Once Upon an Island

Age range: 7+
Written by Alice Albinia; illustrated by Helen Cann
Hardback; 310 x 256 mm; 64pp
Publishing 5 March 2026

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 rugged lands of the Orkney islands that Stone Age people called home, to the sunny coasts of the Isles of Scilly. 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 first-hand 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

ALICE ALBINIA read English literature at Cambridge and South Asian history at SOAS, then worked for two years in Delhi as a journalist, critic and editor. Her first book, Empires of the Indus, was written during a journey through Afghanistan, India, Pakistan and Tibet. She won a Royal Society of Literature Award for it and has since gone on to write a number of award-winning books for adults. Once Upon an Island is her first book for children, and while researching it, Alice interviewed people from every island featured in its pages.

HELEN CANN is an illustrator specialising in hand drawn mapping, children's books, drawing and lettering. She has contributed to over 30 books, won several awards and exhibited around the world. Her book illustrations are mainly hand produced using watercolour, collage and graphite and have been used in picture books, anthologies and chapter books. Helen's illustrations, drawings and lettering have also been commissioned for business branding, ceramic designs and as props for TV and film. She currently works in a sunny studio in Brighton by the sea in the UK.

ISBN: 9781917044349