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The Last Words of Albion

By Joshua T Ferdinand

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Young readers will enjoy traveling through British history and exploration in this fast-paced and colorful picture book.

Synopsis

Beneath Hadrian’s Wall’s ancient shadow, The Last Words of Albion weaves a captivating journey through Britain’s history with the elegance of haiku. More than poetry, it’s a portal to a past filled with valour and strife, illustrating our evolution. From lush forests to the industrial revolution’s grime, it merges historical gravitas with the ethereal dreams that define us, bridging from Moreland to Metropolis.

This narrative isn’t just read; it’s an exploration of Britain’s rich history, urging readers to connect with the island’s soulful legacy. Its blend of striking watercolours and resonant verses offers a unique engagement with history, appealing to both youngsters and adults alike, and transforming heritage into an interactive saga.

At its core, the book voices a crucial ecological message, spotlighting our bond with the planet amid the spectre of climate change. Highlighting pivotal moments like the Great Fire and World War II, it challenges readers to ponder our collective future. The Last Words of Albion invites you to not only witness Britain’s splendour but also to contribute to the narrative of our shared home, urging a conscious stride towards safeguarding our environment for posterity.

A smiley sea gull. A prickly porcupine. A bushy-tailed squirrel. Green forests and rolling hills. You’ll find all this plus a quick trip through British history and exploration in this fast-paced and colorful picture book.


The text is minimal and haiku-ish. It may also serve as a springboard for further discussion about some of the topics presented in the illustrations.

Speaking of illustrations, those in The Last Words of Albion are top-notch. Vivid and colorful, they suggest motion and growth while also illustrating key concepts or epochs. A key theme is how pollution and how ignoring nature imperils the planet. While readers will doubtless connect the references to World War II and the illustration of Queen Elizabeth II, those unfamiliar with British history may struggle a bit with some of the content or other references.


There’s more to this book than meets the eye. For example, alert readers may note that the book begins and ends with the same poem and wonder why. Some readers outside the U.K. may also wonder about the word “Albion” in the title. I once lived on a street named “Albion Drive.” So I’m aware of the meaning behind the word. For those unfamiliar, “Albion” is a poetic or literary term for Britain or England. It is often used in referring to ancient or historical times. Thus, it’s a perfect word choice for this book and title.


Young readers are encouraged to ponder some of the themes explored in this book and explore further with activity pages and questions. The latter includes: How many different animals can you find in the book? Which countries did Britain's wooden ships travel to? Who wrote about the Great Fire of London in their diary? What's the special nickname for the London Underground? And, Can you list the four nations that form the United Kingdom?


Overall, this is a quick and creative read that gently introduce some timely issues and topics. The target audience of children ages nine to twelve may be a little too old for this book. But younger readers will certainly enjoy it.


My Rating 3.5

Reviewed by
Kristine L.

Lifelong bibliophile. Library Board Member. Select book reviews featured on my blog and Goodreads, etc. I'm a frank but fair reviewer, averaging 400+ books/year in a wide variety of genres on multiple platforms. Over 1,650 published reviews. Still going strong!

The Last Words of Albion

Written by Joshua T Ferdinand

Buy it nowBuy nowBuy
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Synopsis

Beneath Hadrian’s Wall’s ancient shadow, The Last Words of Albion weaves a captivating journey through Britain’s history with the elegance of haiku. More than poetry, it’s a portal to a past filled with valour and strife, illustrating our evolution. From lush forests to the industrial revolution’s grime, it merges historical gravitas with the ethereal dreams that define us, bridging from Moreland to Metropolis.

This narrative isn’t just read; it’s an exploration of Britain’s rich history, urging readers to connect with the island’s soulful legacy. Its blend of striking watercolours and resonant verses offers a unique engagement with history, appealing to both youngsters and adults alike, and transforming heritage into an interactive saga.

At its core, the book voices a crucial ecological message, spotlighting our bond with the planet amid the spectre of climate change. Highlighting pivotal moments like the Great Fire and World War II, it challenges readers to ponder our collective future. The Last Words of Albion invites you to not only witness Britain’s splendour but also to contribute to the narrative of our shared home, urging a conscious stride towards safeguarding our environment for posterity.

The Last Words of Albion

Written by Joshua T Ferdinand

Buy it nowBuy nowBuy
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About the author

Founder of an Academic Publishing Network, Josh began his teaching journey with Key Stage 2 students. This experience inspired him to create The Last Words of Albion, a book for children aged 9-12 that explores themes of colonialism, climate change, and culture through haikus and activities. view profile

Published on August 16, 2024

Published by Austin Macauley

0-1000 words

Genre:Picture Books

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