Title: Albert’s Journey Through the Mountains
Author: David Alvord
Publisher: Book Vine Press
ISBN: 978-1958678077
Pages: 74
Genre: Fantasy
Reviewed by: Margie Przybylski
Pacific Book Review
Albert’s Journey Through the Mountains is a beautiful tale of a wizard’s quest by David Alvord. Alvord’s descriptive writing style paints a picture of a fantasy time and place “far, far away.” The protagonist Albert lives in a little house in a little village with his daughters. What is special about Albert is he is a wizard’s apprentice.
Alvord’s story about Albert and his adventure is delightful to read aloud to children of all ages. The chapters move quickly and can give confidence to an early reader venturing into chapter books on their own for the first time. Each page is filled with beautiful imagery sparking curiosity and imagination for boys and girls alike. This book is perfect for a grade school classroom or to be read aloud at home right before bed.
Not only does Alvord’s writing aide in teaching children to listen and learn, his book includes several teaching moments and relatable lessons. At the very beginning of the book Albert tells his daughters a visitor is coming. In anticipation of the visitor’s arrival the girls keep busy, doing their chores to pass the time and willing the arrival to feel sooner than it actually is. I remember doing the same as a little girl, but it’s one of those things you forget about as you grow older.
Albert’s Journey is a quest, he is sent by his master, Byron. It is interesting to see this character sent on a quest – he is not a youth, and this is not a coming-of-age story. Instead, Albert is a father of three girls. This book, among many other popular stories in culture today challenges many norms mainly age and gender roles. This is evident through all the characters he meets along the way.
At the very end, in the epilogue – our dear Albert reaches a cliff hanger ending, hinting a sequel in the making. Albert’s adventure takes readers on a fun journey and leaves them hungry for more – an excellent thing for young readers to experience. There is plenty of action and adventure, a little fear and anticipation – without forsaking innocence and fun. A book like this inspires children to take more journeys through books, to lands far away and times long ago. Exactly the thing young readers need to ensure a lifelong curiosity for reading and therefore – constant hunger for learning.
