Once Upon an Island

This book gives itself the tagline ‘an atlas of islands from around the world’ but it’s much more than just another geography book on islands. It combines beautifully illustrated maps with information about the island’s geography, origins and people. It features well-known islands like Madagascar whose animals are 85% endemic species, and Hawaii – the island created by volcanoes that is over 3800 km from land. But it also features lesser-known places like Waiheke near Aotearoa New Zealand with its rich Māori history, and the Amazon River Islands that are a collection of ‘floating forests’ in the heart of the Amazon Rainforest.

There is plenty of information included to make it a suitable curriculum companion for those studying landforms. The maps themselves feature a range of highlights from native animals to local delicacies and historical or natural monuments. At the start there are a few spreads about terminology used to describe different types of islands, climate change, people, flora and fauna and how islands are classified, and ends with snippets of conversation with the author and women from each island featured.

It is evident that a great amount of work and time has gone into creating this book and it is without doubt a book to pore over and devour, whether you are a travelling enthusiast or have selected it for your young readers to help them with schoolwork.

Read our Q&A interview with author Alice Albinia.