Babes of the Empire: An alphabet for young England

This lively illustrated alphabet in verse introduces young listeners to a globe-spanning cast of children and communities, from an Australian bush rider and Canadian farmer to a Gurkha soldier, an Irish child, a Maori youngster, and a Welsh babe. Each letter brings a new portrait, packed with rhyme, rhythm, playful descriptions, and glimpses of landscapes, clothing, customs, work, and imagined adventures across the British Empire.

Written in an exuberant early-twentieth-century style, the poem celebrates loyalty, courage, friendship, and the ideal of a united world under Britain’s banner. Its cheerful cadence makes it well suited to reading aloud, while modern listeners may also find value in noticing the period assumptions, stereotypes, and imperial attitudes woven through its portrayals. Together, the verses form a colorful historical snapshot of how empire and childhood were presented to young English readers.