Baby Island

Hilarious, and delightful in retrospect, because I know from my grandmother's stories that she was definitely a baby-borrower, just like the resourceful protagonists of this 1930s adventure novel. (It was evidently a thing in the 30s, at least in New York City, for young girls to take their neighbors' children on walks around the block for fun and zero profit.)

I don't know that adults who don't have fond memories of this one from childhood will get much out of it, but I think kids would still find it fun and funny. Warning for some time-period typical discussion of indigenous peoples as "savitches" (savages) and potential cannibals from the perspective of naive middle-class American children.

Sisters Mary and Jean love babies and are delighted there are four to play with on their voyage to Australia. When their ship starts to sink, they grab the babies and head for the life boats. Their boat is launched, they drift a few days, and they wind up on a deserted island. But if it is deserted, who made those footprints in the sand?

This was originally published in 1937. I bought the 1965 Scholastic Book Club edition (apparently for 45 cents) when I was in second grade. It was one of my favorites! I loved the idea of these two resourceful girls surviving on their own and being responsible for the four babies. I lost my copy years ago, but my daughter gave me a copy for my birthday.

I don't think today's readers would like it as well show more as I did when I was young. I now find the prose a little patronizing and dopey, which is why I now give it three stars when 50 years ago, I would have given it five stars. show less

Fun and somewhat believable story about a couple young girls cast adrift in a lifeboat, along with four babies under 2! There's nothing really objectionable in the tale, and the songs that Jean makes up tend to stick in one's head.

I read this many times as a child, and was pleased to enjoy it again as an adult.

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.

This fun book comes from Carol Ryrie Brink, the author who brought us Caddie Woodlawn, and while shorter and not quite up to the standards set by that great book, is one that kids are sure to enjoy.
Written in 1937 it tells the tale of two girls, 12 year old Mary and her younger sister Jean, who rescue four babies and end up floating alone with them in a lifeboat in the middle of the ocean when the steamliner they are sailing on begins to sink. The quick thinking and good sense of the girls pulls them through when they run aground on a small deserted tropical island. This book was written in a "kinder, gentler" time than our own and thank goodness because the children do not experience anything traumatic or terribly frightening. They show more mostly exhibit plucky courage and try to do things properly with their little charges, one infant and three active toddlers. There is plenty of humor and adventure in the book, but not much realism. They easily find clean water, food and shelter, but this isn't a reality show it's a children's fantasy. The childcare methods have changed somewhat over the years and that makes the story seem rather quaint, but I found that all the more endearing. The girls insist upon having a church service every Sunday even though that only consists of singing hymns and reciting the 23rd Psalm, the only Bible passage they know by heart. Again, this is quaint but interesting and sweet. I think most modern day children will love the story and enjoy imagining what they would do under similar circumstances. This is not much like other "deserted island" stories such as Swiss Family Robinson, Robinson Crusoe or even Island of the Blue Dolphins in terms of action, but it is similar to those in its ability to transport and to kindle the imagination. Check it out. show less

I'm not sure why this was reissued after its original pub. in 1935. I guess there are some girls, even recently, who love the idea of having an adventure and having the pluck to not only survive, but to help cute little live dolls thrive.

However, all the good luck in the world was theirs, and everything they tried worked, even things that truly wouldn't. I might have enjoyed it as a child in the early 60s, but I can't imagine sharing it now. The most fun for me, now, was remembering my recent reread of [b:Lord of the Flies|7624|Lord of the Flies|William Golding|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327869409s/7624.jpg|2766512] and comparing the two....

I did enjoy the illustrations - line drawings reminiscent of those of Beth and Joe Krush.

An adorable little book that I still like to reread on occasion. It's hard not to get sucked into the indomitable pluckiness and optimism that permeates the story. Despite the concept of being castaway and marooned on a deserted island, life for the two young girls and their four even younger charges is painted as being rather idyllic and pleasant, encountering very little in the way of real danger. Very enjoyable.