Getting a First Crack at Harry Potter

The wizard and witching hour descended upon Southern California at precisely 12:01 a.m. this morning, as booksellers across the region cracked open carefully guarded cardboard boxes containing the latest installment of the Harry Potter series and began handing them out to a rabid public.

In Burbank, more than 1,000 people were given wristbands as if they were buying tickets for a rock concert rather than a book at the local Barnes & Noble. Some had dressed as characters from the series, and many said they planned to stay up the rest of the night to read the book.

In San Marino, the line to pick up books at San Marino Toy and Book stretched almost an entire city block.

In Irvine, employees of A Whale of a Tale, clad entirely in black for the occasion, distributed about 300 books with ballet-like precision, and flashes burst as parents snapped photos of their children picking up the family copy.

All of this was to get a first crack at “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,” the penultimate novel in the six-book series that has become a singular phenomenon, which is being released today worldwide. More than 10 million of the copies were printed in the book’s first run — a publishing record. In the United States alone, more than 5,000 events were held to celebrate the book’s release. Worldwide, the number pushed even higher.

In Burbank, a “Midnight Magic” party at the Barnes & Noble included the chance to have fortunes told, to mail Owl Post to and even to get a chance at the famed Sorting Hat, which determines which Hogwarts students will spend their school career in which house.

The Sorting Hat chose Griffyndor for Adam Goldman, who arrived at the event wearing the traditional Hogwarts uniform: gray sweater over white shirt and a striped tie, with a long, floor-length magician’s cloak. His younger sister Rebecca was dressed similarly, with a short skirt and high white socks to her knees.

In Adam’s case, a pair of Merrell athletic shoes peeked out from under the cloak, which his mother said she had spent the last week making. But he looked every bit the young wizard nonetheless.

Adam received a set of the first three books for his 8th birthday. Now 14, he said he planned to spend the whole night reading. “When the sun comes up, we’ll go to sleep,” he said.

Ryan Bowers, 18, has watched Harry Potter grow up as he has. He had plucked the coveted #1 at San Marino Toy and Book — the right to be the first person to walk through the store’s doors and walk away with the green-and-purple covered book. Well, actually, his mother had procured him the place while he was at work earlier in the day.

Bowers said he loved the creativity exhibited by the books. “Plus the fact that it brought back reading to kids,” he added.

As he grabbed his book, the hundreds of people lined up behind him let out applause and cheers.

What makes Harry Potter so special to so many kids?

“It is so human,” said Gretchen Midgley, 11, who was waiting behind Bowers. “It’s something you can relate to in a way.”

Times staff writer Claire Luna contributed to this report.