What is the title of J.K. Rowling’s 2008 companion book about wizarding-world folklore?
Answer
The Tales of Beedle the Bard
J.K. Rowling’s 2008 companion book about wizarding-world folklore is The Tales of Beedle the Bard.
The book is presented as a collection of five fairy tales known to wizarding families. It is especially important in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, where Hermione reads “The Tale of the Three Brothers,” the story connected with the Deathly Hallows.
The printed collection includes commentary attributed to Albus Dumbledore. Rowling wrote the commentary in the voice of the Hogwarts headmaster, adding historical and moral observations to the fictional tales. The format makes the book resemble a scholarly edition from inside the wizarding world.
Rowling originally created seven handwritten copies. One was auctioned for charity, and the remaining copies were later used to produce a commercial edition. The book was published in 2008, with proceeds supporting the Children’s High Level Group, later known as Lumos.