Baby Island facts for kids
Baby Island is an exciting children's novel written by Carol Ryrie Brink. It was first published in 1937. This book is a bit like the famous story Robinson Crusoe. But instead of just one person, it features two sisters, Mary and Jean. They get stranded on a desert island – and they have four babies with them! The story was so popular that it was printed many times over the years.
Contents
The Adventure Begins
The story starts with two sisters, Mary and Jean Wallace. Mary is twelve years old, and Jean is ten. They are traveling all by themselves on a ship. Their goal is to meet their father in Australia.
These sisters were already very good with young children. Back home, they loved to babysit and even "borrow" babies from their neighbors. This skill would soon become very important!
Stranded on an Island
During their journey, a big storm hits the ship. The ship gets damaged and cannot move. Mary and Jean end up in a lifeboat. With them are four tiny babies, who are the children of other passengers.
The lifeboat floats for a long time. Eventually, it reaches a warm, tropical island. This is where their amazing adventure truly begins.
Surviving on the Island
Like in the Robinson Crusoe story, the girls must learn to survive. They need to build a shelter. They also have to find food from the wild plants and trees on the island. They do a fantastic job of this!
While they are learning to survive, they also take care of the four babies. They help the babies grow through different stages. They even adopt a baby monkey and raise it alongside the human babies.
Throughout their time on the island, the girls sing a song called "Scots Wha Hae". This song helps them feel brave and strong. It gives them courage to handle their difficult situation.
Meeting a Mysterious Man
Later in the book, the girls meet a new character. He is a bit like the character "Friday" from Robinson Crusoe. He is a quiet, gruff man who lives alone on the island. At first, he does not like children at all.
But slowly, he starts to like the babies. He enjoys their company. The girls also enjoy having him around. He is very good at making things and is very helpful.
The Rescue
Finally, a big storm hits the island again. After the storm, on Christmas Day, help arrives! The girls and all the babies are rescued. The babies are safely returned to their parents.
Mary and Jean are happy to be rescued. But they also miss their friend, the mysterious man from the island. Their time on Baby Island was an unforgettable adventure!
