Written by J.K. Rowling & Illustrated by Jim Kay
SUMMARY:
Released by Arthur Levine Books (a Scholastic imprint) for the U.S. in 2017, this 326-page deluxe hardcover reprints J.K. Rowling’s third Harry Potter novel (1999) as an illustrated storybook. Returning to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for their third year, thirteen-year-olds Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger find out that demented criminal Sirius Black has escaped from the formidable Azkaban prison. For the moment, all they know is that Black is threatening Harry’s safety, as this renegade wizard was once a trusted friend of Harry’s murdered parents. Further complications lead to Hagrid’s arrest and a time-traveling loop that Harry and his friends must navigate to avert a needless tragedy.
REVIEW:
Including Harry’s latest despair living with the Dursleys, Rowling’s third Harry Potter novel remains a dynamite read. Boasting high-caliber production values (including a sturdy binding and a very readable font), artist Jim Kay’s sumptuous paintings imagine Harry’s third magical caper in such a fresh way that the result doesn’t compete with the 2004 film adaptation. Instead, it makes a vivid enhancement. For Harry Potter fans of any age, this Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban is a treat to behold.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
An indigo ribbon is attached as a trusty bookmark. The inside back cover jacket provides biographical synopses on Rowling and Kay.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 10 Stars
