J.K. Rowling’s 2020 children’s novel about a boy and a monster is The Ickabog.
The Ickabog is a standalone political fairy tale set in the fictional kingdom of Cornucopia. Its plot follows children who challenge a story about a supposedly dangerous monster while corruption and fear distort public life. The book was written years earlier, then revised and published in 2020.
Rowling first released the story online in installments during the COVID-19 pandemic. Children were invited to create illustrations, and selected artwork appeared in the printed edition. Royalties were directed to a charitable fund supporting groups affected by the pandemic.
The Ickabog is not part of the Harry Potter universe. It is also distinct from The Christmas Pig, another children’s fantasy novel Rowling published in 2021. The unusual title names the legendary creature at the center of the story.