In 2002 , British sociologist Andrew Blake named '' Harry Potter '' among the icons of British popular culture along with the likes of James Bond and Sherlock Holmes . In 2003 , four of the books were named in the top 24 of the BBC 's The Big Read survey of the best loved novels in the UK . A 2004 study found that books in the series were commonly read aloud in elementary schools in San Diego County , California . Based on a 2007 online poll , the U.S. National Education Association listed the series in its " Teachers ' Top 100 Books for Children " . Three of the books placed among the " Top 100 Chapter Books " of all time , or children 's novels , in a 2012 survey published by '' School Library Journal '' : '' Sorcerer 's Stone '' ranked number three , '' Prisoner of Azkaban '' 12th , and '' Goblet of Fire '' 98th . In 2012 , the opening ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympics in London featured a 100-foot tall rendition of Lord Voldemort in a segment designed to show off the UK 's cultural icons
opening ceremony
2012 Summer Olympics opening ceremony
Harry Potter