J.K. Rowling’s newest story first appeared as an online daily serial, free to readers all around the world. Known by billions of people for the Harry Potter series and various spin offs, J.K. Rowling has a huge fan base, who embraced the story and the spirit of generosity in which it was shared.
J.K. Rowling originally conceived this fairy tale more than a decade ago and read it to her small children as a bedtime story. As the devastating impact of the global pandemic rolled out across the world she felt that perhaps she could offer something to entertain children, parents, and carers. She retrieved the dusty filing box from the attic and discussed with her children the possibility of sharing The Ickabog with the world.
Now teenagers, her children gave her a positive response and so she revitalised the manuscript and, in the process, satisfied the many, many fans who have been clamouring for “the lost manuscript”. J.K. Rowling has been dropping hints for years that such a thing existed. Nerd alert: some of us would remember when J.K. Rowling wore a gorgeous evening gown with a mysterious manuscript written on the fabric. This is that story!
To be very clear, this is not Harry Potter. The world is an entirely new invention with new characters and a mysterious myth about a fearsome monster called “The Ickabog”. It is set in Cornucopia, the happiest kingdom in the world, where everything is perfect. Adults tell tall tales about the mythical Ickabog to scare children into behaving. However, this myth starts to take on a life of its own, and when the foolish king begins to trust the wrong people, all sorts of calamitous events unfold.
Soon the kingdom is in peril and the people live in fear. Is the Ickabog a myth? Could poor judgement and greed bring a kingdom to its knees? Everything is spiralling out of control. Two children emerge as leaders, though their path will not be easy, and they will need help from some very surprising allies. Can trust and kindness triumph over self-interest and fear?
This book is written in the vernacular of a traditional fairy tale, utilising the norms of the genre but with a few modern twists. The narrator really does “tell” the story, so it is perfect for reading aloud.
When I opened the delivery box, the beautiful presentation of this edition bought a smile to my face! It is a hardcover book, with a matte dust jacket with gold embossing. There are coloured endpapers, a foreword by the author, a contents page, coloured chapter headings and, most gloriously of all, 34 full colour pages featuring illustrations by children from the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and India.
J.K. Rowling invited children to send in their illustrated interpretations, responding to the story as it unfolded in the online serial. These 34 illustrations are the winning entries in the competition and I’d particularly like to mention that there are six young Australians among the winners, selected from over 18,000 entries. Well done Grace, Mahli, Sofia, Ella, Jordyn and Erica!
Before I began to read the book, I took the dust jacket off (of course) and was delighted to find that the cloth cover is foiled and the spine is embossed foil also. Also delightful is that royalties from this book will be donated to assist vulnerable groups who have been particularly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Ickabog will be a cherished gift, a collectible for J.K. Rowling fans, perfect for read-alouds to children 7+ and a “must have” for independent fantasy readers aged 10+.
I absolutely enjoyed this review of The Ickabog! J.K. Rowling’s storytelling always captivates me, and it’s great to see how this fairy tale brings important themes to light. Can’t wait to dive into the book and see how the characters unfold!
I absolutely loved reading your review of The Ickabog! It’s fascinating to see how J.K. Rowling brought a whimsical fairy tale to life, especially with those underlying themes of bravery and friendship. Your insights really captured the essence of the story and the illustrations seem delightful. I can’t wait to pick up a copy!
I absolutely loved your review of The Ickabog! It’s refreshing to see a fairy tale that embraces imagination and moral lessons. J.K. Rowling’s storytelling never fails to enchant, and I appreciate how you captured the essence of the characters and themes. Can’t wait to dive into this one!
I loved reading your review of The Ickabog! It’s refreshing to see a fairy tale that emphasizes bravery and kindness. Rowling’s creativity shines through in this charming story, and I can’t wait to share it with my kids! Thank you for your insights!
I absolutely loved this review of The Ickabog! It’s fascinating to see how J.K. Rowling brings a fresh fairy tale to life while weaving in important themes. I can’t wait to dive into the story and discover the imaginative world she’s created. Thanks for sharing such insightful thoughts!
I absolutely loved the review of The Ickabog! It’s fascinating to see how J.K. Rowling brings her trademark whimsy and depth to a fairy tale. The themes of kindness and bravery resonate so well, especially in today’s world. Can’t wait to dive into the book!
