Excerpt from the ‘Introduction’ (p. xi): The Tales of Beedle the Bard is a collection of stories written for young wizards and witches. They have been popular bedtime reading for centuries, with the result that Hopping Pot and the Fountain of Fair Fortune are as familiar to many of the students at Hogwarts as Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty are to Muggle (non-magical) children.
The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K.Rowling is a collection of five tales:
- 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 Brothers
What makes the book even more interesting is the comprehensive commentary after each story, including extensive footnotes, by Professor Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore (my favourite guy apart from Harry Potter, of course). Professor Dumbledore brings his unique perspective as a wizard to the collection.
My favourite stories are “The Warlock’s Hairy Heart” (a slightly dark tale) and “Babbity Rabbity and Her Cackling Stump.” Through the latter story, I found out that magic could not bring back the dead. In “The Tale of the Three Brothers”, I also had fun learning about the making of the ‘unbeatable’ wand made of elder after referring to Professor Dumbledore’s notes.
This is a short, quick and fun read. It would be better enjoyed if you read this book after completing all seven books in the HP series. It would bring more meaning and depth to the stories. It would also be nice for parents and children to read this together to enjoy the stories and the important life lessons: teamwork, valuing ourselves for who and what we are, and the use and abuse of power (including dark arts). The lessons come across clearly, simply, and directly. Beyond the pleasure of reading this book, we as readers also contribute to charity because the sale proceeds go to The Children’s Voice campaign.
I had so much fun reading this! I found it quite cute that the bookstore staff had tried to warn me at the cashier that The Tales of Beedle the Bard is not HP book eight. Apparently, a lot of customers thought so. I assured the kind lady I knew what I was getting myself into.
