Scholastic: Beedle raises $8.5 million in first week

Scholastic has issued a press release this morning, detailing the first official international sales figures for The Tales of Beedle the Bard, which has sold 2.6 million copies and grossed roughly $8.5 million in its first full week for the The Childiren's High Level Group. J.K. Rowling has expressed her thanks today to all those who have bought a copy of her charity book, making it the fastest selling title of 2008 and raising millions of pounds for children suffering in institutions. "I am absolutely delighted that so much money has been raised," she said, "and would like to thank everyone who has so far purchased a copy of the book. All royalties will be going to help children without families, many of them with disabilities, whose voices have been unheard for many years." Read the rest of the press release below.