THE ICKABOG

A rumour about a marsh-dwelling monster proves enough to unsettle an entire kingdom in J. K. Rowling's fairy tale for younger readers. Cornucopia is prosperous and content until fear of the Ickabog takes hold, and the damage that follows comes less from any creature than from the people who find the panic useful. Two children begin asking who benefits from the story, and their questions carry them into real danger. The plot moves briskly, the villains are drawn with relish, and the point about rumour and power lands without lecturing. What the story turns on: • A standalone fantasy for children from the author of the Harry Potter books • The kingdom of Cornucopia and the legend said to live in its marshlands • Young protagonists who test what the grown-ups insist is true • Themes of truth, fear, corruption and courage handled at a child's level Written for children, easily read aloud in families and suited to fantasy readers of any age. Find it at Boipoka.