NEW YORK, NY -- (Marketwire) -- 08/20/08 -- Calling all first time Harry Potter readers and long-time fans! Whether you are starting your Hogwarts journey for the first time, or experiencing it all over again, join the 10th anniversary celebration of the U.S. release of "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone." Scholastic, the U.S. publisher of the Harry Potter books, is inviting fans of all ages to come to its headquarters in New York City, to be part of "Harry Potter Cover to Cover Day," an all-day muggle read-a-thon. On September 23rd, starting at 8:00 a.m., fans will have the opportunity to sit in the throne used by J.K. Rowling at Radio City Music Hall (2005) and Carnegie Hall (2007), and collectively read from the first book in the bestselling Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, 'cover to cover.' Fans who can't be in New York can join in the excitement by viewing the all day read-a-thon through a live webcast at www.scholastic.com/readharry.

Each fan who takes to the throne and reads aloud will receive a special commemorative Harry Potter anniversary souvenir, and the first 100 fans to read will receive a free copy of the special anniversary edition of "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone."

"We are thrilled to celebrate the first decade of Harry Potter's magical influence on books and reading, right here at Scholastic headquarters," stated Ellie Berger, President of Trade Books, Scholastic. "What makes this anniversary special is seeing readers who have grown up with Harry celebrating alongside a new generation of readers who will just be beginning their Hogwarts journey."

The special anniversary edition of "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" (published by Scholastic) will be available to all fans in stores nationwide on September 23rd, 2008. The special edition features exclusive bonus material from J.K. Rowling, as well as new cover art and a four-color frontispiece by Mary GrandPré. The special anniversary cover of "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" (Scholastic/Arthur A. Levine; $30.00) depicts 11-year-old Harry looking into the Mirror of Erised, which Harry comes across in his first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and learns that the mirror shows you what you most desire.

Published by Scholastic in the United States in September 1998, "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" was praised by The New York Times as "... as funny, moving and impressive as the story behind the writing. [J.K. Rowling] had wizardry inside, and has soared beyond her modest muggle surroundings to achieve something quite special." There are currently 28 million copies of "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" in print in the U.S. alone, and 400 million copies of the seven books in the Harry Potter series have sold worldwide in 65 languages.

To participate in "Harry Potter Cover to Cover Day," participants should come to Scholastic Headquarters at 557 Broadway (between Prince and Spring St.) in Soho, New York. Reading starts at 8:00 a.m. (edt.) and goes until the last page is read.

**As the event will be live webcast, all participants under age 18, must be present with a parent or legal guardian.

For more information about "Harry Potter Cover to Cover Day," visit http://mediaroom.scholastic.com/readharry.

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