The Tales of Beedle the Bard

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Harry Potter author JK Rowling is releasing her first book since the boy wizard's final outing last year.

"The Tales of Beedle the Bard", which will be published on 4 December, is mentioned in ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows', her seventh and last instalment.

The proceeds of the book will go to the Children's High Level Group, a charity Rowling founded in 2005 to help the 1m children in Europe still living in large residential institutions.

“Royalties will be donated to the Children's High Level Group, to benefit institutionalised children in desperate need," Scotsman quoted Rowling, as saying.

Until now, Rowling has released only seven handmade editions of "The Tales of Beedle the Bard".

She auctioned one for charity and gave the others to friends who supported her for the 17 years that it took to write the Harry Potter series since the character popped into her head.

Now, Rowling has decided to publish the tales, which she has illustrated, to raise cash for children in residential institutions.

The news was announced to coincide with the birthdays of Harry Potter and his creator, who turned 43 on July 31.

A handwritten edition of ‘The Tales of Beedle the Bard' fetched 1.95 million pounds in December, becoming the most expensive modern book sold at auction.

The five stories included in the book are:

• 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, which plays a significant role in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

Order The Tales of Beedle the Bard now!