in the book. Bloomsbury has used several illustrators for their children's covers. The covers by American publisher Scholastic usually depict an amalgalm of objects and people from the book against a common backdrop; the art on all American editions is by Mary GrandPré. The cover art and design of either the British children's edition or the American edition is re-used on many, but not all, international editions of the books.

British covers
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

The cover of the children's edition, drawn by Thomas Taylor, depicts Harry Potter staring at the Hogwarts Express at Platform 9 3/4.The original Bloomsbury back cover includes a rather bizarre-looking figure (whose face also adorns the spine), which does not match any character in the book, although fans have speculated that it is supposed to represent either Dumbledore or Quirrell. After a few editions, the back cover was changed with a new image, this time clearly identifiable as Dumbledore, even holding a Put-Outer.

The adult edition depicts the Philosopher's Stone.

American covers
All art by Mary GrandPré.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone The cover shows a Nimbus-riding Harry (in Muggle attire) about to catch the Golden Snitch, with other Quidditch players in the far distant background. Hogwarts castle appears behind Harry and the columns through which he is flying, and Fluffy's three vicious heads are visible in an opening in the castle wall. In the distance the forest's pointed pine trees mirror the pointed towers of the castle, while a unicorn gallops by. The back cover has an owl and Dumbledore. The front flap has a mysterious candle-holding figure coming behind the curtain.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets The cover shows Fawkes flying Harry, Ron, and Ginny Weasley to safety after the defeat of Riddle in the Chamber of Secrets. Mrs. Norris is in the back cover, and the front flap has the Basilisk's lurking eye. The title (besides "Harry Potter") is written in blood on the walls like Ginny's messages while possessed.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

The cover shows Harry and Hermione riding Buckbeak. It could be said that all four Marauders appear - Sirius Black is probably the silhouette toward the bottom of the front cover, Peter Pettigrew's rat form is in the front flop, Remus Lupin in Werewolf form runs in the back cover, and Harry's stag Patronus (which resembles James Potter's Animagus) is in the back flap. On the back, we see four Dementors prowling around the castle and the Whomping Willow in the distance. Crookshanks is waiting under the tree. On the back flap apppears a small house with smoke rising from its chimney -- probably Hagrid's hut.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

The entire art depicts the Third Task's maze, along with the Horntail (whose head and wings are on the back cover). The front cover features all Triwizard Champions - Harry Potter holding the Golden egg, Fleur Delacour, Viktor Krum, and Cedric Diggory. An acromantula (partly obscured by Fleur's hair ribbon), Sirius' dog form, distant stands full of spectators projecting above the maze and what looks like a Dementor are also visible.

In the back cover, a pair of red eyes, the Beauxbatons carriage and a hand holding the Goblet of Fire are visible.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

The picture depicts Harry in the circular room at the entrance to the Department of Mysteries. The back cover has Lupin, Tonks, and Moody opening one of the doors. The deluxe cover depicts 12 Grimmauld Place, with Hedwig flying in the front cover, and broomstick-riding wizards arriving.

Other books
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

The original print's cover was design to look like Harry Potter's cover of the book, with a sticker featuring his signature, and claw gashes over the cover material. The 2009 re-edition has a painting of Hogwarts' coat of arms with the animals escaping the frame.