Nearly everyone on the planet has read the Harry Potter books by now, so I’m not going to give this book a traditional review. I only want to talk about my reading experience with the illustrated edition of The Prisoner of Azkaban.
More than any other books, the Harry Potter Series spurred my love of reading. There were times in my life when I felt too busy or burdened to read, but I would always make time each summer for these books as they released. I quite literally grew up with the characters, reading the books at the same age as the characters were. I read the first book in 2000 when I was ten and The Deathly Hallows the summer after my senior year of high school. Even from childhood, I knew I wanted to share these books with my own children someday and have been waiting for the time when they would be old enough to comprehend the stories. Luckily, the books illustrated by Jim Kay were the perfect way to begin these books a little earlier with my young children.
We have a tradition going, though my kids know the movies inside and out, I’m being a bit of a mean mom and making my kids wait to read the books as the illustrated editions come out. We are at the mercy of Jim Kay’s talent, waiting until the Goblet of Fire is released in its illustrated form to continue with the series. I also don’t let my kids flip ahead to sneak peeks at the pictures. Each time we turn the page, a surprise is waiting for us on the other side. This makes reading the series even more fun than I expected, as we want to read to more and more just to look at the gorgeous artwork.
I was most excited to read The Prisoner of Azkaban because it’s my favorite book of the entire series. The Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs revelation blew my mind as a kid and I couldn’t wait for my kids to experience it too…since it’s unfortunately left out of the movie adaptation. As we crept toward the end of the story, my daughter was begging me to continue reading until my voice was so hoarse, I had to stop. As I hoped, she was nearly as excited about the ending of the story as I was as a child.
I’m extremely grateful for these moments, sharing my own childhood favorites with my kids, thanks to J.K. Rowling and Jim Kay. The books and the memories they have fostered will be forever cherished.
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Ashes Books & Bobs 
The Prisoner of Azkaban is one of my favorites, too! 😊 I’ve read it five times and I’m ready to read it again when I get this beautiful illustrated version. I also love Order of the Phoenix.
Lovely post!
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I think this was my third time to read it. It was interesting to read from an adult perspective, as opposed to my childhood POV. Order of the Phoenix was one of my favorites too!
Thank you for reading!!
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These are so pretty 🙂
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They are so beautifully done!
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I need to read these again. The whole family is going through a Potter film phase!
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We love having Harry Potter movie marathons every so often. The books and movies are both so much fun!! Enjoy your family time!
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We are a family of Potterheads, especially myself and our daughters. When the illustrated editions started coming out we started getting them for our now 9 year old and reading them at bedtime. We are about to start the final chapter of Prisoner of Azkaban and I LOVE how enraptured she is by these editions!
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Your daughter is at the perfect age for enjoying the books. I love that so many are making the time to read them to their kids. Such a great family activity and makes for wonderful memories!
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The illustrations are remarkable, they are making me consider buying the series all over again!
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They are so much fun to look at! So detailed and beautifully done.
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This is one of my favourite books too! Sirius has my heart! That book is beautiful ❤️
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I adore the illustrated books ❤ it feels like reading them anew when you look at the pictures, and they're just gorgeous. Great post!
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I agree! It does feel reignite that magic I first felt when I would buy the brand new copy to read for the first time.
Thanks for reading!!
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Prizoner of Azkaban is my fave too!!
This illustrated version looks nice. 🙂
thanks for sharing
-Lena
http://www.lenasnotebook.co.uk
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Thank you, Lena!!
I am loving the illustrated editions. It makes this great series new and exciting all over again.
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Our parents read us the series when we were younger until we were old enough to read them ourselves, we all love them! Every Christmas we watch the whole series! I actually just posted a list of my favourite books in order from best to worst, everyone loves this series!
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Those memories are so special! I think that’s my absolute favorite thing about this series.
My family watches the movies every Christmas too. We bring mattresses into the living room and have a indoor campout.Lots of fun.
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I swear, I miss so many of Talon’s and your reviews, and I love them, SO THIS MAKES ME VERY UNHAPPY! 😀 I love that you included pictures. This is really beautiful, Ashley. xo
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Thank you so much for stopping by to check them out. That really means so much to me!!! ❤️😘
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I believe it’s fantastic that you’ve started a tradition like this with you kids. Prisoner of Azkaban will always have a place in my heart. It is my favorite book and favorite of the film adaptions. I think it’s the book I can relate to most. The changing of a child to an adult came at the same time for me. I was sad that the film adaptation had some very good parts of the book missing, but it is by far the best film.
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Thank you so much! The Prisoner of Azkaban is my favorite book and well. It would’ve been my favorite movie if they hadn’t left out the Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs aspect. I still really enjoyed it though!
Absolutely love the books and movies – they’re always going to be a staple in my life.
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