Drawing 'The Ickabog'

Twelve-year-old Isla Besha can pick up a copy of J.K. Rowling's new book, The Ickabog, open it to a certain page, and find an illustration she had drawn on a whim while looking for something to do during the pandemic lockdown. The middle school student in East Greenbush was one of a handful of children in North America chosen to illustrate Rowling's book, culled from more than 40,000 submissions. The Times Union's Kristi Gustafson Barlette had a chance to chat with Isla, and learn about her art. Also on this episode, health reporter Bethany Bump discusses the Capital Region's record-breaking COVID spike, and education reporter Rachel Silberstein talks to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute President Shirley Ann Jackson about the school's successful algorithm to fight against the coronavirus on campus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices