The Tales of Beadle the Bard

J.K. Rowling (author/illustrator)

Bloomsbury, UK: 2007/8; 108pp

ISBN: 9780747599876

Genres: fairytales, fantasy, adventure

Issues: compassion, ethics,  values

In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the famous trio's actions are significantly affected by a collection of fairytales well known to children in the wizarding world. Here those tales are presented in a delightful, hardback format, for all to enjoy.

Apart from the ‘Tale of the Three Brothers' already known to readers of the final Harry Potter novel, the other tales listed by Ron are also provided. As with J.K.Rowling's two other ‘supplementary texts' to the HP series, royalties from this edition go to charity.

J.K.Rowling has already well and truly proved her prowess as a children's writer but it is wonderful to see that skill applied to the difficult craft of short story writing. Each tale has the appealing whimsy of JKR's longer works as well as the subtexts common to more traditional ‘folk and fairy' stories; subtexts promoting generosity of spirit, charity towards others, compassion and honesty, as well as warnings about the dark punishments meted out to the selfish and greedy.

Very enjoyable, especially for Potterites.