J.K. Rowling: Classic Books from the Library of Hogwarts School Of...

These are great books, and a must-have for any Harry Potter fan! They are good, light-hearted books that give the reader a good glimpse into J.K. Rowling's world. (Plus, I must say that I learned a lot about Quidditch!) I highly recommend these books!


If you cannot go to Hogwarts, let Hogwarts come to you   July 5, 2003
Daniel Jolley (Shelby, North Carolina USA)
27 out of 30 found this review helpful

Although not a necessary addition to everyone’s personal Harry Potter library, these two little books are quite interesting and a lot of fun to read. They are both quite short, totaling less than sixty five pages apiece, but they are wonderfully put together and made to look like copies of real books from the Hogwarts library. None other than Albus Dumbledore himself writes the introduction to each book, explaining how and why these books are being made available to Muggles for the first time and explaining how proceeds from each book go directly to a fund, set up in Harry Potter’s name by Comic Relief UK and author J.K. Rowling, which is dedicated to help children in need throughout the world.

Quidditch Through the Ages, penned by Quidditch expert Kennilworthy Whisp explains the ultimate sport of wizards from top to bottom, giving the centuries-old history of the game as it has evolved. First and foremost, he explains why wizards and witches employ brooms to fly on in the first place, and then he proceeds to give an account of the changing rules of the game from its early days of primitive baskets set atop poles to the standardized and world-sweeping format of today. Of most significance and interest is the story of how the Golden Snitch was introduced into the sport. Different strategies and maneuvers are named and explained, the thirteen Quidditch teams of England and Ireland are identified, some of the seven hundred types of fouls are explained, and some of the most memorable games and individual performances are detailed (including the Tutshill Tornados’ Roderick Plumpton’s amazing snag of the Golden Snitch only three and a half seconds into a game back in 1921).

Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander is a compendium of all the fantastic beasts currently known, from the Acromantula to the Yeti. Prior to the actual listings, Scamander explains the criteria by which some beings have come to be labeled beasts (it’s more complicated than you might think) and devotes some time to the obvious question as to why Muggles seem to spot such creatures only rarely. Each listing also carries the classification assigned each beast by the Ministry of Magic, which is important information given that these beasts range from the harmless to the controllable to the incredibly dangerous. Along with fascinating descriptions of the animals we have already encountered in the Harry Potter books, there are some real jewels of information included here, solving several Muggle mysteries such as that of the true identity of the Loch Ness Monster. Fantastic Beasts is a copy of Harry Potter’s own personal copy of the book, and its margins are dotted with little notes ranging from the mundane to the bitingly funny written by Harry, Ron, as well as Hermione. Now, if we could only get our hands on A History of Hogwarts; I’m sure Hermione has a copy they can use for the printing of a Muggle edition.


Harry Potter Schoolbooks: A must for serious Potter fans   January 30, 2003
23 out of 30 found this review helpful

These books, mentioned throughout the series, are a must have for all serious Harry Potter fans. There is a much more in depth explanation of all of the finer points of the wizarding world. Accompanied by witty comments and annecdotes from characters in the books it is a light hearted and explanatory set - no more wondering exactly what a puffskein is or how to take on a Norwegian Ridgeback dragon. Definitely not for muggles!


Truly Magical   November 20, 2003
16 out of 22 found this review helpful

These are some of the most imaginative books I have read in a long time, including Harry Potter itself of course. JK Rowling's imagination must be the size of a universe to have so many complex ideas. Both books are well worth it and they donate money to Comic Relief.


dont be fooled   October 30, 2003
I. Pickering
14 out of 23 found this review helpful

These books certainly are a good read, they tell you alot about the history of certain aspects of magic, although dont be fooled by the image of them, they are in fact only about 50 pages long EACH!!!

A good read but just to short...