CNN

JK Rowling will release new children’s book ‘The Ickabog’ online for free

May 26, 2020, 10:23 AM | Updated: 4:41 pm

British author J. K. Rowling attends HBO's "Finding The Way Home" world premiere at Hudson Yards on...

British author J. K. Rowling attends HBO's "Finding The Way Home" world premiere at Hudson Yards on December 11, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Angela Weiss / AFP) (Photo by ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images)

(Photo by ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images)

(CNN) — “Harry Potter” author JK Rowling has announced a new story called “The Ickabog” to entertain children during coronavirus lockdown.

Rowling started writing “The Ickabog” while she was still completing the original Wizarding World series, and intended to publish it following the seventh — and final — “Harry Potter” book.

However, she decided to step back from children’s books and left a draft of “The Ickabog” in the attic, where it remained for nearly a decade, according to a statement on her website.

The author is keen to emphasize that the new story is not a “Harry Potter” spin-off, but a “stand-alone fairy tale,” she wrote on Twitter Tuesday.

It is her first book aimed at children since “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.”

The new story will be serialized, with a chapter or more posted on “The Ickabog” website every weekday from Tuesday to July 10, according to Rowling.

Rowling said she read the story aloud to her children during the writing process, and believes this makes it a good story for serialization.

The author also said it is suitable for those aged seven and above to read themselves.

“The Ickabog is a story about truth and the abuse of power,” wrote Rowling.

“To forestall one obvious question: the idea came to me well over a decade ago, so it isn’t intended to be read as a response to anything that’s happening in the world right now. The themes are timeless and could apply to any era or any country.”

Rowling has also invited children to provide illustrations for the story, to keep them occupied during coronavirus lockdown.

“I want to see imaginations run wild,” she wrote. “Creativity, inventiveness and effort are the most important things: we aren’t necessarily looking for the most technical skill.”

English print, eBook and audiobook versions of “The Ickabog” will be published in November, with other languages to follow.

Rowling said that publishers around the world will be free to choose the illustrations they feel suit the book best.

The author will donate all of her royalties to “help groups who’ve been particularly impacted by the pandemic.”

The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2020 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved.

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Send it to the KSL NewsRadio team here.

CNN

us capitol shown, government shutdown deadline approaching...

Lauren Fox, Clare Foran and Manu Raju, CNN

Border policy a key sticking point in Congress with shutdown deadline just days away

While government operations would halt if funding is not approved in time, the damage would be minimal if a shutdown is relegated to the weekend.

6 hours ago

Hitting peak time for the cherry tree bloom in Washington, D.C., can be a little tricky. But if you...

Aileen Graef and Elisa Raffa, CNN

‘Peak bloom!’: Cherry blossoms open early in DC, park service announces

Originally Published: 17 MAR 24 19:48 ET Updated: 17 MAR 24 19:55 ET (CNN) — The cherry blossoms lining the National Mall in Washington, DC, have hit “peak bloom,” bursting open in an early spring display after a warm winter, the National Park Service announced Sunday. “PEAK BLOOM! PEAK BLOOM! PEAK BLOOM! Did we say […]

13 hours ago

Environmental Conservation officers seize an alligator from a home in Hamburg, New York, on March 1...

Zoe Sottile, CNN

Authorities seize 750-pound alligator named Albert from New York home

A New York man was forced to say “see you later" to his alligator after local authorities determined he was keeping the reptile illegally.

14 hours ago

Elon Musk, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Rupert Murdoch are pictured in a split ima...

Tierney Sneed, CNN

Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s family dissents after award in her name is given to Elon Musk and Rupert Murdoch

Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s family wants her name off an award due to it being received by Elon Musk and Rupert Murdoch.

15 hours ago

Zach Edey of the Purdue Boilermakers blocks a shot during the second half of a game against Ohio St...

Issy Ronald, CNN

March Madness: Here are the top seeds for the men’s NCAA basketball tournament

The top four seeds are the Connecticut Huskies, Purdue Boilermakers, North Carolina Tar Heels and Houston Cougars.

1 day ago

The Biden administration is welcoming six new countries to a US-led pact to crack down on phone-hac...

Sean Lyngaas, CNN

US welcomes new governments to fight against spyware as it finds more American personnel have been targeted

The Biden administration is welcoming six new countries to a US-led pact to crack down on phone-hacking spyware.

1 day ago

Sponsored Articles

Mother and cute toddler child in a little fancy wooden cottage, reading a book, drinking tea and en...

Visit Bear Lake

How to find the best winter lodging in Bear Lake, Utah

Winter lodging in Bear Lake can be more limited than in the summer, but with some careful planning you can easily book your next winter trip.

Happy family in winter clothing at the ski resort, winter time, watching at mountains in front of t...

Visit Bear Lake

Ski more for less: Affordable ski resorts near Bear Lake, Utah

Plan your perfect ski getaway in Bear Lake this winter, with pristine slopes, affordable tickets, and breathtaking scenery.

front of the Butch Cassidy museum with a man in a cowboy hat standing in the doorway...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

Looking Back: The History of Bear Lake

The history of Bear Lake is full of fascinating stories. At over 250,000 years old, the lake has seen generations of people visit its shores.

silhouette of a family looking over a lake with a bird in the top corner flying...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

8 Fun Activities To Do in Bear Lake Without Getting in the Water

Bear Lake offers plenty of activities for the whole family to enjoy without having to get in the water. Catch 8 of our favorite activities.

Wellsville Mountains in the spring with a pond in the foreground...

Wasatch Property Management

Advantages of Renting Over Owning a Home

Renting allows you to enjoy luxury amenities and low maintenance without the long-term commitment and responsibilities of owning a home.

Clouds over a red rock vista in Hurricane, Utah...

Wasatch Property Management

Why Southern Utah is a Retirement Paradise

Retirement in southern Utah offers plenty of cultural and recreational opportunities. Find out all that this region has to offer.

JK Rowling will release new children’s book ‘The Ickabog’ online for free