Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them - by Newt Scamander (J.K. Rowling)

Title: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
Author: Newt Scamander (J.K. Rowling)
Published: 8 Nov 2012
Series: -
Rating: 4 stars
Synopsis:
An approved 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. This is an essential companion to the Harry Potter stories, and includes a new foreword from J.K. Rowling (writing as Newt Scamander) and six new beasts!

I would like to take this opportunity to reassure Muggle purchasers that the amusing creatures described hereafter are fictional and cannot hurt you. To wizards, I say merely: Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus.

I listened to this as an audiobook and followed along in my physical copy (The Hogwarts Library Edition). This audiobook is so awesome! It's read by Eddie Redmayne (who plays Newt Scamander in the movie) and there are sound effects of the animals he's describing too. 

The sound effects in the audiobook include the sounds that the beasts themselves make, but also when Newt Scamander beats back a beast or two with his travel teakettle. There's eggs cracking, leaves rustling, wings flapping, feet stomping...

Eddie Redmayne also reads the foreward from the book that Dumbledore has written - including telling you about a wonderful charity called Comic Relief. As he reads the book, it sounds like someone is explaining their own findings to you - not just like someone reading aloud from a book. You can hear the amazement and concern in his voice.

The 'About the Author' section is also read out as it tells you about Newt Scamander himself - his history, plus his wife and their pet Kneazles.

The physical book also has spaces where Harry, Ron and Hermione have written in the book and the cover of the book is quite lovely.

The illustrations are really good too. Unfortunately there isn't a picture for every beast, but the ones that are there are done well.

Worrying means you suffer twice.

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All books in this series:

    -  Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander
    -  Quidditch Through the Ages by Kennilworthy Whisp
    -  The Tales of Beedle the Bard