As JK Rowling’s fans will know, The Tales of Beedle the Bard was given to Hermione in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. One of its five tales contained an important clue, but Rowling’s slim new book is more than an exercise designed to raise more millions for her charity, the Children’s High Level Group.

I can only think of three authors who are genuine creators of new fairytales : Joan Aiken, Tolkien and E. Nesbit. Rowling is the fourth, blending the comic with the gorgeously grotesque and adding a her own delicate line drawings. Dumbledore contributes scholarly notes satirising the popular belief that the “horrid subjects” of fairy-tales are dangerous to innocence.

The first, The Wizard and the Hopping Pot, will charm younger readers. A kind old wizard uses a cauldron to cure sick Muggles. When he dies, the selfish son refuses to help a warty old woman, only to find that his cauldron grows warts instead. The enchanted pot accumulates tears, vomit, and groans until the young wizard can bear no more. Only when he helps others does it all go onto reversal.

All of these tales - funny, sinister, wise and captivating – could have come new-minted from the Brothers Grimm. The best, The Fountain of Fair Fortune is about three witches desperate to change their luck. As in Harry Potter, their loyalty wins their hearts’ desire and is in contrast to the selfish Warlock in another tale who protects himself from love with gruesome consequences, or the power-crazed king who meets his match in the witch Babbitty Rabbitty and Her Cackling Stump.

The pared-down language is tinged with antiquity but never patronises. Her gift for finding the perfect name, and the unexpected twist is undimmed. Like Charles Dickens, Rowling has given us a perfect Christmas treat – ideal to slip in any stocking.

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