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Baby Island
When a ferocious storm hits their ship, young Mary and Jean become stranded on a deserted island. They’re not the only survivors; with them are four babies. Immediately the sisters set out to make the island a home for themselves and the little ones. A classic tale of courage and dedication from a Newbery Medalist author.
160 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1937
56 people are currently reading
1,431 people want to read
About the author
Carol Ryrie Brink
54Ìýbooks171ÌýfollowersBorn Caroline Ryrie, American author of over 30 juvenile and adult books. Her novel Caddie Woodlawn won the 1936 Newbery Medal.
Brink was orphaned by age 8 and raised by her maternal grandmother, the model for Caddie Woodlawn. She started writing for her school newspapers and continued that in college. She attended the University of Idaho for three years before transferring to the University of California in 1917, where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa in 1918, the same year she married.
Anything Can Happen on the River, Brink's first novel, was published in 1934. She was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from the University of Idaho in 1965. Brink Hall, which houses the UI English Department and faculty offices, is named in her honor. The children's section of the Moscow, ID Carnegie public library is also named after her.
Brink was orphaned by age 8 and raised by her maternal grandmother, the model for Caddie Woodlawn. She started writing for her school newspapers and continued that in college. She attended the University of Idaho for three years before transferring to the University of California in 1917, where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa in 1918, the same year she married.
Anything Can Happen on the River, Brink's first novel, was published in 1934. She was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from the University of Idaho in 1965. Brink Hall, which houses the UI English Department and faculty offices, is named in her honor. The children's section of the Moscow, ID Carnegie public library is also named after her.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 380 reviews
June 9, 2008
My wife read this book to me while I was driving on a roadtrip. Her mom had found her childhood copy and sent it to her. It has to be one of the most awesomely bad books ever written. It's intended for children of course, but that doesn't make it any less terrible. It's some screwy adventure tale of two young sisters on a sinking ocean liner who end up alone in a life boat with two or three babies. IT'S LIKE A DREAM COME TRUE! The older sister is quite the mother hen, while the younger, butcher sister takes on the more masculine role of provider. She finds canned meat. They land on an Island and make a little home for themselves there. We were laughing so hard I almost ran off the road a few times. Its awful, and totally worth the read.
September 23, 2010
Oh great God! I can't believe this book is listed! I read Baby Island over and over when I was a child. I still talk about it to little kids and they all want to read it. I'm going to have to buy it. I wonder if it's as marvelous as I remember. What was not to love? Intrepid girls, charged with the care of several babies, marooned on an island! I didn't worry about those girls for one minute. I wanted to be them. A great read for a young girl.
May 16, 2018
It's pretty unrealistic (seriously, the babies don't cry for much of anything, a tooth pops up right over the course of an afternoon, and there are no diaper changes in sight), but it's such a fun little story. I had to laugh at how long the milk supply managed to hold out...that was apparently quite the stash! But the story itself was a fun read and an enjoyable way to spend a tired-out evening.
June 21, 2023
This was a reread from my childhood ... and I still adore it!
I almost always carry a book in my purse so that I have something to read when I'm out and about. This was a fun one to tote around because everyone that saw the cover poking out commented on how much they loved the book as a child! It was such a delightful connection to make with people!
The story is about two sisters, Mary and Jean, aged twelve and ten, that get shipwrecked on their voyage to Australia. They were not the only ones in their life boat that unfortunate night though - there were four babies with them! And it's up to responsible Mary and clever (but more often comical) Jean to care for them until they are rescued.
Brink did an exceptional job of creating Mary and Jean's characters. I loved them to pieces and see so much of their ways and antics in the sisters I'm friends with; even my own sister and I!
Girls will definitely enjoy living vicariously through Mary and Jean's adventure; taking care of babies, playing house on a deserted island, having a pet monkey and more!
Ages: 7 - 12
Cleanliness: a man smokes a pipe. A girl preaches a sermon. A man tells a few lies.
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So Follow or Friend me here on GoodReads! And be sure to check out my bio page to learn a little about me and the Picture Book/Chapter Book Calendars I sell !
I almost always carry a book in my purse so that I have something to read when I'm out and about. This was a fun one to tote around because everyone that saw the cover poking out commented on how much they loved the book as a child! It was such a delightful connection to make with people!
The story is about two sisters, Mary and Jean, aged twelve and ten, that get shipwrecked on their voyage to Australia. They were not the only ones in their life boat that unfortunate night though - there were four babies with them! And it's up to responsible Mary and clever (but more often comical) Jean to care for them until they are rescued.
