J. K. Rowling

As featured in the first year set texts reading list in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, 'Fantastic Beasts and where to find them' is an extensive introduction to the magical beasts that exist in the magical, non-Muggle world. Some of the animals featured in the A-Z you will have already met in the existing Harry Potter books: for example Hippogriff, Flobberworm, Kappa - others you certainly won't: read on to find out exactly what a Chizpurfle is, why there are so few Erumpents, or why one should always beware of the sinister Lethifold…As Albus Dumbledore says in his introduction, this set text book by Newt Scamander has given the perfect grounding to many a Hogwarts student. It will be helpful to all Muggles out there too… On reading the book you will also find that Harry, Ron and (in one instance) Hermione - couldn't resist grafittiing the book, and adding their own personal hand-written opinions. Did you know that : there are 700 ways of committing a foul in Quidditch? The game first began to evolve on Queerditch Marsh? What Bumphing is? That Puddlemere United is oldest team in the Britain and Ireland league? (founded 1163) All this information and much more could be yours once you have read this book: this is all you could ever need to know about the history, the rules - and the breaking of the rules - of the noble wizarding sport of Quidditch.

Harry Potter's School Books

Newt Scamander

The 2017 edition of this essential companion to the Harry Potter stories included a new foreword from J.K. Rowling (writing as Newt Scamander) and 6 new beasts! A set textbook at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry since publication, Newt Scamander's masterpiece has entertained wizarding families through the generations. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is an indispensable introduction to the magical beasts of the wizarding world. Scamander's years of travel and research have created a tome of unparalleled importance. Some of the beasts will be familiar to readers of the Harry Potter books - the Hippogriff, the Basilisk, the Hungarian Horntail... Others will surprise even the most ardent amateur Magizoologist. Dip in to discover the curious habits of magical beasts across five continents... At least 15% of the net retail price* of this eBook will be available to Comic Relief and Lumos Foundation for their work with children and young people to help them have a better life. 20% of these monies will be used by Comic Relief and 80% will be used by Lumos Foundation. * The net retail price means the price paid by the consumer less applicable sales taxes Comic Relief is a registered charity in the UK with charity nos. 326568 (England/Wales) and SC039730 (Scotland). Lumos Foundation is a registered charity in the UK with no. 1112575. Please note: This is the 2017 edition of the Hogwarts Library ebook, featuring bespoke cover artwork from Olly Moss and a new foreword from J.K. Rowling. The official screenplay of the 2016 Warner Bros. movie - Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Original Screenplay - is available separately.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

Bethany s. 

Tish

This has to be one of the best audiobooks I’ve ever listened to. LIKE EVER. Okay so if you’re feeling kind of meh about the book itself you should 100% give the audiobook a try. First of all, it’s narrated by Eddie Redmayne who plays Newt in the movies. And second of all, there are actual noises for the beasts! It’s so cool to hear him talk about a beast and then be able to hear it growl, roar, or flutter. It’s absolutely a must for any Harry Potter fan and it’s only 2 hours so what do you really have to lose?

Akash A

Awesome Illustrations (Worth reading just for the illustrations, trust me)

This book is a proof that JKR could expand the wizarding world more and more without losing its brilliance! Loved the illustrations so much and was even more cool to see it in motion!

Written by J.K. Rowling as a fictitious author.

Lacy W

I love that Jk Rowling gave us a couple of textbooks from the world of Harry Potter. It really brings the story more to life because you actually get to read what the trio read. I am still waiting for  Hogwarts, a History but until then, I will live with this book and  Quidditch Through the Ages. 

Out of both texts, I prefer this one. It reads very easily and is organized alphabetically. The beginning prologue, which explains how the Ministry of Magic rating system came to be and other information like that, is a tad on the boring side but textbooks can't always be fun and exciting. I do wish that there was more information about each creature and maybe even some pictures. The movies only show a few of the creatures, like the ones that play a major part in the story. However, I did like the little notes and drawings that the trio wrote in them. It gives the book a more personalized feel so it's not so much a textbook but an extension on the original series. 

