The Ickabog

by J. K. Rowling

Hardcover, 2020

Status

Available

Call number

J4A.Row

Publication

Scholastic Inc. (First Edition)

Pages

274

Description

As the legend of the fearsome Ickabog spreads terror in the peaceful kingdom of Cornucopia, best friends Bert and Daisy set out to discover the truth and bring happiness back to the kingdom.

Description

From J.K. Rowling, a warm, fast-paced, funny fairy tale of a fearsome monster, thrilling adventure, and hope against all odds.
Once upon a time there was a tiny kingdom called Cornucopia, as rich in happiness as it was in gold, and famous for its food. From the delicate cream cheeses of Kurdsburg to the Hopes-of-Heaven pastries of Chouxville, each was so delicious that people wept with joy as they ate them.

But even in this happy kingdom, a monster lurks. Legend tells of a fearsome creature living far to the north in the Marshlands... the Ickabog. Some say it breathes fire, spits poison, and roars through the mist as it carries off wayward sheep and children alike. Some say it's just a myth...

And when that myth takes on a life of its own, casting a shadow over the kingdom, two children - best friends Bert and Daisy - embark on a great adventure to untangle the truth and find out where the real monster lies, bringing hope and happiness to Cornucopia once more.

Featuring full color illustrations by children from across the United States and Canada, this original fairy tale from one of the world's most celebrated storytellers will captivate readers of all ages.

Collection

Barcode

5210

Language

Original language

English

Original publication date

2020-11-10

Physical description

274 p.; 9.3 inches

ISBN

1338732870 / 9781338732870

Lexile

1090L

User reviews

LibraryThing member 06nwingert
In a small country called Cornucopia, the Ickabog — a monster that devours humans and animals— was considered a myth. Until the kind and his advisors lead an expedition to find the monster. They begin imposing taxes to keep the country safe from the monster, leading to poverty.all the while,
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two young children— Bert and Daisy— are caught in an adventure they never planned, leading them straight to the monster. Bert and Daisy prove to the country that the monster is harmless.

As with most fairy tales, there is a moral to the story. In this case, the moral is that man does more damage than any monster, and man can be a monster. J. K. Rowling weaves a thrilling, page-turning morality tale.
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LibraryThing member nadineeg
Well written, designed to be read aloud.
LibraryThing member ecataldi
I have to preface this by saying - no I don't support JK Rowling and her deluded thoughts on transgendered people. I felt icky for even reading this, I had to completely separate the author from her work. That being said, I did enjoy the story and I thought it had a good moral lessons and was an
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overall good kids story. I also loved that children were the illustrators; it added a little extra whimsy and fun. The Ickabog is about monsters and kings, deceptive advisors, loyalty, friendship, and tall tales. What happens when a King swears he saw a monster? A monster that killed the captain of his guard - what happens if it was all a hoax? How wrapped up can the kingdom get? How can one lie hurt everyone? Scarily relevant and timely.
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LibraryThing member fionaanne
A fun old-school folk tale, full of predictable tropes and stock characters which starts out strong but gets a bit laboured after the halfway point. Reminscent of Dickens being paid per installment, this book goes on for far too long because of the circumstances under which it was first presented
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to the public.
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LibraryThing member LVStrongPuff
This book was okay. I liked it, but didn't love it. I felt the story was several different classic and folklore stories pieced together.
LibraryThing member Al-G
This is a really interesting story and while it purports to be a young adult book, the story is multidimensional and will certainly speak to adults as well. The country of Cornucopia is a wonderful place to live - it is thriving and its people are prospering and King Fred is popular and well-liked.
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But there is a snake in the garden, so to speak. Spittleworth and his friend, Flappoon, have ingratiated themselves to the king and are not well intentioned. They are corrupt and greedy and when fear of the legendary Ickabog reaches a dramatic climax they see their opportunity. Through a series of accidents and well-planned incidents, they manage to take control of the kingdom and soon it is no longer flourishing. But a group of kids is determined to help, but how? I generally like Rowling's writing and this one is no exception. The story reads easily and it has an interesting plot and echoes of meaning for our modern world hidden in the fairy tale. It is an interesting read.
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Rating

½ (140 ratings; 3.8)

Awards

The British Book Industry Awards (Shortlist — Children’s Fiction — 2021)

Call number

J4A.Row
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