BOOKS

Have you heard of Newt Scamander? If you consider yourself a Potterhead, then you definitely have. He’s a recent Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry graduate—a Hufflepuff, of course—and the main character in J.K. Rowling’s Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. *Most* importantly, Newt is a passionate and magical zoologist who loves his creatures more than anything and wants to educate his fellow wizards about them by writing a book about magical beasts.

In New York City on business in 1926, Newt is unaware of the tension rising in the U.S. against wizards from the no-majs, or muggles. He's trying to rescue the endangered species of magical beasts in the the country, but due to a big blunder by no-maj Jacob Kowalski, the beasts are let loose into the world. Tina Goldstein, an auror (a.k.a. a dark wizard catcher) who works for the Magical Congress of the United States of America, and her sister, Queenie, a legilimens (a.k.a. a mind reader), join the crew in an attempt to capture the beasts before they’re exposed to the no-majs and the rising dark magical forces can take hold of the world.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is our chance to learn more about the enticing and welcoming magical world J.K. Rowling has created for us, before the birth of Harry Potter. Not only do we meet new characters, but we're also introduced to a boast of beasts, including The Swooping Evil, a beautiful butterfly like reptile with skeletal wings, an Erumpent, basically a giant rhino, and a Niffler, which is a cross between a mole and a platypus thats *loves* shiny objects.

These beasts are all kinds of fascinating, but also imaginary. Have you ever wondered what kind of fantastic beasts are actually lurking around in *our* world? The five creatures below may sound like a J.K. Rowling creation, but we assure you, they exist IRL. Scroll down to see for yourself, then enter to win a Fantastic Beasts gift bag full of magical must-haves (including your very own wand and a muggle-worthy throw!).

Beast: Tufted deer

What they are: These strange deer have a big tuft of black hair on their head, and some really cool fangs. Strangely, they move a little more like felines than they do like deer.

Where to find them: China—they live 4,500 m above sea level in the central region of the country...so we’d probably need magic to find them. Wands ready!

Beast: Fossa

What they are: These crazy cat-like carnivores are pretty similar to small cougars. They can climb trees and jump from branch-to-branch with ease, which makes them dangerous to small prey.

Where to find them: Madagascar! You might remember this villainous beast from the actual flick Madagascar, too. 

Beast: Gerenuk

What they are: These animals are sometimes called the "giraffe gazelle," because of their strangely long necks and legs. In reality, though, they’re a type of antelope! To reach the high leaves on trees, they can actually stand on their hind legs.

Where to find them: The Horn of Africa. The male gerenuks tend to live a forever-single life, so you'll probably find them hangin' in a herd of ladies.

Beast: Raccoon dog

What they are: Despite their name, these adorable fluffy creatures aren’t a type of dog or a type of raccoon. They do belong to the same family as dogs, foxes and dingos, though, and, even weirder, they climb trees like gray foxes and hibernate like bears.

Where to find them: East Asia, although don't you kind of wish you had one in your house as a pet?

Beast: Okapi

What they are: While they look like a type of zebra, these animals are related to giraffes. They have a super long tongue, and the females are usually bigger and prettier than the males.

Where to find them: Central Africa, although they're only active at night so you might need a little *lumos* to locate.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is available now from Scholastic online and at bookstores everywhere. Bonus: You don't have to be a Harry Potter fan or have read the series to enjoy this book. It's for everyone!   

 

Want to add some more fantastic magic to your own life? We're giving away spellbinding swag bags to 10 girls filled with everything from whimsical wands to a Harry-approved beanie and tee, courtesy of Warner Bros. Consumer Products. **THIS CONTEST IS CLOSED** To find out if you're one of our winners, CLICK HERE.

by Amy Garcia | 11/22/2016