What title was given to J.K. Rowling’s first Harry Potter book in the United States?

J.K. Rowling’s first Harry Potter book was titled Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone in the United States.

The book was published in Britain in 1997 as Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. When the American edition was prepared, Scholastic changed “Philosopher” to “Sorcerer” because editors thought some young American readers might not immediately understand the original reference.

The plot and main characters remained the same in both editions. The difference appears in the title, some terminology, and minor wording choices. The American title was also used for the 2001 film released in the United States, while many other countries retained “Philosopher’s Stone.”

The two titles can make bibliographic searches look like they refer to different books. They are alternate regional titles for the same first novel in the seven-book Harry Potter series.