I really can't complain though. This was highly informative and I'm glad that it was released to us Muggles. Yes, I know that I am American and should use the term "No-Maj" but honestly, Muggle sounds better.  It really is a must have for the die hard Harry Potter fans but it's also a good book to have just in your library as well because the cover is so dang pretty!

Vilde

I really enjoyed Eddie Redmayne's performance as the narrator!

Chantal Eisinger

It was incredibly detailed and expressive. From the wonderful dialog to the scene descriptions, i forgot that i was even reading a screenplay and not a full fledged novel. This brings us back to the wonderful imaginative world of J.K. Rowling's Wizarding World and it is just as captivating and enchanting as the old school days. 
This is for die-hard fans as well as the No-Majs in Harry Potters story. 
Go forth and read fellow nerds.

Makayla Woolfolk

I'm not much on screenplay book adaptations, but I loved this just as I loved the movie. I think I may love Newt's story more than Harry's... Just a bit.

Sheila Goicea

My philosophy is that worrying means you suffer twice.
  

I went into this book without having any expectations. I have yet to see Fantasic Beasts the movie, which I'm glad I haven't yet because I think it would have ruined this screenplay for me entirely. 

I've never read a screenplay before, and I found it a bit difficult to transition to its format versus the typical novel setup, hence, why my rating wasn't as high as I had expected. I just wanted to know more and more and more... However, I loved the premise, and introductions to new creatures and their dispositions. 

I really enjoyed Newt's character, and I believe nearly everyone feels the same way. His natural clumsiness adds comic relief, and a light overtone to a rather dark undertone toward the end of the story. 

Similar to Newt, I also really enjoyed Jacob's character. He, too, added a comical element to the story, and wasn't a mindless muggle that we often see in the Harry Potter books. What you saw at face value with Jacob is exactly what you got. He was always true to himself in his actions and reactions.

  
    Jacob: "Newt . . . I don't think I'm dreaming."
Newt: "What gave it away?"
Jacob: "I ain't got the brains to make this up.”
  
 
I must say, the fact that this took place in New York brought some magic of Hogwarts and Europe to America, finally satiated my inner wizard. I'd love to know more about Ilvermorny, and hope there is more to come about the other wizarding schools around the world!



Overall,  Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Original Screenplay was a different, and interesting read. 

3 stars.

This review can also be viewed on my blog: She's Going Book Crazy

Jelke Lenaerts

I went to see the movie a while ago and absolutly loved it. I randomly picked up this book and also loved it (duh!). I reccomend it as you pick up on way more details and the book is just stunning.

Leigh Osborne

Really enjoyed it 

Watched the movie a few months ago and really enjoyed it. The illustrations are quite beautiful. It was a very good book.

Shawna Gavas

Akanksha Chattopadhyay

The Wizarding world is back! Oh, it really is!
I'm not going to try and review J.K. Rowling's screenplay debut. She's brilliant, so brilliant just as ever, that she's left me speechless.
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is like coming home after years to meet new people and other things new that have developed when you were away(chronology aside, here).
Newt Scamander is an adorable character. He'd be Hagrid's role model :) Tina is another one of JK's army of unbelievably amazing women. The team they form, along with Queenie and the Muggle, Kowalski, is beyond brilliant. :)
But what the movie does is far more than create these beautiful characters. JK's world building dazzles and bewitches as she takes us down the history of wizardkind.
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them sets the stage for Professor Albus Dumbledore to take on Gallert Grindelwald, the Dark Wizard, second to perhaps only Lord Voldemort, in the most memorable combat in recorded wizarding history!

