J.K. Rowling’s new book, The Tales of Beadle the Bard, went on sale worldwide on December 4^th.  The newest book by the author of the immensely popular Harry Potter series is a collection of five fairytales and is illustrated by the author herself.  Some speculate that this book could be the final work related to the boy wizard Harry Potter, though an encyclopedia on the Harry Potter world might also be in the works, the proceeds of which will, according to the author, go to charity.

The Tales of Beadle the Bard collection is tightly linked to the Harry Potter books. In Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Hogwarts principal Albus Dumbledore gives this book to Hermione Granger as one of the five tales explains the Deathly Hallows and helps the three friends successfully complete their final mission.

About a year ago J.K. Rowling created a limited edition series of seven hand written and illustrated Tales of Beadle the Bard collections, one of which was put up for auction at Sotheby’s in London.  The highest bidder was the online bookstore Amazon.com who paid an astronomical 1,95 million British pounds, or 4 million US Dollars, for it.  J.K. Rowling donated the entire proceeds of the auction to The Children’s High Level Group charity, which she co-founded in 2005 to help improve the living condition of the 1 million children across Europe still living in large residential institutions. 

The Tales of Beadle the Bard were printed in 7,5 million copies, while Amazon is also exclusively offering 100.000 copies of the Collectors Edition at 50 British Pounds, or 100 US Dollars a book.  Part of the proceeds of the new book sales will also be donated to charity to help spread Children’s rights awareness across Europe.