Once Upon an Island

Award-winning historian Alice Albinia takes readers on a journey across oceans and centuries, uncovering the secrets of 20 fascinating islands, each vividly brought to life through firsthand stories and illustrated maps

Travel across oceans and through time with award-winning historian and storyteller Alice Albinia in her first children's book, “Once Upon an Island.”

Discover 20 wondrous islands-from the icy, windswept cliffs of Baffin Island, where Inuit knowledge has sustained communities for generations, to the volcanic peaks of Hawai'i. This captivating journey reveals islands as places of wonder and warning, rich with histories that have shaped the world far beyond their shores.

Perfect for curious explorers, map lovers, and anyone enchanted by the magic of faraway places, “Once Upon an Island” is an unforgettable voyage through geography, history, and story.

Featuring firsthand narratives and read-aloud maps, all brought to life with beautiful illustrations by Helen Cann.

Islands include:

1. Chiloé

2. Waiheke

3. Madagascar

4. Lake Titicaca

5. Samoa

6. Tiwi

7. Seychelles

8. Amazon River Islands

9. Mumbai

10. Hawai'i

11. Isla Mujeres

12. Yonaguni

13. Putuo

14. Sicily

15. Lesbos

16. Vis

17. Scilly

18. Texel

19. Orkney

20. Baffin