Scholastic Inc. sent out a press release today, announcing the celebration of Harry’s birthday on July 31 with a special sneak preview of movie photos. Scholastic and Warner Bros. Pictures will celebrate Harry Potter’s birthday with the July 31 release of the Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone Movie Poster Book. A special sneak preview …read more!

Collector’s Festival 2001 kicks off this week (Thursday) at Chicago’s Navy Pier and includes an entire pavilion dedicated to Harry Potter merchandise. There’s also a Harry Potter look-alike contest: Harry Potter Look-a-Like Contest On Sat., June 16, at noon on the Navy Pier show floor, boys and girls of all ages will be invited to …read more!

The Globe and Mail’s “Travel Notebook” talks about taking a trip to Gloucester, England and visiting the cathedral where some of Harry Potter was filmed as well as the birthplace of J.K. Rowling.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette editor Bob Hoover details “Lord of the Rings” plan to overtake Harry Potter with a two-pronged attack as detailed at the recent BookExpo America. Harry Potter’s in for a rumble on the playground. The bespectacled Brit’s grip on the kids’ entertainment biz is under assault from another fictional corner of England known as …read more!

The Detroit News takes a look at how the Harry Potter book series has caused more kids to start (and continue) reading more.

Empire Online has a piece about the new teaser poster but also mentions a different rumor about the next trailer – that it will be out in US theatres on June 22. Empire Online has also heard that the next Potter trailer will be coming out on 22 June 2001 in American cinemas. Let’s hope …read more!

‘Licensing 2001‘, a major showbiz merchandise and trade show, is kicking off today at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York. In a preview article, The Hollywood Reporter writes: Warner Bros.’ “Harry Potter” remains a supernatural force to be reckoned with despite some early sniping about weakness in product sales. In fact, some of …read more!

Santa Monica-based company ‘Intervisual Books’ will produce two interactive books based on the Harry Potter novels. In a press release, the company announced contracts from the U.K., Germany, Holland, France, Spain, Poland and Japan. The first book, “Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone” deluxe pop-up book, brings to life as never before a lavish visual …read more!

BBC’s Newsround spoke with Rupert Grint on the set of his new movie “Thunderpants” about his role in Harry Potter. “On Harry Potter there were loads of people rushing around. Thunderpants is smaller, it has less special effects.” But does he get to fly in either movie? “I don’t actually get on a broomstick,” reveals …read more!

Reader Jonathan mentioned that he was reading a book about haunted locations and came across a description of Glamis Castle in Scotland which mentions poltergeist activity (Peeves, anyone?), the “Grey Lady” ghost haunting it (you might remember she is the ghost for Ravenclaw), and a secret chamber in which a horrible monster resides that is …read more!