Those suffering from severe HPWS (Harry Potter Withdrawal Syndrome) will be pleased to discover some reprieve in J.K. Rowling's latest offering, 'The Tales of Beedle the Bard'.

Sure, it probably won't provide the full wizarding fix of the magical trio from Hogwarts, but it should allay those urges to don a pointy hat and climb onto your roof in the hopes that, this time, your broom from Macro really will fly.

Those muggles familiar with the annals of the wizarding world will recognise the 'The Tales', which first made an appearance in 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows', when Harry and his friends used the 'Tale of the Three Brothers' to defeat the evil Lord Voldemort.

'The Tales of Beedle the Bard', originally hand-written and illustrated by J.K. Rowling for six friends closely associated with the series, includes an additional four fairy tales (ostensibly translated from the original runes by Hermione Granger) with 'commentary' by Albus Dumbledore.

For fans of the series this 'commentary' will probably be more treasured than the stories themselves, which, whilst charming, are still simply fairy tales. The at-times witty commentary, littered with references to familiar characters, provides some insight not only into the world of wizardry (and that of muggles), but also into the character of the much-loved, but somewhat enigmatic Dumbledore.

If anything, 'The Tales' is a little short and the avid fan will be left craving more, but considering the context in which the original work was written the brevity is understandable. Rowling's ink illustrations add a delightfully quaint touch and one can only imagine how special the gem-encrusted originals must be.

Besides the brevity, another possible criticism of the work is that it doesn't include any commentary from the work's 'translator'. It is hard to believe that a know-it-all like Hermione would have been able to avoid the temptation to include a plethora of footnotes.

And (just in case you are weighing up whether you really, really need another book by the world's richest author) here's another good reason to buy yourself a copy of 'The Tales'. A percentage (#1.61) of every book sold goes to the Children's High Level Group, a charity co-founded by Rowling that campaigns to protect and promote children's rights and make life better for vulnerable children.

Go on? help save the children. You know you want to.

What do you think of 'The Tales of Beedle the Bard'? Share your thoughts below?