Book Review: The Tales of Beedle the Bard
A Book of Fables by J K Rowling for Fans of the Harry Potter Series
Dec 6, 2008
Readers of the final instalment of the Harry Potter Series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Bloomsbury, 2007) will be delighted with the highly anticipated new giftbook-sized supplement to the series, The Tales of Beedle the Bard (Bloomsbury, 2008). The book features The Tale of Three Brothers referred to in The Deathly Hallows and four additional wizarding tales for children and is both written and illustrated by J K Rowling.
The Tales of Beedle the Bard
Promoted as a translation from the “original runes” by Hogwarts student Hermione Granger, The Tales of Beedle the Bard features five children’s stories with an underlying message in the style of Aesop’s Fables. Accompanying each tale are notes by Albus Dumbledore, the beloved Headmaster of Hogwarts and mentor to Harry and his friends.
The Tales of Beedle the Bard include:
- The Wizard and the Hopping Pot
- The Fountain of Fair Fortune
- The Warlock’s Hairy Heart
- Babbity Rabbity and her Cackling Stump
- The Tale of the Three Brother
As with Aesop’s Fables, Beedle’s tales are stories with an underlying moral intended for the instruction of children. As such the stories, with the possible exception of The Warlock’s Hairy Heart, are suitable for a younger audience than the Harry Potter books themselves.
The addition of a commentary for each tale by Professor Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore realigns this book with the immensely popular series that inspired it. Dumbledore discusses the purpose of each tale in a style sure to be familiar to Harry Potter fans. The lessons of the tales include promoting better acceptance between Wizards and Muggles (non-wizards) and the need to avoid the arrogance and lust for power that leads wizards to pursue the Dark Arts to their own demise and the misery of those around them.
Through Dumbledore's commentary, Rowling also manages to make some quietly humorous observations about issues such as prejudice and elitism amongst others, which older readers will enjoy
The Children’s High Level Group
With net proceeds directed towards the charity The Children’s High Level Group (CHLG), Harry Potter fans are able to not only connect once again with their favourite series, but also assist in fundraising for a charity that “works to benefit children in desperate need of a voice”.
Included at the end of the book is a note from Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne, the Co-Chair of CHLG, explaining the aims of the organisation. With more than one million children in large residential institutions throughout Europe, CHLG seeks to ensure that these children are cared for with not only the necessary physical requirements of adequate food, clothing and shelter, but also that they receive adequate emotional care and positive human contact.
With more than 400 million Harry potter books sold worldwide by June 2008, the fan base for this enjoyable fantasy adventure series will hopefully assist Rowling and the CHLG achieve their projected fundraising target of $US8 million.
An Enjoyable Supplement for Harry Potter Fans
While fans may be disappointed that no further secrets or information about their favourite Harry Potter characters are revealed, they will no doubt enjoy Dumbledore’s commentary of the tales and the connection with the final book of the series.
Should fans need any further incentive to purchase the book, which is unlikely, they can also be pleased that by indulging their need for all things Potter, they are raising money to assist neglected and emotionally isolated children through The Children’s High Level Group charity supported by Rowling.
The Tales of Beedle the Bard(standard edition) (ISBN: 978-0-7475-9987-6 128 pages)
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