The Ickabog was J.K. Rowling’s first published children’s novel after the Harry Potter series.
Published in 2020, The Ickabog is a standalone political fairy tale set in the fictional kingdom of Cornucopia. Its story follows children who confront official propaganda, corruption, and the fear surrounding a legendary creature called the Ickabog.
Rowling originally wrote the story years earlier for her own children and later revised it for publication. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she released chapters online while the book was being prepared, and a related illustration competition invited children to create artwork for the story.
The book is separate from the Harry Potter universe. It is also distinct from The Christmas Pig, another children’s novel by Rowling, which was published in 2021.