There's a bunch of versions of Harry Potter books. Different languages and special editions and such. But I don't get why there's an adult's version and a children's version. Why? Children's I can somewhat understand....but is the children's version the one we've all been reading? What's the difference between that, the regular version, and the adult's?

heh heh, I have a friend of mine, who until this year managed one of the biggest bookstores in Brisbane and I actually asked her this a few years ago.

As far as it goes in Australia- however I would assume that it's the same overseas- the difference is firstly in the covers. The children's version is generally more child like. Over here the Adult covers are quite basic and don't have the look of reading a children's novel to them. Secondly the print and number of pages. Adult versions of books generally have a smaller print and as a result, less pages. Children's novels tend to make the print slightly larger and in some cases will have a paper back and hard back children's version. Personally I haven't noticed the difference in the print size of my adult and child versions of OOTP, and they are the same number of pages over here at least. However there is definitely a darker feel to the adult covers and with the latest book over here, it doesn't have the ridiculous comical faces that the kids version does. (Sorry, that was me venting )

However the story themselves is identical. It's just the presentation of the book.

Hope that helps answer your question

~Pix

So the only difference is the cover art and perhaps the text size?

That seems a bit pointless to me... But then again, I'm not JKR or with Schoolastic. So who cares what I think!

Thank you for the information! Very much appreitiated!

Well, scholastic is the US publisher of the HP books, so I am not sure of other countries, but Scholastic is a big publisher for children's books, and getting books in schools, so to me, the books here in the US are really geared toward children. I think the art work on the covers, and the size of the print is geared more toward children. It really makes them easy to read, with the larger print, as some of us reading them are getting on in years and we don't see as well. I like the versions offered here in the US. Now, my sister in law is British, and her sister sends her the adult versions that are offered in England. The print is a lot smaller, and she is older then me, so the last three books she read the US children's versions and had an easier time reading them. Just my opinion, but I think the US books look more child like because they are published by scholastic.

Interesting...

But I can't read even the regular version without glasses, anyways. My eyes are weird like that...

I do understand a bit, though. As I get older I'll be wanting some of the more adult style covers- I don't even much care for the 1st-4th cover art as it is! Bit kiddish....

Thanks for the info, guys!

This is a good topic. In the UK Adult and kids edition, there is not not one single difference! At all! My sister and me got one each and it is word for word the same. It's just the cover thats different. WIERD!

I think it's just to make sure that adults do continue to read the books. You know, so they don't get caught reading what appears to be a kid's book(Shock! Horror! )
One big question I've always had is why they made the American versions. I've read both editions and all that appears to be different is just the simple words like Jelly instead of Jam, and Bathrobe instead of Dressing-Gown. As these were never used as major plot points does anybody know why they did this?

Well, first of all to answer on the 'adult' and 'children's' version thing. I have seen the adult version of the last book and it's ditto to the children's version save the cover.
In my country we get only the UK version i.e Bloomsbury version (and it's really good ), but having said that I've also seen the US version i.e. Scholastic one (my friend has those). The words are the same in both the versions. The difference is in the presentation though. For instance, in the US version, letters which the character's write to each other are either italicised or written in a different font. The signature at the end is more real sort of, i.e the neat writing of Hermione is shown and the untidy scrawl of Ron, etc. But in the UK version it's not like that. It's just written normally. Also in the US version there are pictures at the beginnig of each chapter, so it adds to the enthusiasm of the fans.
The adult version is just there for Bloosmsbury (if I'm not wrong) and there's the difference only in the cover, perhaps because adults should feel a little important while reading the story. (no offence to any body here)

Ignatius- I think this is because that is the US version, hence it is written in American english, and ofcourse there are differences between the British and American english. This has nothing to do with the main plot of the story and they didn't do this on purpose.

Hope this answers some doubts.