Brink did an exceptional job of creating Mary and Jean's characters. I loved them to pieces and see so much of their ways and antics in the sisters I'm friends with; even my own sister and I!
Girls will definitely enjoy living vicariously through Mary and Jean's adventure; taking care of babies, playing house on a deserted island, having a pet monkey and more!
Ages: 7 - 12
Cleanliness: a man smokes a pipe. A girl preaches a sermon. A man tells a few lies.
**Like my reviews? Then you should follow me! Because I have hundreds more just like this one. With each review, I provide a Cleanliness Report, mentioning any objectionable content I come across so that parents and/or conscientious readers (like me) can determine beforehand whether they want to read a book or not. Content surprises are super annoying, especially when you’re 100+ pages in, so here’s my attempt to help you avoid that!
So Follow or Friend me here on GoodReads! And be sure to check out my bio page to learn a little about me and the Picture Book/Chapter Book Calendars I sell !
January 3, 2019
Baby Island by Carol Ryrie Brink, children’s author extraordinaire
10% of this book I spent shaking my head and wowing at the hilarious improbability of it all
20% of this book I spent wanting to update Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ with said such comical little scenes and Oscar worthy dialogue plays I had come across
70% of this book I spent too engrossed with reading the book (aka chortling, cackling, snickering, tittering, and guffawing while turning pages and staring at ink-covered, dry tree pulp) to even acknowledge that Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ existed
So, I’ve only recently rediscovered Carol Ryrie Brink as an author, and wow! How didn’t I read more of her books as I kid? If you’ve only read Caddie Woodlawn, then you’re missing out a great deal of fun and adventure. Brink had a knack at being able to get into kid’s head and write from their perspective so perfectly, while creating the most hilarious characters who are completely clueless about how comical they really are. She writes such beautiful and whimsical adventures that are perfect for sparking a kid’s imagination in a healthy and clean way that’s completely enriching.
10% of this book I spent shaking my head and wowing at the hilarious improbability of it all
20% of this book I spent wanting to update Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ with said such comical little scenes and Oscar worthy dialogue plays I had come across
70% of this book I spent too engrossed with reading the book (aka chortling, cackling, snickering, tittering, and guffawing while turning pages and staring at ink-covered, dry tree pulp) to even acknowledge that Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ existed
So, I’ve only recently rediscovered Carol Ryrie Brink as an author, and wow! How didn’t I read more of her books as I kid? If you’ve only read Caddie Woodlawn, then you’re missing out a great deal of fun and adventure. Brink had a knack at being able to get into kid’s head and write from their perspective so perfectly, while creating the most hilarious characters who are completely clueless about how comical they really are. She writes such beautiful and whimsical adventures that are perfect for sparking a kid’s imagination in a healthy and clean way that’s completely enriching.
April 17, 2009
I saved every penny I earned so I could buy this book in the 6th grade at book fair in school. This was the book that started it all for me. This book opened up a love for reading in me. It is still a cherrished and greatly loved book by me and I can not wait to share my old tattered copy with my granddaghter in a few years. THANK YOU Carol Ryrie Brink!
February 5, 2009
I remember my sister Teresa reading this to me one summer when Mom decided we needed to have a "rest time" every afternoon. We loved it--Baby Island, I mean, not "rest time". I just read it to Lizzy and Katie and they loved it. It appeals to the baby love that we females are born with. Since I recently read Lord of the Flies, Baby Island struck me as extremely implausible, but is a fun read.
January 19, 2015
Yeah, this is sort of a weird book. I get that. But I don't care. It will always have a very affectionate spot in my heart. This is the edition I had when I was a kid, and I remember always thinking that the blond girl on the cover, who I think is the big sister, looks like Tina Yothers. Love this book no matter what. (But I probably won't re-read it -- I don't need any bubbles burst.)
August 20, 2016
We expected to enjoy this book so much more than did. We so enjoyed 'Winter Cottage ' we had high expectations of this one.
