D.C. Student’s Artwork
Published in J.K. Rowling’s
“The Ickabog”
COURTESY OF SCHOLASTIC
Annika Pinol
has always loved drawing and reading.

Like many kids her age, she really enjoys the Harry Potter series.

So when the 8-year-old learned last spring about an illustration
competition for J.K. Rowling’s newest work, “The Ickabog,” she was
eager to enter.

Annika submitted many drawings of scenes and characters from
“The Ickabog” after reading chapters of the book online, which
Rowling released prior to its publication to give children and their
families something fun to read during pandemic-related lockdowns.

Rowling herself shared and complimented a few of Annika’s drawings
on Twitter, calling one “extraordinary.”
Then in August Annika learned one of her drawings—four
characters in bright costumes in front of a bright blue sky and
swirling background—would be published in the North American
edition. “I felt very happy and excited,” she says.

Annika, who lives in Washington, D.C., is one of 34 children from
the U.S. and Canada whose illustrations are featured in the book. The
contest, which was open to children ages 7 to 12, received more than
42,000 submissions, according to Scholastic.

In addition to being published, each of the winners got to donate
$650 worth of children’s books to any library or school. Annika chose
to give the books to Oyster-Adams Bilingual School, where she is in
third grade.

Published in November, “The Ickabog” is Rowling’s first children’s
book in over a decade. It tells the story of Bert and Daisy, two
children on an adventure to learn the truth about a mysterious
monster, but Annika says that Lady Eslanda, who loves to read, is her
favorite character.

This fall the young artist had the opportunity to meet Rowling on
a virtual call with other winners from around the world; the British
edition of the book features illustrations by children from the U.K.,
Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and India. Annika, who was one of
two Americans on the call, calls the experience “a dream come true.”
“I kept asking my mom and dad, ‘Was this a dream or was it
reality?’” she laughs.

“The Ickabog” isn’t the first time Annika’s artwork has gotten
attention from the public. After the death of Supreme Court Justice
Ruth Bader Ginsburg, she created a pin in her memory and put it up
for sale on Etsy. She also designed a “Vote” button before the 2020
election that quickly sold out. Annika and her family donated the
proceeds to the nonpartisan group When We All Vote.

Annika, who takes art classes, is now interested in trying
watercolor and oil painting. She’s part of a book club that meets
every week and is performing in a production of “Annie” soon. At
school, Annika enjoys studying math and science and says she wants
to be a robot scientist when she grows up.

“I want to be very clever and brave like the adults in ‘The
Ickabog,’” she says. n
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