The Popular Book of Spells is a textbook at Cackle's Academy. A first year textbook at Cackle's Academy. Students are presented with a copy at the end of their first year, which is described as a 'Three-inch-thick volume bound in black leather', although they have paperback editions for use in class. At the end of the first year, each pupil receives a copy of The Popular Book of Spells, a three-inch thick volume bound in black leather. This was not really to be used, as they already had paperback editions for the classroom, but like the cats it was another piece of tradition.