Easily would’ve been 5 stars if this was the illustrated version or the audiobook! Both of those are fantastic but I just have the written one, so it’s just an average 3 from me. This rating will definitely change once I get my hands on the audiobook :) ( )

Spring 2021 (May);
-- Illustrated Edition

My mother picked me up for my birthday a copy of the Hogwarts Library Illustrated Collection (all three [b:Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them|41899|Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (Hogwarts Library)|Newt Scamander|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1303738520l/41899._SX50_.jpg|4195128], [b:Quidditch Through the Ages|111450|Quidditch Through the Ages (Hogwarts Library)|Kennilworthy Whisp|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1369689506l/111450._SX50_.jpg|6247751], and [b:The Tales of Beedle the Bard|3950967|The Tales of Beedle the Bard (Hogwarts Library)|J.K. Rowling|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1373467575l/3950967._SY75_.jpg|3007490]). While these have all been read more than once by me, it was an utterly delight to get to settle down into them for my birthday and see how they were illustrated.

~

This illustrated edition is in second place among the 3 (behind [b:Quidditch Through the Ages|111450|Quidditch Through the Ages (Hogwarts Library)|Kennilworthy Whisp|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1369689506l/111450._SX50_.jpg|6247751]). Don't take that as a warning off, though.

The art is a lot less concrete and clear, but it does amazingly well what the illustrated novel books do (and neither of the other two illustrated Library Books did), in that it fills up nearly every single part of every page. Even on pages where the drawing is not the paper itself is illustrated with dots or designs or little leadups/call-out details. It also does an amazing job of stretching across the whole of several double pages, and even one across four. Definitely, again, the definitive edition for my collection now.




Audiobooks's 2011:

This one is so boring to listen to honestly, rather like someone reading a phone book in monotone for about forty minutes. But you know it does tell you about a) fantastic beats and b) where to find them, and it reads like a long list of them in a text book with all sorts of pertinent information, so I'm not really disappointed either. ( )

The audible book for this is amazing. I loved it so much I have listened to it 3 times. Eddie Redmayne as the narrator is just wonderful. I loved learning about all the different beasts. After watching the movies I could actually picture some beasts while listening. I loved the extra effects that were going on in the background while Eddie Redmayne spoke. This really is a wonderful audible book. ( )

Gotta catch 'em all!

Similar to Jorge Luis Borges' The Book of Imaginary Beings, in the fact this is an encyclopedia, yet, I found this more entertaining. Unlike Borges, this book presents itself as real in the meta sense. Newt Scamander tell you where to find each beast and how dangerous each one is on a scale from 1 (X) to 5 (XXXXX). I thought this could be a little bit longer, but it's a fun book for Harry Potter fans.

NOTE: You don't have to read the Harry Potter books to enjoy this book, but it helps. I think only fan of Harry Potter would get the purpose of these books and the meta of them as well. ( )

It was a super easy read and definitely worth it. I just don't see how this is going to made into a movie...? ( )