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

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If you like Harry Potter’s world, you’ll like J.K. Rowling’s latest edition to the cannon: The Tales of Beedle the Bard.

After each tale, which has been carefully “translated” from the ancient runes by Hermione Granger, we read Dumbledore’s commentary/critical analysis of the tale, with Rowling’s special notes for Muggle audiences. The Tales of Beedle the Bard is cleverly developed and my only complaint is that there are so few.

My favorite was “The Wizard and the Hopping Pot, ” but I also really enjoyed “Babbity Rabbitty and her Cackling Stump.” And I liked “The Fountain of Fair Fortune” and of course “The Three Brothers,” which was in the Harry Potter series. I thought “The Warlock’s Hairy Heart” was gruesome, but probably most reminiscent of original Muggle fairy tales (although I haven’t read them so I can’t say much about them).

Because so many other bloggers have already read and reviewed this, I don’t have much more to say other than I enjoyed the hour I spent reading it.

Other (more detailed) reviews:

I really tried to grab a lot of other reviews, but it’s taking forever. I know there are dozens more out there. If you have reviewed The Tales of Beedle the Bard, leave a link in the comments and I’ll add it here.

Reviewed on December 20, 2008

About the author 

Rebecca Reid

Rebecca Reid is a homeschooling, stay-at-home mother seeking to make the journey of life-long learning fun by reading lots of good books. Rebecca Reads provides reviews of children's literature she has enjoyed with her children; nonfiction that enhances understanding of educational philosophies, history and more; and classical literature that Rebecca enjoys reading.

  • This was such a fun book! My favorite was the Fountain, and I didn’t really like The Hairy Heart very much.  It didn’t seem as well put together as the other ones.

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