Two girls without a mother are going to join their father who has lived in Australia for some time, when a storm causes the the girls and four babies to be cast off alone in a life boat. This idea has so much potential for an exciting story. We found that at the time this was written childcare was so different that I had to keep stopping reading to explain things my daughter found confusing. Such as some of the ' babies ' are nearly two years old which wouldn't be classed as a baby these days. They don't seem to say more than 'ma ma' 'me me' etc, they didn't notice the absence of their mothers apart from one baby who was an only child so she had been a bit 'spoilt ' as she had got used to being 'settled' by her mother at night! Even to an 11 yr old it seemed unnatural for a baby not to be crying for it's mum. There were times when they couldn't find enough food and again I had to stop to explain I don't know why the books said a two year old couldn't digest food such as a tin of beans and seemed to live mainly on cow's milk. We also found it unrealistic that a a 12yr old girl should be completely obsessed with being a mother before and on the island, even to a child this seemed not right and seemed to suggest she had had to grow up to soon and was trýing to fill a role she felt was useful to be loved. The girls seemed to be too concerned if the mothers of the babies would approve of such and such, and constantly worried if the identical twins should be mixed up and not know which was which ! The important things to worry about seemed to be missed in this book. The character of Friday also seemed dated and unrealistic, his reason for being on the island was unbelievable too !
This book hasn't aged well but we loved the idea.
Two girls without a mother are going to join their father who has lived in Australia for some time, when a storm causes the the girls and four babies to be cast off alone in a life boat. This idea has so much potential for an exciting story. We found that at the time this was written childcare was so different that I had to keep stopping reading to explain things my daughter found confusing. Such as some of the ' babies ' are nearly two years old which wouldn't be classed as a baby these days. They don't seem to say more than 'ma ma' 'me me' etc, they didn't notice the absence of their mothers apart from one baby who was an only child so she had been a bit 'spoilt ' as she had got used to being 'settled' by her mother at night! Even to an 11 yr old it seemed unnatural for a baby not to be crying for it's mum. There were times when they couldn't find enough food and again I had to stop to explain I don't know why the books said a two year old couldn't digest food such as a tin of beans and seemed to live mainly on cow's milk. We also found it unrealistic that a a 12yr old girl should be completely obsessed with being a mother before and on the island, even to a child this seemed not right and seemed to suggest she had had to grow up to soon and was trýing to fill a role she felt was useful to be loved. The girls seemed to be too concerned if the mothers of the babies would approve of such and such, and constantly worried if the identical twins should be mixed up and not know which was which ! The important things to worry about seemed to be missed in this book. The character of Friday also seemed dated and unrealistic, his reason for being on the island was unbelievable too !
This book hasn't aged well but we loved the idea.
November 27, 2008
Read it on an airplane. Good, wholesome, baby-island fun. No revelations, but surely a happier way to spend a few hours than watching the new Miley Cyrus movie.
July 5, 2010
This is the first book that I remember reading on my own. I was in third grade and loved it! 5 star for a very young girl.
Just read it again and it is darling.
Just read it again and it is darling.
March 10, 2025
exquisite
July 17, 2009
I checked this book out from the library so many times as a young girl that the librarian eventually just gave me the book. I still have it in my home library.
June 29, 2021
Mary and Jean are on an ocean liner traveling to Australia when disaster strikes: the boat is about to sink! Concerned about the babies on board the ship, the two girls collect them all in a lifeboat, which is then set loose in the ocean with only the children aboard. The girls and their four baby charges end up on a desert island, where they immediately set up camp, search for food, and begin to care for the babies as best they can. As the book progresses, they also meet a monkey and a reclusive man who inhabits the island, with whom they form friendships.
This 1937 novel by the author of Caddie Woodlawn (1935) fulfills the fantasy of every little girl who loves babies. While the descriptions of baby behavior might not be as realistic as what you'll find in the What to Expect series, they are perfectly in line with the way little girls imagine babies in their pretend play, and that is all that matters. This book is essentially one long indulgence in make believe, combining the best elements of adventure stories with the desire children have to be in charge of those younger than themselves. The illustrations by Helen Sewell are also great fun! They capture the whimsical mood of the story perfectly.
My husband and I took turns reading this aloud, and our older two girls (ages 3 and 5) really loved it. It was just the right combination of unlikely adventure and wish fulfillment to keep them completely hooked. Though they might have understood it a bit more if they'd been familiar with Robinson Crusoe, their lack of understanding of who "Friday" is did not prevent them from thoroughly enjoying the book. I imagine they'll read it again on their own when they get older, but it was a great success as a read-aloud at these ages.
This review also appears on my blog, .