I absolutely loved the review of The Ickabog! It’s intriguing to see how J.K. Rowling has crafted another enchanting world. The themes of bravery and kindness resonate so deeply, especially in today’s climate. I can’t wait to read it and see how the illustrations bring the story to life. Thanks for sharing such a thoughtful review!
I absolutely loved your review of The Ickabog! It’s fascinating to see how Rowling weaves traditional fairy tale elements with modern themes. The illustrations add such a delightful touch, making it even more enchanting for readers of all ages. Can’t wait to share this with my kids!
I was really captivated by the review of The Ickabog! J.K. Rowling’s storytelling always has a magical quality, and it seems like this tale is no exception. I can’t wait to see how she weaves in themes of friendship and bravery. Thanks for sharing such a detailed analysis!
I absolutely loved this review of “The Ickabog”! J.K. Rowling’s storytelling magic shines through in this charming fairy tale. It’s refreshing to see a story that blends imagination with important life lessons. I can’t wait to dive into the book!
I absolutely loved your review of The Ickabog! It’s refreshing to see J.K. Rowling delve into a classic fairy tale format while weaving in important themes. The illustrations and the whimsical storytelling truly brought the world to life. Can’t wait to share this book with my kids!
What a delightful review! I loved how you captured the whimsical elements of “The Ickabog” while also highlighting its deeper themes. J.K. Rowling truly knows how to weave a story that resonates with both children and adults. Can’t wait to pick up my copy!
I loved the review of The Ickabog! J.K. Rowling has a way of weaving intricate tales that capture both the imagination and the heart. I’m particularly intrigued by how this story tackles themes of bravery and truth. Can’t wait to dive into it!
I absolutely loved this review of The Ickabog! It’s fascinating to see how J.K. Rowling weaves themes of courage and friendship into such a whimsical tale. The illustrations look charming, too! Can’t wait to read it for myself!
I absolutely loved this review of The Ickabog! It beautifully captures the whimsical charm and deeper themes woven throughout the story. Rowling’s storytelling magic really shines in this fairy tale, making it a delightful read for both kids and adults. Can’t wait to share it with my little ones!
I absolutely loved the review of The Ickabog! It beautifully captures the whimsy and imagination of the story. I appreciate how Rowling weaves important themes into a tale that’s both fun and thought-provoking. Can’t wait to read it myself!
What an enchanting review! I absolutely loved “The Ickabog.” Rowling’s imaginative storytelling truly brings a fresh perspective to the classic fairy tale genre. The themes of bravery and friendship really resonated with me. I can’t wait to share it with my kids!
I absolutely loved the review of The Ickabog! It’s refreshing to see a fairy tale that highlights important themes while still being entertaining. Rowling’s storytelling has a magical quality that captivates readers of all ages. Can’t wait to dive into this whimsical world and meet the characters! Thank you for sharing your insights!
I loved reading this review of The Ickabog! It’s fascinating to see how Rowling has created a story that feels both classic and fresh at the same time. The themes of bravery and friendship resonate so deeply, and the illustrations add such a whimsical touch. Can’t wait to pick up a copy for myself!
I loved your review of The Ickabog! It’s refreshing to see a fairy tale that combines whimsy with deeper themes. Rowling’s storytelling truly captures the imagination while also addressing important lessons. I can’t wait to dive into this magical world!
I absolutely loved the review of The Ickabog! It’s fascinating to see how J.K. Rowling weaves themes of bravery and the importance of truth into a fairy tale format. The illustrations add such a charming touch to the story, too. I can’t wait to dive into the world she’s created!
I thoroughly enjoyed this review! The Ickabog brings a refreshing twist to classic fairy tales with its imaginative storytelling and rich illustrations. It’s fascinating to see how J.K. Rowling captures both whimsical and profound themes that resonate with readers of all ages. Can’t wait to dive into this enchanting world!
What a delightful review! I loved how you captured the enchanting essence of “The Ickabog.” J.K. Rowling’s ability to create a whimsical world filled with valuable lessons is truly remarkable. I can’t wait to dive into this tale!
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I absolutely loved the review of The Ickabog! It’s fascinating to see how J.K. Rowling has created such a whimsical world filled with themes of bravery and kindness. I can’t wait to dive into this original fairy tale!
I absolutely loved your review of The Ickabog! It’s refreshing to see a fairy tale that not only entertains but also conveys important messages about bravery and truth. Rowling has truly captured the essence of childhood imagination. Can’t wait to dive into it myself!