Texas Pages

Today is Harry Potter's birthday, as well as his creator's. And Harry's fans can rejoice: J.K. Rowling is bringing The Tales of Beedle the Bard to print, with both US and UK editions to be published Dec. 4.

The illustrated collection of five wizard fables played an important role in the plot of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, but up till now it had been unseen except for photos of its cover and illustrations and the "reviews" posted on Amazon.com, which bought one of JKR's seven individually handcrafted copies at an auction for charity. (Net proceeds from these new editions also will go to a designated charity.) Until now, it was not thought these stories would ever be published for a general audience.

Beedle is a short book, and the hardcover standard edition is not expensive at $12.99 (Amazon's offering it for $7.59 at pre-order). But Amazon's exclusive, elaborate collector's edition ("designed to evoke the spirit of the handcrafted original") is priced at $100 and includes 10 bonus illustrations by JKR, plus a special embroidered velvet storage bag.

The US and UK editions have (like the seven Harry Potter books) different covers, with the American book bearing a colorful illustration whose elements hint at the five tales within.

[UPDATE: We were sure we recognized the unmistakable style of Mary GrandPré in that illustration. Amazon.com didn't mention who illustrated the US cover, however. So we asked Ms. GrandPré herself: Did she create it?

Let the record show that she told us, "Yes, I am the illustrator." We knew it!]

Best of all, Beedle (which is newly "translated from the original runes by Hermione Granger") also contains an introduction by JKR, and commentary on the fairy tales by none other than Albus Dumbledore:

J.K. Rowling is NOT visiting a small town in Louisiana, disappointed Harry Potter fans have learned.

When I came across this story, via Shelf Awareness) at first I was outraged that a bookstore in Slidell, La. could fall for someone claiming to be Rowling. I know, from having lived there, that Slidell is not a place she regularly haunts. (At least, I don't recall having had her on my paper route back in in 1979.) Rowling hardly ever tours -- and anybody in the business would know that she fills convention centers, not small-town bookstores.

But then, the facts got in the way of my rage.

As it turns out, "the line of several hundred children, teens and parents" was drawn by mere rumor -- sparked by a prankster's phone call to the store. So the people who stood out "in the summer heat and under a threat of a thunderstorm" were victims of either their own faith or their own gullibility, depending on your view.

I'd mock such behavoir, but Slidell is a place that was devastated by Hurricane Katrina. I imagine they could use a little magic.

For their sake, I wish it had been true.

Just one more day for those of you awaiting the 12:01 a.m. Saturday release of Breaking Dawn. Be sure to check out tomorrow's Guide section for a list of release parties.

If you're a Stephenie Meyer fan -- which one are you headed to? If you're planning event -- what's cooking at your location? And if you're dying to share your views -- any predictions about what will happen?

And, once you have heard it, is it possible to get this Bella Cullen Project song out of your head?