By Tim Saunders on
Author JK Rowling is to read from one of the original handwritten fairytales she wrote in a special charity tea party.
The Harry Potter creator will read extracts from The Tales Of Beedle The Bard at the event – to be held at the National Library of Scotland on December 4 – being hosted by the Children's High Level Group. Local school children will be invited to attend the event, with 10 local schools each being able to bring 20 pupils to the party.
December 4 will also see the public release of The Tales Of Beedle The Bard in bookshops around the world, with royalties going to the Children’s High Level Group, a charity established by the author to help vulnerable children in Eastern Europe.
“Hundreds of thousands of vulnerable children in Eastern Europe are living in appalling conditions in large, residential institutions,” she said. "Contrary to popular belief, fewer than 4% of them are orphans, but are in care because they are considered disabled or their families are poor or from ethnic minorities. The charity is publishing The Tales of Beedle the Bard to raise money to fund our work in helping these children out of institutions and in to loving families or community care homes.
“I hope that The Tales of Beedle the Bard will not only be a welcome present to Harry Potter fans, but an opportunity to give these abandoned children a voice. It will encourage young people across the world to think about those who are less fortunate and help change many young lives for the better.”
As part of the celebrations for the book’s release, Scholastic USA is giving away the chance for five lucky children from America to attend the tea party. All they have to do is write an essay of 200 words or less describing how they have helped others. The competition ends on October 30, and more information can be found at the Scholastic website.
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