There are seven books in the Harry Potter series, following the beloved Boy Who Lived who goes by the series’ namesake. The Harry Potter franchise, however, stretches far beyond the original seven novels published by J. K. Rowling. At the time of writing, seven additional books set in the Wizarding World have been published that reach beyond the original seven-book series.
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The Harry Potter Series In Reading Order
The original Harry Potter series consists of seven books written by J. K. Rowling and published from 1997 to 2007. This is a fantasy children’s series that has been awarded the Andre Norton Award.
Note: This series is best read in order from one to seven. Nobody is going to stop you from reading out of order, but you won’t have as good of a reading experience as each book builds upon the previous.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
Also known as Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone for those of you who aren’t stateside, this is the first book in the series. This book introduces us and the main character, Harry Potter to the Wizarding World as he embarks on his first year as a Hogwarts student.
Book Specs: Publication Date – July 30, 1997 | Age Range – 7+ Years | Pages – 309
Harry Potter and the Chambers of Secrets
In this second book, Harry Potter and his friends Ron and Hermione encounter Tom Riddle for the first time. This is the book Dobby first appears as well (a fan favorite).
Book Specs: Publication Date – July 2, 1998 | Age Range – 8+ Years | Pages – 352
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
The third book, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban centers around the infamous prisoner, Sirius Black, escaping from Azkaban. Black and Voldemort (the big bad in the Harry Potter Universe) are said to have ties to one another. Harry and crew must navigate the scary possibility Sirius Black may be after him.
Book Specs: Publication Date – July 8, 1999 | Age Range – 8+ Years | Pages – 448
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, book four and a hefty book coming in 752 pages, opens with Harry wanting to escape his aunt and uncle to go to the International Quidditch Cup. The meat of the book centers around the Triwizard Tournament, a grueling and dangerous affair.
Book Specs: Publication Date – July 8, 2000 | Age Range – 7 to 12 Years | Pages – 752
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, book five in the series, is the longest out of all seven books. This massive addition to the series comes in at a whopping 912 pages. Things are certainly ramping up at this point in the series as the characters progress in their schooling and skillset. Voldemort is a growing threat and the magical government is proving to be unreliable.
Book Specs: Publication Date – July 21, 2003 | Age Range – 9+ Years | Pages – 912
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is the second-to-last in the series. In this book, Harry encounters the Half-Blood Prince, struggles with typical school issues, and also wanders closer to what the deal is with Voldemort and Dumbledore. Kind of stressful for a kid when you think about it.
Book Specs: Publication Date – July 16, 2005 | Age Range – 8+ Years | Pages – 688
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
The final book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows finishes off the epic tale of Harry Potter. Harry, Ron, and Hermione are on the hunt to complete the quest left to them by Dumbledore. This is one of the darkest and most mature books in the series but it’s still a children’s series.
Book Specs: Publication Date – July 21, 2007 | Age Range – 8+ Years | Pages – 784
The Spin-Offs
Still set within the Wizarding World, there are seven spin-off books tied to this much-loved fantastical world, not including the film companions (which we’ll also touch on here). Let’s get into them.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
While it could be considered the eighth book in the Harry Potter series, this screenplay was published several years after Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows was released. It is set one generation later and focuses on Harry’s son, Albus.
Book Specs: Publication Date – July 25, 2017 | Age Range – 9 to 12 Years | Pages – 352
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
J. K. Rowling, writing as Newt Scamander, penned this tome on magical creatures in the Wizarding World. This book acts as a textbook that students attending Hogwarts would have read. It also inspired the prequel film series of the same name.
Book Specs: Publication Date – March 12, 2001 | Age Range – 8+ Years | Pages – 128
Quidditch Through the Ages
As part of the Hogwarts Library, Quidditch Through the Ages introduces you to the specifics of quidditch as a sport. You learn its history and technical workings. This is the type of book an avid fan will reach for to squeeze every last drop of history and lore from the beloved world. J. K. Rowling, credited Kennilworthy Whisp, wrote this ‘textbook’.
Book Specs: Publication Date – March 12, 2001 | Age Range – 8+ Years | Pages – 128
The Tales of Beedle the Bard
This book is featured in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows as an important part of the plot. It’s a collection of children’s fables not available for muggles everywhere to enjoy.
