The Faraway Island — Dianne Hofmeyr

"There once was an unhappy man who longed to be all on his own," begins this delightful story. The unhappy man jumps ship and swims to a barren rock sticking up out of the sea where he plants rice. But he hides when sailors come ashore, and they are amazed to discover rice growing on what seems to be an uninhabited island. Every time they come, they leave behind more plants and birds, and soon the island is bursting with fat bananas, juicy pineapples, and plump dates. What happens when the Queen of Portugal hears about this lush island where sailors have planted her flag?