Review: The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling

Title : The Tales of Beedle the Bard
Author : J.K. Rowling
Year : 2008
ISBN : 978-0-7475-9987-6

The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling is a collection of wizarding children stories not unlike muggle (non-magical) children stories, which inculcates moral and universal values. This book is actually a spin-off from the Harry Potter series, i.e. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. The list of the stories found in the book are:

• 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

Out of the five stories, The Tale of the Three Brothers was told in full in a chapter in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. The other four stories were only passingly mentioned in the said book. These stories is a refreshing change from the usual muggle children's stories like Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Cinderella, The Three Little Pigs and Goldilocks and the Three Bears; with equal emphasis on moral and universal values.

Fans of the Harry Potter series will find The Tales of Beedle the Bard a delightful read and addition to this series. Rowling has managed to weave her unique brand of magic yet again to keep readers spellbound and entertained with this book. What is more, a portion of the sale of The Tales of Beedle the Bard would benefit The Children's High Level Group, a non-governmental organisation in which Rowling had co-set up to help disadvantaged children in Europe.

My verdict of this book is it should be a must-read for children and adults alike. Everyone, including myself would be able to learn at least a value or two from this book; just as how we have learned moral and universal values from reading muggle children's stories as young children.