This 1937 novel by the author of Caddie Woodlawn (1935) fulfills the fantasy of every little girl who loves babies. While the descriptions of baby behavior might not be as realistic as what you'll find in the What to Expect series, they are perfectly in line with the way little girls imagine babies in their pretend play, and that is all that matters. This book is essentially one long indulgence in make believe, combining the best elements of adventure stories with the desire children have to be in charge of those younger than themselves. The illustrations by Helen Sewell are also great fun! They capture the whimsical mood of the story perfectly.
My husband and I took turns reading this aloud, and our older two girls (ages 3 and 5) really loved it. It was just the right combination of unlikely adventure and wish fulfillment to keep them completely hooked. Though they might have understood it a bit more if they'd been familiar with Robinson Crusoe, their lack of understanding of who "Friday" is did not prevent them from thoroughly enjoying the book. I imagine they'll read it again on their own when they get older, but it was a great success as a read-aloud at these ages.
This review also appears on my blog, .
August 29, 2011
I loved this book when I read it in the summer of 1950 before entering third grade. I loved babies and the idea of being shipwrecked with 4 of them ... Heaven. This book was responsible for my love of reading. I could never get any of my there daughters to read it, though, in spite of a generous bribe. I still re-read it occasionally and enjoy it just as much though my tastes have evolved. I love the quaint language and the illustrations. Maybe I can get my granddaughters to read it.
August 21, 2009
Awesomely bad pretty much sums it up. A ridiculous story, but at the same time a really, really fun read. It was a favorite in my childhood, and after a reread, it's still a keeper.
August 22, 2022
Even more delightful than I remembered. My seven-year-old daughter adored the story and laughed so much she was bouncing on the couch. It was the perfect book for her, too, since she is the kind of little girl who likes to shepherd younger kids around and fully believes she would rescue them all from danger should the occasion arise.
July 10, 2012
Recommended for ages 8-12, but tentatively on my 6-year-old's reading list for this year, this book had me a little nervous, and I decided to read ahead. I was delighted by this story, written back in the 1930s, about two sisters whose fondness for babysitting gets them into thrilling adventures as they are shipwrecked with four babies. I've read the first couple of chapters aloud to my two girls (6 and 4), and they are enchanted. It appeals to their love of wee ones--as Mary, the elder sister, often quotes, "there's a heap of good in just holding a nice clean baby"--as well as any child's fascination with imaginary desert islands, like those depicted in Robinson Crusoe and The Swiss Family Robinson (except much tamer). As for me, I was impressed by the vocabulary Ms. Brink used (not too old-fashioned, but really rich), as well as the fun references to the Scottish ancestry of the two American protagonists. I determined, however, that it is these types of references (the girls often sing "Scots, Wha Hae Wi' Wallace Bled" to bolster their spirits, with all the Gaelic spellings) that make this book a good read-aloud for my daughter, rather than something for her to trudge through on her own. I even learned the melody of the song from YouTube, and am practicing my Scottish accent for singing. :) Finally, I admonished myself a few times as I read, since my grown-up perspective was trying to get in the way of believing that two young girls could care so well for themselves and four babies on the open sea and on a desert island. There are elements of this story that, despite the book's roots in realism, seem too fantastic to be possible. But the children believe it, because they are children, and that's really one of the things I love most about them. So we'll read it aloud, and I'm excited for my girls to reread on their own when their perspectives have broadened just a tiny bit.
July 28, 2008
My 8 year old niece and I have started a book club. The first book we read was Sarah, Plain and Tall. Review to come later. The book for August is Baby Island. This has a silly title, but don't let that fool you. It is a cute and adventurous story. It takes place in the pacific ocean where Jean and Mary 10 and 12 find themselves in charge of 4 little children after a shipwreck. Their life boat was let down before it should have been, without any adult on board. They hope to find an island so that they can find food and shelter, Jean starts to doubt that they ever will. After being questioned on her knowledge that they will run into an island Mary responds "because shipwrecked people always do, why, the public library at home is just full of books about shipwrecked people who landed on tropical islands. And did you ever see a book written by a person who was drowned at sea? I never did...You can't expect everything to happen at once. Why we just got wrecked last night. If Mr. Snodgrass said there were lots of little islands around here, there must be...I'm sure we're due at one of those islands right now. Of course, we might be a little late, like the Interurban cars used to be at home."
I rather enjoyed this story. I appreciated the courage of these girls and how they said their prayers even though their parents were not around. I have to admit at one point in the story that tears started to form in my eyes. It has been a long time since a book has done that to me. This is a fabulous book for children ages 4-10. I am already excited about the discussions that I hope to have with my daughter when we read it.
