Once upon a time there was a tiny kingdom called Cornucopia, as rich in happiness as it was in gold, and famous for its food. From the delicate cream cheeses of Kurdsburg to the Hopes-of-Heaven pastries of Chouxville, each was so delicious that people wept with joy as they ate them.
But even in this happy kingdom, a monster lurks. Legend tells of a fearsome creature living far to the north in the Marshlands... the Ickabog. Some say it breathes fire, spits poison, and roars through the mist as it carries off wayward sheep and children alike. Some say it's just a myth...
And when that myth takes on a life of its own, casting a shadow over the kingdom, two children - best friends Bert and Daisy - embark on a great adventure to untangle the truth and find out where the real monster lies, bringing hope and happiness to Cornucopia once more.
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Once upon a time, there was a tiny country called Cornucopia, which had been ruled for centuries by a long-line of fair-haired kings. CHAPTER 1
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(@LittleBrownYR, 10 November 2020, 288 pages, hardback, bought from @AmazonUK)
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I've been looking forward to reading this all year and I wasn't disappointed. I loved The Ickabog. The hardback is a gorgeous book with a lover cover, printed on high quality paper and packed with impressive illustrations by children who won a competition. It's a joy to hold and touch. I loved reading it. The author offers a traditional fairytale with darker elements such as a mysterious monster said to terrorise Cornucopia and the sinister motivations of the King and his men. The book is for children so easy to read and understand without being too childish. I loved it.
