Staff Picks #5: Rowling's Other Books...

For the fifth edition of Staff Picks, our recommendations come from Caitlin Vest. Caitlin is one of the evening and weekend library assistants at Lewis Library, as well as a former student and history major at LaGrange College. Caitlin brings us three great recommendations. Check it out:

Are you a Harry Potter fan looking for some light reading over Christmas Break? If so, you may be interested in one (or all!) of Rowling’s 3 other books.

•The Tales of Beedle the Bard

This collection of children’s stories is integral to the plot of the 7th and final book in the Harry Potter series. While Muggle (nonmagical) children grew up on tales of “Snow White” and “Cinderella”, Wizard children read “The Wizard and the Hopping Pot” and “The Warlock’s Hairy Heart”. This delightful book of wizard fairy tales was translated from the Ancient Runes by Hermione Granger and includes an introduction and commentary written by Albus Dumbledore.

•Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

A Hogwarts textbook, this book is referenced throughout the Harry Potter series. It includes descriptions of creatures that frequent the books, such as dragons, bowtruckles, and trolls. I found the most amusing part of the book to be the comments that Harry and Ron scribbled in the margins.

•Quidditch Through the Ages

This is another title frequently discussed in the Harry Potter series. It tells the amusing and fantastic history of Quidditch, the popular wizarding sport played on broomstick.

All three books can be found on the third floor of Lewis Library, shelved with the Juvenile fiction books. The call number is JUV Rowling.