The pointy hats are out again. So are the wands.

In fact, the continuation of a nationwide phenomenon is seeping into Albert Lea and bringing great anticipation.

&uot;Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix&uot; will arrive Saturday at bookstores worldwide and in Albert Lea, and hundreds of local children &045; and adults &045; are waiting.

&uot;We’ve sold out of everything in advance,&uot; said Grace Haukoos, owner of The Constant Reader in Albert Lea.

The store’s waiting list for the book started four months ago, and Haukoos said more than 100 people are on it.

The publisher set a firm release date, and made retailers sign forms promising not to open the packages of books before that date, so the plot and ending would not be ruined for those waiting, Haukoos said.

The book is the fifth in the Harry Potter series, and seems to be causing even more fervor than the last few.

&uot;I think children enjoy them so much because it came out at a time when fantasy was so popular,&uot; Haukoos said. &uot;But the books also have an element of reality.&uot;

The Potter character studies magic at an imaginary wizardry school, but his upbringing was tough, something to which some children might be able to relate.

For Logan Tovar, a young reader from Albert Lea, his reasons are a little more simple.

&uot;I like Harry Potter because he can do magic and he does potions,&uot; Logan said.

Logan, of course, begged his mother for the new book, and they are on the list at The Constant Reader. They will pick it up first thing Saturday morning.

His mother, Holly, said Logan had become a reader through the books.

&uot;After he read Harry Potter, it really got him into books,&uot; she said.

The popular series has done the same for many other children, according to Patty Greibrok, a clerk at the Albert Lea Children’s Library.

&uot;It gets kids to read, many of whom wouldn’t otherwise read,&uot; she said.

Greibrok was dressed in a robe with stars on it and had a black pointy hat atop her head Wednesday. She had suited up for the library’s own Harry Potter party. The library packed in 50 or more children, many clad in costumes from the book.

The library is also gearing up for the release of the book. Greibrok said the library will get multiple copies to fulfill the widespread demand there already is for the book.

&uot;Last time I looked, we have 38 people on our waiting list for the book,&uot; she said.

Greibrok said she isn’t sure why the Harry Potter books have become so much more popular than many other well-written children’s books. She said the hype behind it amazes her.

&uot;It’s a phenomenon,&uot; she said. &uot;If you could bottle it and put it in a text book it would be a great study.&uot;