Book Highlight: Illustrated History of the British Virgin Islands Colouring Book by Gabriel Skelton-Bardo

Do you want to learn more about the British Virgin Islands (BVI)? If you love history and enjoy coloring, then you need to get a copy of "Illustrated History of the British Virgin Islands Colouring Book," which was written by Mrs. Gabrielle Skelton-Bardo. Mr. David Thrasher created the illustrations, and each page vividly highlights the rich history of this small Caribbean territory. This coloring book, which displays historical data and areas in Central Tortola is labeled 'Book One' which hints that the author has plans to create similar works.

The Illustrated History of the British Virgin Islands Colouring Book brings the rich BVI history and culture alive by showcasing the national symbols, and notable buildings and sites. Did you know how Road Town, the capital city of the British Virgin Islands, got its name? One may think the name was selected because there was a system of roads for land transport in the area. However, that answer is not correct. You will have to get your copy to find the answer!

This book not only stands out because it is a colouring book created for the BVI by a British Virgin Islander. It is unique because the information shared reflects the time and effort it took to create this masterpiece. In addition to the historical details, another highlight is the official mascot, Zoe, the Turtle Dove. The turtle dove is the territorial bird, and the word, Tortola, translates to 'Land of the Turtle Dove.'

I asked the author for permission to share this page from the book about Sir Olva Georges, who was the first and only male British Virgin Islander to be knighted. She shared that the Sir Olva Georges Plaza "... has special meaning to me as this was where we were sold as slaves, and this is where politics was reborn in the '50s. It is a perfect tribute as we are celebrating 70 years of self-governance."

The author also shared that she would like to encourage anyone who has a dream to follow it and to embrace their passions, whether it be arts, science, writing, drama, etc. She urged us to always stay true to ourselves and be humble in all things that we do. Mrs. Skelton-Bardo also stated, "I hope everyone has a fun time learning about our history because I had a fun time learning about and putting this project together."

The Illustrated History of the British Virgin Islands Colouring Book is ideal for children because they have a beautiful reference guide they can use for their social studies and history lessons. Adults will also enjoy this book, especially if they are older because they can reminisce about their younger days and how the BVI has progressed.

For more information or to get copies of the book, please visit the Colour ME BVI History page on Facebook.