The new covers celebrate some of the beasts discovered on ‘author’ Newt Scamander’s travels. The Scholastic cover features the Griffin, while the Bloomsbury cover focuses on Olivia’s interpretation of one of the six new beasts that were added to the collection earlier this year: a bright, blue Occamy.
We also have a sneak preview inside the book, which features a glorious new depiction of the Sphinx, a wise creature with the head of a human and a lion’s body. Harry encounters a Sphinx during Goblet of Fire, who offers him a riddle.
We can also see a ghoul wearing a fetching pair of pyjamas, perhaps inspired by the Weasley house ghoul that Ron attempted to dress up and pass off as himself. Other creatures include the adorable Snidget, which paved the path for the Quidditch ball, the Golden Snitch, a unicorn, and a rather unfriendly looking Manticore.
This new edition of Fantastic Beasts will include full-colour versions of every beast featured in the textbook, which was originally ‘written’ by Newt Scamander, via J.K. Rowling, back in 2001.
The book’s illustrator is Olivia Lomenech Gill, who has reimagined the magical creatures with a variety of different techniques, such as charcoal sketches and watercolours.
Lomenech Gill is an award-winning artist, whose previous illustrated books include those by Michael Morpurgo and Francesca Simon.
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them Illustrated Edition is out on 7 November 2017, published by Bloomsbury in the UK and Scholastic in the US.