The Waterford News & Star in Ireland reports on the staggering numbers of preorders for Book V.

The Express Star reports that “A bird rescue centre has been flooded with neglected barn owls in the wake of the Harry Potter films which star a magical white owl called Hedwig.”

The Book Magazine article featuring TLC editors Melissa Anelli and Heidi Tandy is now online. Warning – potential spoilers in the article.

CBBC reports Waterstones is training up loads of actors to fill their stores with magic the night of the Book V launch.

It was bound to happen. As the actors from the Harry Potter movies get older, the media will start catching them in teen situations and blow them out of portion. Here’s the first – Emma Watson at a party where underage alcohol is being served so says the Oxford Herald.

The Motley Fool’s Rick Munarriz takes a look at Scholastic and Harry Potter.

A bit of satire and humor from the Christian Science Monitor’s Ron Charles regarding the potential for “out of control” marketing.

According to a news release Books Inc., the West’s Oldest Independent Bookseller, is hosting midnight release parties for the much anticipated Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, beginning Friday evening, June 20, 2003, at seven Books Inc. locations. Locations include, three San Francisco locations (Market St., Laurel Village, and Chestnut St.), the Burlingame, …read more!

The Kansas City Star has an intriguing article about whether to stick with an online preorder or to visit a store. I think I prefer going out and joining a party.

It looks like Book V didn’t come soon enough. Newsday reports that Scholastic had to lay off 400 in its global workforce.