Book Specs: Publication Date – December 4, 2008 | Age Range – 6 to 13 Years | Pages – 128
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (The Original Screenplay)
Newt Scamander, magizoologist and quite an interesting fellow, travels to New York with a magical case full of fantastic beasts. When said case full of fantastic beasts escapes, things go awry.
Book Specs: Publication Date – November 18, 2016 | Age Range – 9+ Years | Pages – 304
Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (The Original Screenplay)
This screenplay carries on where the first left off, with Grindelwald captured in New York. Except—Grindelwald has escaped. Now the wizarding world is being divided and Newt, the main character of this series, is set to put a stop to it.
Book Specs: Publication Date – November 16, 2018 | Age Range – 10+ Years | Pages – 304
Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (The Complete Screenplay)
The latest installment, in what is said to be a five-part series, focuses on Newt Scamander going up against Grindelwald. This also dives into the secrets and past of the Dumbledore’s.
Book Specs: Publication Date – July 19, 2022 | Age Range – 8+ Years | Pages – 288
Film Companions
If you’re a lover of both the books and the film adaptations, then a film companion is the perfect addition to your library. Film companions focus on a specific topic or film with a thorough behind-the-scenes look.
Some of these companions include:
- Harry Potter: The Wand Collection
- Harry Potter: The Broom Collection
- The Film Vault Book Series
- Page to Screen
- The Creature Vault
Recipe Books
While there is plenty of unofficial baking, cooking, and drink recipe books out there for Harry Potter fans, the Wizarding World is finally releasing official products for witches, wizards, and muggles alike. As of the time of writing, there’s an official baking book already out and a cookbook on the way.
The Official Harry Potter Baking Book
Despite the numerous amounts of “unofficial” Harry Potter recipe books over the years, there’s now an official Harry Potter Baking Book with over 40 recipes inspired by the films and books. From the “Happee Birthdae Harry” cake to “Puffskein Cream Puffs”, you’ll have your hands full creating magic in the kitchen while you make your way through these recipes.
Book Specs: Publication Date – July 20, 2021 | Age Range – 10+ Years | Pages – 128
The Official Harry Potter Cookbook
While not out yet, The Official Harry Potter Cookbook is the next official release covering all sorts of fan favorites and interesting takes. Ranging from “Golden Peanut Snitches” to “Hagrid’s Dragon Eggs”, these recipes are sure to fill your tummy with someone quite magical when they’re available this September.
Book Specs: Publication Date – September 5, 2023 | Age Range – 8+ Years | Pages – 128
A Series of Many Editions
When there’s a series as adored and revered as Harry Potter, marketers get to marketing and business folk do what business folk do. Essentially, a plethora of editions were birthed onto bookstore shelves near and far, physical and digital. This goes for both the original series and the spin-offs.
As a self-insert, I have the Original Hogwarts Library, the Harry Potter Original Editions (US), and book one of the Harry Potter Hardcover Illustrated Editions. Honestly, there’s an edition to tickle anyone’s fancy with a wide range of artwork. Personally, I love the original United States editions, simply because of the nostalgia factor. The set I own is the one my mom and I read when I was a child and is a prized possession these days.
Some of the other popular editions include:
Unofficial Harry Potter Books
The party doesn’t stop once you’ve read your way through all of the official books in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. When you have a fandom as gigantic as the Harry Potter IP boasts, you wind up with unofficial guides that are perfect for superfan libraries.
Here are a few popular unofficial Harry Potter books you should check out:
- The Unofficial Harry Potter Reference Library Boxed Set by The Editors of MuggleNet
- Fact, Fiction, and Folklore in Harry Potter’s World: An Unofficial Guide
How Many Harry Potter Movies Are There In Total?
There are eight Harry Potter movies, with the final book in the original series having been split into two movies. The Harry Potter franchise has since moved on from the original series, featuring the beloved trio, to explore different characters. Fantastic Beasts And Where to Find Them is the spin-off prequel movie series which currently consists of three movies: Fantastic Beasts And Where to Find Them, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, and Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore.
