Review: The Tales of Beedle the Bard and Quidditch Through the Ages

Harry Potter fans will love these new editions of The Tales of Beedle the Bard and Quidditch Through the Ages, which build on the world created in the Harry Potter series.

Both titles are referred to in the series, with The Tales of Beedle the Bard playing a special role in the final book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, and of course Quidditch features in all of the books in one way or another.

The Tales of Beedle the Bard is a special collection of fairy tales, often read as bedtime stories for young wizards and witches. In the introduction, J K Rowling explains that the tales help explain that 'magic causes as much trouble as it cures.'

There are five tales in total:

• The Wizard and the Hopping Pot
• The Fountain of Fair Fortune
• The Warlock's Hairy Heart
• Babbitty Rabbitty and Her Cackling Stump
• The Tale of the Three Brothers

Beedle the Bard lived many years ago, in the fifteenth century, and each of his stories is accompanied in the book by explanatory notes and footnotes, written by Professor Dumbledore and used with permission from the Hogwart's Headmaster's Archive.

Quidditch Through the Ages is quite a different book, a comprehensive guide to everyone's favourite wizarding sport, written by Kennilworthy Whisp, a famous Quidditch journalist.

Following an introduction by Professor Albus Dumbledore, it explores the history of Quidditch, beginning with the evolution of the flying broomstick, and progressing through other broom games like Creaothceann, the most dangerous of all, to eventually learn about the first golden snitch.

Kennilworthy also discusses the importance of keeping the game secret from Muggles, and how Quidditch has changed over the years. There is a section dedicated to the various teams, and chapters about the world game and the futuristic racing broom. 

The publicaton of these two books is in support of two charities. In the case of The Tales of Beedle the Bard it is Lumos, an international children's charity founded by J K Rowling herself; and Quidditch Through the Ages supports Comic Relief.

Convincing and entertaining,  The Tales of Beedle the Bard and Quidditch Through the Ages are  bound to be enjoyed by young readers.

Title: The Tales of Beedle the Bard and Quidditch Through the Ages
Author: J K Rowling 
Illustrator: Jonny Duddle (cover) and Tomislav Tomic 
Publisher: Bloomsbury, $12.99
Publication Date: January 2017
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781408883099 and 9781408883082
For ages: 8+
Type: Junior fiction