Jeni Enjaian

I absolutely loved this book, everything about it. I loved the tongue in cheek nature of the various forewords - this one's for Muggles and etc - and everything about the book. The only negative thing I can think of to say regarding the book, is that there is not enough of it. I would love even more historical snippets to the magical world as Scamander included as part of the introduction to the book. (Of course, I know that it was actually written by Rowling but I'm playing along.)

I highly recommend this book, especially the most recent edition published concurrently with the release of the movie.

Rebeca Keren Nuñez

Es divertido como expande el mundo de HP. Siempre son bienvenidas estas cosas. Para todos los que amamos el mundo mágico, es recomendado! No voy a hacer comentarios sobre las películas, pero no estarían teniendo tanto que ver, aunque es lindo ver a las criaturas del mundo mágico.

Chaya Vervaecke

Made me relive the movie that I loved. It was simply amazing

Lovisa

Lyssnade jag på boken enbart för att Eddie Redmayne läste den? Yepp

Laura Springall

★★.5

Not gonna lie, I really didn’t think a solid half of this book was just going to be descriptions of magical creatures. That was pretty boring, but the tiny amount of the book that wasn’t that was cute

Becca Futrell

Celia Adams

Do I really need to write a review people? It's the Wizarding World of J.K. Rowling, it's an adorable Hufflepuff lead, it's sister witches in NYC, it's a Muggle protagonist, it's the 20s. What more could anyone ask for?

Chantale

Fantastic read 

I borrowed this book from Kindle Unlimited and I didn’t realize it had some moving pictures. I loved that . 

I liked reading this book and I think I might have to buy the physical copy soon .

I do recommend .

Debbie

I just finished the book. Both book and movie are wicked. It feel so good to be back to J.K.Rowling's Wizarding World. My favorite characters are Newt, Jacob and Queenie. I must admit I never thought that Credence was the Obscurus. That literaly surprised me and that's one thing I love the most about J.K.Rowling's writing. Full of surprises. I was concerned about Credence. He's a young adult, perhaps at the same age as me, but I saw him as a boy who desperately need help. He's not the bad guy here. He's mentally suffering. My favorite beast is the Thunderbird. The scariest moment for me is when the Obscurus attacked Mary Lou. It's frightened me somehow. And my favorite moment is when Newt, Tina, Queenie and Jacob were inside Newt's case. I just love the moment when they were amazed by the Fantastic Beasts inside the case. I'm looking forward for the next.

Erin 

This audiobook narrated by Eddie Redmayne is brilliant. Now that the Fantastic Beasts series is a thing, it's like Newt reading it to you himself. Also, the sound effects are really great and really add to the experience.

Jessica 

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  "My philosophy is that worrying means you suffer twice."


A lot of people are going to blow the lid off on this one for various reasons. I'm not going to argue with you on that--there are many reasons to be put-off by this one. There's no use denying it. That's that. But, I think the first thing that needs to be said is that I didn't like the screenplay only because J.K. Rowling penned it. I liked it because it was something that captivated me from the get-go. 

Newt Scamander is far more likable than I was expecting when I picked this up. You need to know this and you also need to remember that he is not Harry Potter. It's easy to compare him to Harry if you allow yourself but that's a mistake. And while it is set in the same world (with differences and similarities, as well as mentions of characters we knew of from Harry's story)--this isn't at all the same story. 

I find the characters we're introduced to have the same shimmering magic that we've come to expect from J.K. Rowling's Wizarding World. You (or rather, I) can't deny this because there's just something about them. From Newt, to Tina, to Queenie, to Jacob--there's something that draws you in from the start and keeps you in their orbit. If ever there were four characters that belonged around each other, it's them. And the way they form a connection with one another feels very permanent and indescribable. 

Continued: BOOKEDJ

Shannon Leigh Williams

Reading this screenplay was such a delight! Obviously I have seen the movie, but it was incredibly fun to read JK Rowling's scene descriptions. She has such a way with words, which made me thoroughly enjoy reading this.

Harry Potter's School Books

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