'J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World Movie Magic, Volume 1' book review

'J.K. Rowling's Wizarding World Movie Magic: Extraordinary People and Fascinating Places' by Jody Revenson.

There are only a couple of weeks to go until the release of “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” the new movie from J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter universe. To add to the enjoyment of Harry Potter fans, Candlewick Press has released Jody Revenson’s “J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World Movie Magic: Extraordinary People and Fascinating Places.” The book is an insider’s guide to all eight Harry Potter movies, plus “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.”

Revenson tells the story of how production designers, digital artists, graphics designers, hair stylists, set designers, makeup artists, and more brought the Fairyland that is the wizarding world to life on the big screen.  This magical volume features settings such as Diagon Alley and the Great Hall at Hogwarts from the Harry Potter films, and 1926 New York City from “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.” It also features beloved witches and wizards such as Harry Potter and Sirius Black from the Potter series, and introduces Newt Scamander and characters from the New York City of the 1920s.

Opening Volume 1 of “J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World Movie Magic” is like opening a magical treasure chest. It’s not only full of beautiful photos and art, it’s made interactive with inserts, a pair of Death Eater masks, flaps to lift, and more. Each character and place has feature pages with quotes from actors about their characters, trivia, and inside information from movie makers about how places and characters were conceived and brought to life through movie magic.

Verdict: five out of five stars, buy it. “J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World Movie Magic: Extraordinary People and Fascinating Places” is a beautiful coffee table style book printed on heavy coated paper with an embossed cover. It’s ninety-six pages long, and has something for everyone ages ten years to adult. It’s a great gift for the Potterhead in your life. It's available online and in book stores now.