【全新插圖版】伊卡伯格：J.K.羅琳寫給孩子的床邊故事The Ickabog (Ben Mantle Illustrated Edition)

 
　　如果有人說豐饒角王國是世界上最幸福的國度，相信應該不會有多少人反對。這裡有最美味的糕點、最醇厚的美酒、最濃郁的起司，還有備受愛戴的國王和富裕的人民。
 
　　但豐饒角的人不會告訴你，這個國家的最北邊還有一個叫作「沼澤地」的地方。那裡只會長出乾枯的野草，只能養活幾隻長滿疥瘡的綿羊，人們既窮困又骯髒，一切都是如此貧乏無趣，除了怪物「伊卡伯格」的傳說……
 
　　據說「伊卡伯格」會潛伏在霧氣迷濛的黑暗中，伺機捕食綿羊和人類。它擁有非比尋常的魔力，不但會飛、會噴火、能噴射毒液，還有超強的自癒力，甚至可以分裂成兩個！
 
　　「小心被伊卡伯格抓去吃掉！」豐饒角王國的父母們總是會這樣嚇唬不聽話的孩子，但沒有人真的見過伊卡伯格，也沒有人相信它的存在。直到一年一度的「請願日」，一名老牧羊人顫巍巍地走上國王座前的紅地毯，控訴自己的狗被伊卡伯格吃掉了！
 
　　沒有人想得到，國王聽了牧羊人的話，竟然決定率軍北上討伐伊卡伯格，更沒有人能預期，這趟看似風光的長征，竟是一場恐怖災難的開始……
 
　　——中文書介摘錄自《伊卡伯格：J.K. 羅琳寫給孩子的床邊故事，也是獻給所有仍保有赤子之心的大人的原創奇幻童話！》，皇冠出版

Once upon a time there was a terrible monster called the Ickabog. ​Or so the story goes . . .
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Prepare for a legendary adventure from one of the world's greatest storytellers J.K. Rowling, now featuring striking illustrations from award-winning illustrator Ben Mantle.
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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.

J.K. Rowling is the author of the enduringly popular Harry Potter books. After the idea for Harry Potter came to her on a delayed train journey in 1990, she plotted out and started writing the series of seven books and the first, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, was published in the UK in 1997. The series took another ten years to complete, concluding in 2007 with the publication of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

To accompany the series, J.K. Rowling wrote three short companion volumes for charity, Quidditch Through the Ages and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, in aid of Comic Relief and Lumos, and The Tales of Beedle the Bard, in aid of Lumos. She also collaborated on the writing of a stage play, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, which was published as a script book.

Her other books for children include the fairy tale The Ickabog and The Christmas Pig, which were published in 2020 and 2021 respectively and have also been bestsellers. She is also the author of books for adults, including a bestselling crime fiction series.

J.K. Rowling has received many awards and honours for her writing. She also supports a number of causes through her charitable trust Volant and is the founder of the children's charity Lumos.

To find out more about J.K. Rowling visit jkrowlingstories.com.

Ben Mantle is the illustrator of Shane Hegarty's Boot, shortlisted for the Sainsbury's Children's Book Award. His picture book The Best Birthday Present Ever won the Dundee Picture Book Award and he has illustrated a number of iconic fiction covers such as Piers Torday's The Lost Magician and Jenny McLachlan's The Land of Roar. Ben studied Animation at the Surrey Institute of Art & Design before working as an animator. Since 2008, Ben has been working as a children's book illustrator and also produces screen prints and digital artwork to exhibit. Ben lives in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire.