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 Goodreads 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 Goodreads 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.

One of my favorite books that I read as a child- I was probably about third grade. All of my sisters read it too. I didn't realize it was written in the 30's, which probably accounts for some of the sillier plot points, but it spawned many childhood doll games at my house.

I read this so many times when I was a little girl-such a comfort read

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.

This was another favorite of mine when I was a kid. I really liked the storyline and how the two girls cared for the babies.

Love this book! Read it ALL THE TIME when I was younger!

A short and sweet vintage children's story, full of lil adventures for lil people, with charming illustrations. ^u^ Probably best for children (mostly girls, but boys too ;)) around age eight or so.
Nothing questionable, content wise, except for the story of how an old sailor lost his toe, though it was not *at all* graphic. ;) XD

(Also, just gotta say, I love Carol Ryrie Brink, though this is only my third of hers, and I'll definitely be reading more. ^u^)

A few years ago, I found this book that I remember reading again and again at an Used Book Store. I grabbed it and then put it aside. While moving books around the other day, I picked it up and gave it a re-read.

The set up is delightfully odd, but ultimately it is as sweet as I remembered. What a great trip down memory lane.

This is a hilarious story when six children get shipwrecked on an island and meet a funny bachelor with his parrot. The two older ones care for the others and learn how to live on the island. When they meet a monkey, it gets even more funny!

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

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I read this in the 1980s — several times. It was one of my absolute favorites!!! I’ve been meaning to re-read though I’m afraid I’ll lose the magic. I mean nine-toed grumpy old man, two girls, a bunch of babies, a shipwreck? That’s some high concept. It’s like babysitter’s club meets Robinson Crusoe!

Completely fantastic? Yes. Wildly unbelievable? Yes. Utterly delightful? Yes!!! This little book was one that I’d wanted to read in my childhood, having spied it on another child’s shelf, but never did. So this was a first reading for myself as well as my daughter. And we both enjoyed it! This is a light, sunny little story, a Shirley Temple in printed form. It makes no claim to be otherwise, and it succeeds at this so wonderfully!