The Ickabog facts for kids
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| Author | J.K. Rowling |
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| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Fairy tale, Children's book |
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Publication date
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10 November 2020 |
The Ickabog is a fun fairy tale written by the famous British author J. K. Rowling. She first shared the story online in parts, and then it was officially published in November 2020. This book was her first new children's book since the last Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows book came out in 2007.
Contents
Setting the Scene: The Land of Cornucopia
The Ickabog takes place in a make-believe land called Cornucopia. This land is ruled by King Fred.
The Ickabog Monster
The Ickabog is a creature said to live in the wet, muddy areas of the North, called the Marshlands. People use stories about the Ickabog to explain when sheep or people go missing in the marshes. It is also used like a scary story to make children behave.
North vs. South
Cornucopia has two main parts. The southern part is rich and has cities famous for different yummy foods. But the northern part, the Marshlands, is not as wealthy.
The Story of The Ickabog
The story begins with King Fred, who is a bit self-centered. A palace seamstress, Dora Dovetail, works too hard on his costume and passes away. King Fred feels bad but does not visit her family. This makes Dora's daughter, Daisy, very upset with the king.
A Trip to the Marshlands
A shepherd from the Marshlands asks King Fred to get rid of the Ickabog. Wanting to prove himself brave, King Fred rides North with his army. In the marshes, an accident happens, and Major Beamish, a loyal guard, is hurt. Two of the king's advisors, Spittleworth and Flapoon, use this chance to trick the king. They pretend the Ickabog caused the accident.
A Kingdom in Trouble
When they return, some soldiers and the Chief Advisor, Herringbone, do not believe the Ickabog story. Herringbone is removed, and the soldiers are put away. Spittleworth, now the Chief Advisor, makes the country pay a huge tax for an "Ickabog Defence Brigade." This tax makes many people poor, but King Fred does not realize it because he is too scared to leave the capital city.
Spittleworth has Daisy's family taken. Daisy's father, Dan, is forced to carve fake Ickabog feet. Daisy is sent away to a difficult orphanage run by Ma Grunter, where she meets a kind Marshlander girl named Martha.
Secrets and Escapes
Years pass, and the tax gets even bigger, making Spittleworth very rich. Bert Beamish, Major Beamish's son, and his mother, Bertha, start to suspect Spittleworth's plan. Bert finds a fake Ickabog foot made by Dan. Bertha tries to tell the king, but she is taken away and put in the dungeons. Bert escapes the city. He meets Roderick Roach, who tells him that Spittleworth hurt Roderick's father for not catching Bert. Bert and Roderick are then taken to the same orphanage where Daisy is. Meanwhile, Bertha helps Dan get better in the dungeons.
Meeting the Real Ickabog
The four children – Daisy, Bert, Martha, and Roderick – escape the orphanage. They travel to the Marshlands, hoping to get help from the Ickabog Defence Brigade. But the Brigade is gone for winter. The children become very cold and pass out.
The real Ickabog finds them and carries them to its cave. Daisy talks to the Ickabog. The Ickabog explains that new baby Ickabogs will soon be "bornded" (born). The Ickabog plans to eat the children so its babies will be born angry at humans. This is because humans have almost made the Ickabog race disappear.
A New Hope for Cornucopia
Daisy convinces the Ickabog not to eat them. Instead, she asks it to show itself to the people and become their friend. The group, with the Ickabog, marches towards the city of Jeroboam. The Ickabog hands out flowers, and the citizens, angry about being lied to, join them. They march towards Chouxville, where King Fred is having a party.
Spittleworth tries to stop the Ickabog with the Brigade. As the Ickabog is giving birth, Flapoon tries to shoot it. Bert jumps in the way, and the bullet hits his father's medal, saving him. The first baby Ickabog is born scared and angry because of the gun. But the second baby Ickabog is born kind, as Daisy comforts the dying parent Ickabog. Spittleworth is caught trying to escape with his gold.
A Happily Ever After
Spittleworth and others, including King Fred, are arrested for their wrongdoings. The second-born Ickabog helps create a new city in the Marshlands. King Fred tries to make up for his mistakes by helping the first-born Ickabog become calmer. He passes away soon after, and his death leads to happy baby Ickabogs being born. The kingdom of Cornucopia then lives happily ever after.
Main Characters
- King Fred the Fearless: The ruler of Cornucopia, who is not very good at his job and easily tricked.
- Lord Spittleworth: King Fred's clever and greedy main advisor.
- Lord Flapoon: Spittleworth's friend, who is also dishonest.
- Captain Roach: Spittleworth's tough helper, who takes over as head of the Royal Guard.
The Beamish Family
- Major Beamish: The head of the Royal Guard.
- Bertha Beamish: His wife and the palace's head pastry chef.
- Bert "Butterball" Beamish: Their son.
The Dovetail Family
- Dan Dovetail: A carpenter at the Palace.
- Dora Dovetail: The head seamstress at the Palace.
- Daisy Dovetail: Their daughter and Bert's best friend.
Other Important Characters
- Lady Eslanda: A good and honest lady of the court.
- Gordon Goodfellow: A captain in the army, whose family makes cheese. Lady Eslanda secretly likes him.
- Roderick Roach: Captain Roach's son and Bert's friend.
- Ma Grunter: A tough woman who runs an orphanage in the North.
- Basher John: Ma Grunter's strong helper.
- Herringbone: The Chief Advisor before Spittleworth.
- Martha: A girl from the Marshlands and Daisy's friend at the orphanage.
- The Ickabog: A large, talking creature that can make fire, and is the last of its kind.
Audiobook Versions
Audible released audio versions of The Ickabog in many languages in November 2020. These included English, Italian, German, Spanish, and more. The English version was read by the famous actor Stephen Fry.
See also
In Spanish: El ickabog para niños
