July 18, 2005

Harry Potter Magic is Here!

TFK Kid Reporters report from bookstores across the country as 'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince' is finally released

Kid Reporter Jamie gets her hands on a copy of the new Harry Potter book!

By Emily O'Donnell, Jamie Bergey, and Ben Green

TFK Kid Reporters stayed up late Friday night to catch the midnight release of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Across the country, bookstores were filled with Harry Potter fans dressed like their favorite characters waiting to read the first words of the new book.

Emily O'Donnell in Nebraska
It was a night fit for a wizard with plenty of butter beer to go around. The Bookworm, a small neighborhood bookstore in Omaha, Nebraska, hosted over 400 guests, the majority, non-muggle.

Kid Reporter Emily is surrounded by Harry Potter fans at the midnight book release in Nebraska.

Some of the guests included the Weird Sisters, Hagrid, Draco Malfoy, Professor Trelawney, Molly Weasley, and Hermione Granger. Many, many Harry Potters were present. Guests enjoyed games, crafts, face paint, and classes such as Defense Against the Dark Arts and Divination.

All areas could be found with a very detailed Marauder's Map. In addition, you could visit Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade. All present were anxiously awaiting the stroke of midnight when Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince would be uncrated and in our hands.

Jamie Bergey in California

Kid Reporter Jamie interviews Potter fans Sara Kennedy and Emily Kennedy.

Even the triple-digit temperatures didn’t keep Harry Potter fans away from Border’s in Rancho Mirage, California. While waiting for the midnight release, excited fans were enjoying crafts and activities - making their own wands and hats, and testing their knowledge of Potter trivia. Sara Kennedy, 11, one of the first in line, couldn’t wait to get her book, “I think Hagrid is the Half-Blood Prince!”

Ben Green in Louisiana

Kid Reporter Ben met Harry Potter fans of all ages in Shreveport, Louisiana.

Wizards, muggles, and other Harry Potter fans gathered at Barnes & Noble in Shreveport, Louisiana at 8 p.m. Friday night for the book release party for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. There were crafts and contests everywhere. As the evening went on, more and more fans arrived to get the anxiously awaited book. The first person in line, Chris Nelson, said he planned to finish the book by the end of the day. It was reported that millions of copies of the book had been sold before Saturday. By the looks of it, half of them were at Barnes & Noble in Shreveport.

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