Rating: 
Summary: Great!
Review: To everyone who said, "Oh, that's Latin!" when Wingardium Leviosa first showed up, or knew what a mandrake was for right from the start, this book is for you. It is much more detailed and interesting than other companion books and explains a lot more than just Harry Potter. As an avid reader of fantasy for years I learned plenty about Tolkien and Lawhead too. As a history major I also appreciated the brief but accurate descriptions of medieval beliefs.
As a Christian I was somewhat uncomfortable with the full explanations of arithmancy and tea leaves, prefering to leave those firmly in the setting of fiction. But, everyone has done number puzzles since they were 10 and any reader of Harry Potter knows how indiscernable tea leaves can be. Setting that aside, the whole book turns the whole "Harry Potter is occult" movement on its head by showing how Rowling has recreated nothing more than a mythical medieval world that has everything to do with the Greeks and the Romans and old wives tales and nothing to do with any particular religion today. The worldview of the book is a very Modern one. Geomancy, arithmancy, and astrology are explained because the authors obviously believe they are absolute bunk because scientificly, they are bunk. However, religion is not scientific, so the explanations are sure to cause some people to be concerned.
The book has quite wisely stuck with the "facts" of beastiaries and historical figures and doesn't try to make doubtful connections of meaning (the word "Quidditch" doesn't mean anything, Rowling has said so many times, so I wish everyone would stop trying to come up with its meaning). Altogether, it is quite enjoyable to learn what a manticore is and where the belief of its existence came from, along with reproductions of original woodcuts from medieval manuscripts. This book is definitely Western Folklore 101, and in this post-modern world, that type of book is well needed.
Rating:
Summary: The (best)
Review: This book is the {best} cause it is in alphabetical order. I read this book cause I did not get the Harry Potter books with all the monsters but now I do thanks to The Sorcerer's Companion.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent!
Review: A mini encyclopedia of magic and myth.What prevents me from giving it 5 starsthat it's incompleate. I was disapointed that it didn't cover every letter in our alphabet. i.e. [for those under 13 "i.e." means "For Example,or "Such as"] It skips the letter "J"When "Jinks" could have easily, been used.
Rating: 
Summary: It's Good but NOT the best.
Review: This book is like a reference of people and things. It doesn't have an index. It's good for a history lesson but otherwise I suggest "The Ulimate Unoffical Guide to Harry Potter" or "The Magical Worlds of Harry Potter". Those two are your best choice but buy this book if you want more references.
Rating:
Summary: An Encyclopedia of Harry Potter
Review: Awesome. It's incredibly interesting to learn so many of the actual myths and folk-tales (and sometimes true happenings) that JKR has worked into the Harry Potter series. The section on Arithmancy alone has led to a great deal of amusement in my household.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting Book, Particularly for Kids
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed every book to date in the Harry Potter series, finding them very appealing to my kid-at-heart. Familiar with most of the mythological references introduced by Ms. Rowlings already (and often amused at her interpretations), I decided to track down this book for someone else's perspective on all the items that go into making up the fantastical Harry Potter world.
The book offers the backgrounds behind many of the creatures, spells, and magical items of Hogwarts and beyond, from the mundane ghost to the esoterics of latin spells. Though I personally found the text to be a bit shallow in its treatment, for someone a bit younger the book is a perfect introduction to the basis for the magic of Harry Potter. For those who are unaware of the real mythological identity of creatures like basilisks or the working of hexes, this book is informative and fun--just don't expect to use it as a serious reference tome.
Rating:
Summary: Best Of The Best
Review: This book is one of the best books i have ever read!
if you need a book to guide you through the Harry Potter world..
this is the right one..
i give this book 5 stars with Honor.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent!
Review: Having been a Harry POtter fan, I much appreciate this information. It is extremely interesting but I would like to point out that this is not a Harry book, but contains excellent mythological facts. 5 stars. From the previous reviews I read, I saw that some people returned the book seeing J.K. didn't right it, well, that may be the case, but it is a very enlightening book, J.K. doesn't have to write a book for it to be great :)
Rating: 
Summary: Only if you have to...
Review: I love all things Harry Potter except this book. It is not produced with any of the Harry Potter/JK Rowling permissions & I actually returned it! It is not worth it. It is a dictionary of things like: ghost - throughout history people die and sometimes remain behind in the form of an aparition... I made this up - but that is all this is! If you have to have all things Harry Potter, get it used.
Rating:
Summary: Would NOT reccomend for children
Review: What I love about Harry Potter is the whole fantasy about it. I in no way want to become a wizard or a witch. I wouldn't reccomend this book to Harry Potter fans unless they are into the occult. I think the pictures in the book are too disturbing for children. Do not read this book unless you like the occult.
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