I rather enjoyed this story. I appreciated the courage of these girls and how they said their prayers even though their parents were not around. I have to admit at one point in the story that tears started to form in my eyes. It has been a long time since a book has done that to me. This is a fabulous book for children ages 4-10. I am already excited about the discussions that I hope to have with my daughter when we read it.
March 13, 2011
Well, this was a delightfully nostalgic read, full of 1930s American slang and lots of young heroine chutzpah. Here is the basic premise: 2 brave sisters, Mary and Jean (ages 12 and 10, respectively) are shipwrecked on a deserted island, with four babies in tow. Yes, it may be a simple plotline, but it makes for an entertaining story! Although this was written in the 1930s, it still appeals to young readers today. I read this book with four 4th and 5th grade girls, who selected it themselves as our first intramural book club pick. They all really enjoyed it, though we did all agree that it felt too old-fashioned at times and was a bit hard to relate to because of this. And I have to admit, I think this is more of a girl book than a boy book...that's not to say that boys might not enjoy the story, but I don't think they'd pick it out to read, as the protagonists are females and their main dilemma is how to care for four babies. Brink, also the author of , fills her pages with rich vocabulary and description, so this really is quality children's literature. All in all, this one is well-worth a read and was a nice selection for an upper elementary book club. I would recommend it for children (girls especially) ages 8 and up.
May 27, 2023
This book was a childhood favorite. I wanted to live on an island with four babies! Of course it's not exactly realistic, but what girl is going to care? The characters were easy to relate to, especially Jean. I wanted to swing on her vine swing, and explore the island. Of course, being a bit older now, I'm not so sure I'd like it after all, but age has a way of making you think of things that you don't even think of when you are young.
Anyway, the story is delightful! And I still love even after all these years.
Anyway, the story is delightful! And I still love even after all these years.
February 19, 2019
Great story, unrealistic as it may be. A primer? Just the thing for those who love babies, monkeys, pirates, parrots, and happy endings. Winning illustrations in both color and black-and-white are a perfect match for this lighthearted Robinsonade.
April 20, 2008
I loved this when I was little, though being Jewish, even then I was uncomfortable with the fact that the characters are missionaries. But I think every child has a shipwrecked on an island and living in a treehouse fantasy, and this certainly appeals to that. And it introduced me to the word "hardtack," the meaning of which I'm still unsure about.
July 3, 2015
This book is actually quite terrible--unbelievable, ridiculous, and contrived--but I read it so many times when I was a kid (ha, and even acted it out with my sister and our dolls--I was Mary...) that I'm fond of it even so.
September 13, 2008
This was one of my very favorites as a kid. Although I'm sure it can't possibly be as good as I remember, but I'd love to read it again, just for the nostalgia.
Read
November 7, 2024When 2 Scottish girls accidentally get stranded on a desert island with four babies, things get interesting. This is a delightfully improbable story of girls who love nothing better than to take care of babies. I delighted in the unabashed depiction of girls who want to be mothers and incredible adventures along the way.
July 21, 2009
I picked this book up from the Dublin library discard shelf around the time that Harriet was a newborn. Feeling a little overwhelmed by how much attention and care she needed those first couple months, I picked up the book. It had an absurd title and was short enough to finish quickly. From the cover art, I was under the impression that Baby Island was written in the 1960s or early 1970s. Actually though it was first published in 1937.
Mary and Jean on a ship bound for Australia where their father has relocated for work. They have befriended the parents of the youngest passengers and have been the on-board baby sitters. In the middle of a huge storm, they end up on a lifeboat with four babies: the toddling twins Elijah (Blue) and Elisha (Pink), Ann Elizabeth (age 1) and Jonah (age 4 months).
The story is a classic desert island / shipwreck adventure akin to the first half of Robinson Crusoe or the horrible Swiss Family Robinson except from the perspective of a group of children. While the necessities of food and water are covered in the plot, along with the need for a safe and dry shelter away from the tide, nothing is mentioned about the infants numerous diaper changes. There is some hinting at the problem with the many times Mary and Jean are washing Pink and Blue's outfits but it's done in such a saccharine way that being stuck on an island with a handful of young children and limited supplies seems like such a magical adventure.
After the initial at sea disaster where the children were genuinely scared and aware of how much danger they were in, the book began to bore me. Mary and Jean are so busy having fun that they never stop to think of the ramifications of their situation. Nor do they seem to care for the children beyond seeing them as cute (and hungry) play things.
