The Tales of Beedle the Bard
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 to the collection his unique perspective from the viewpoint of a wizard.
My favourite stories are “The Warlock’s Hairy Heart” (it is 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 this book is read after completing all the 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 as well as the important life lessons: team work, valuing ourselves for who and what we are, and the use and abuse of power (including dark arts). The lessons are conveyed in a clear, simple, and direct manner. Apart from pleasure derived from reading this book, we as readers are also contributing to charity because the sale proceeds will 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.
