In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (2007), Hermione Granger is left a book from the late Dumbledore's collection, The Tales of Beedle the Bard, a collection of fairy tales young wizards heard growing up. In 2007, Rowling handwrote and illustrated 7 copies of Beedle the Bard, one of which was auctioned off for millions of dollars with the proceeds going to charity. Originally, there was to be no mass publication of the book, but the desire for all things Potter by Harry's fans could not be denied. And so, readers can now own their own copies of this odd little book of five tales, complete with the commentary of Albus Dumbledore. Of most interest will be "The Tale of the Three Brothers," whose story directly impacts on Harry's saga as revealed in the series final volume. But the other quirky tales have their own appeal, especially for dedicated fans. Using familiar fairy-tale elements, such as a magical pot and three brothers on a quest, the stories seem straightforward until Dumbledore's edifying commentary turns them on their head. Without the usual hoopla surrounding publication of a Rowling novel, this little curiosity will probably attract only Potter fanatics, but it will also be of marginal interest to all those readers who still miss Harry and would like one more shot at the wizarding world.

Gr 4 Up-Muggles grow up with Grimm's fairy tales; wizarding children grow up with Tales of Beedle the Bard . The Bard's book is a collection of five tales, bequeathed to Hermione Granger by Professor Dumbledore. The passing of the book into her hands was intended to be both "entertaining and instructive." As in all good mysteries, information contained within its pages provided Hermione with clues essential to helping Harry in the series' last installment. In particular, "The Tale of Three Brothers" describes how three magical items appeared after siblings cleverly cheat death. It is these items that play a pivotal role in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Scholastic, 2007). Those hoping to re-create the hours of pleasure spent curled up with a J.K. Rowling book may be disappointed at the brevity of this title, but they will undoubtedly enjoy the tales and Dumbledore's often lengthy, cynical-but-wise commentary on each one. Robyn Gioia, Bolles School, Ponte Vedra, FL

Presented as folktales from Harry Potter's world, this book works on several levels: the tales themselves; Albus Dumbledore's analysis of each; and the anecdotes embedded in those commentaries. Though spare in style, tone, and character construction (unlike her novels), the stories are filled with the quirky details Rowling's fans expect, offering devoted Potterphiles tidbits of wizarding culture and history.

Any question about RowlingÆs imagination and creativity is laid to rest with this book. The introduction is captivating, explaining that BeedleÆs tales are to wizard children what fairy tales are to muggles and that Professor Dumbledore had written commentary on them. The tales themselves are entertaining, with magical beings discovering that magic alone cannot solve oneÆs problems. DumbledoreÆs commentary after each tale provides insight and history. In The Wizard and the Hopping Pot, the evil son of a kindly wizard inherits his fatherÆs magic pot, which the father used to help his muggle neighbors whenever asked. The son chooses to ignore his neighborsÆ misery, whereupon the pot tortures the son with noises and stench until he relents and helps his neighbors as did his father. DumbledoreÆs notes then explain that this tale was out of step with its time as it was written during a period of persecution of witches and wizards all over Europe. The Tales of Beedle the Bard appears as part of the final Harry Potter book with ôThe Tale of the Three Brothers being featured. A passing knowledge of the Potter stories is helpful, but one need not have read all seven books to thoroughly enjoy Beedle. Rowling is at the top of her game as a superb storyteller, providing her legion of fans with an enchanting collection of wizard folklore.ùDebbie Clifford.