Mary and Jean on a ship bound for Australia where their father has relocated for work. They have befriended the parents of the youngest passengers and have been the on-board baby sitters. In the middle of a huge storm, they end up on a lifeboat with four babies: the toddling twins Elijah (Blue) and Elisha (Pink), Ann Elizabeth (age 1) and Jonah (age 4 months).
The story is a classic desert island / shipwreck adventure akin to the first half of Robinson Crusoe or the horrible Swiss Family Robinson except from the perspective of a group of children. While the necessities of food and water are covered in the plot, along with the need for a safe and dry shelter away from the tide, nothing is mentioned about the infants numerous diaper changes. There is some hinting at the problem with the many times Mary and Jean are washing Pink and Blue's outfits but it's done in such a saccharine way that being stuck on an island with a handful of young children and limited supplies seems like such a magical adventure.
After the initial at sea disaster where the children were genuinely scared and aware of how much danger they were in, the book began to bore me. Mary and Jean are so busy having fun that they never stop to think of the ramifications of their situation. Nor do they seem to care for the children beyond seeing them as cute (and hungry) play things.
April 15, 2015
How I loved this book as a kid!! My sister got it from Scholastic Book Services and I read it over and over; I was amazed at how much of the actual text I remembered, word-for-word, 40 years later. My control-freak sis saw herself as mumsy Mary, who adored babies and animals and did everything right the first time. Except, yeah, kidnapping other people's kids thinking you are "saving" them, without looking around for the parents first. Yeah, that's a pretty big mistake. Then there's younger sister Jeannie, who is an impulsive and curious tomboy, "the father of this family" who gets things wrong that come right...like not carrying a sewing kit, but the safety pins she does carry keep the kids from floating out to sea...and the postcards.
Back in the sixties I never asked myself when the book was first published, because we were used to hero kids who could do anything--Nancy Drew, Katie John, Donna Parker etc. But now I see it came out in 1937, which explains why the girls are so good at cooking over a fire (not to mention building a fire that you can actually cook over), making stuff that actually works, etc. Their "man Friday" is just another big kid who has to be looked after and brought up to be decent, and of course their almost-womanly purity brings about the changes he needs in record time; by the end of the story he's ready to go back home and make an honest woman of his fiancee, and raise a few young 'uns of his own.
If you're looking for dysfunctional, dystopian YA fiction, look elsewhere. If you want to read about two Roberta Crusoes who make good on a 3-month camping trip, you'll enjoy this.
Back in the sixties I never asked myself when the book was first published, because we were used to hero kids who could do anything--Nancy Drew, Katie John, Donna Parker etc. But now I see it came out in 1937, which explains why the girls are so good at cooking over a fire (not to mention building a fire that you can actually cook over), making stuff that actually works, etc. Their "man Friday" is just another big kid who has to be looked after and brought up to be decent, and of course their almost-womanly purity brings about the changes he needs in record time; by the end of the story he's ready to go back home and make an honest woman of his fiancee, and raise a few young 'uns of his own.
If you're looking for dysfunctional, dystopian YA fiction, look elsewhere. If you want to read about two Roberta Crusoes who make good on a 3-month camping trip, you'll enjoy this.
July 20, 2009
I spent the winter I was seven curled up with this book. I ordered it from a book order, and I loved it! I was a bit confused by it because it was written in the 1930s and people carry handkerchiefs and think chocolate is a major treat. I always thought it came from a different country. But anyway, that's neither here nor there. Two girls are stranded on an island with four babies. They eventually find and befriend a grumpy man who came to the island to get away from babies. Not great literature or anything, but a good adventure story, especially for someone who has two baby siblings.
August 7, 2021
This was a book that has stayed with me since childhood. It fit right into my childhood sweet spot of orphaned (or semi-orphaned) kids out on their own and making a house and a place for themselves -- especially somewhere out in nature.
This one didn't hold up for me to the same degree that some other childhood favorites. It had some colonialist underpinnings that I didn't remember (but wasn't surprised by given it publication date of 1937), but it also was blander in terms of writing and plot points than I experienced it as a child.
This one didn't hold up for me to the same degree that some other childhood favorites. It had some colonialist underpinnings that I didn't remember (but wasn't surprised by given it publication date of 1937), but it also was blander in terms of writing and plot points than I experienced it as a child.
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