Over the last three nights, right before drifting off to sleep, I have been reading Baby Island. First published in 1937, it's the story of two sisters, Mary and Jean, who are on an ocean liner on the way to Australia to meet up with their dad. The ship starts to sink so they are put on a lifeboat and somehow end up with 4 babies as well. So there they are, alone in a boat, on the open sea, with 4 babies to take care of. You can figure it out from there.
But here's the deal, it took me right back to 1967 or so, walking to the library to check out books, racing home to read them. Stuff like Nancy Drew, Cherry Ames, the Bobbsey Twins, you get the idea. Simple stories where things worked out in the end. My great appetite for reading began with simple stories. Before we were old enough to walk to the library, mom would read us short stories/fairy tales from books that I still have.
Most of you will NOT enjoy reading this, unless - like me, you want to be transported back to the past and can tolerate a lot of unbelievable scenarios. I thought it was great fun. Thank you Diane Perin for mentioning it on your blog where it caught my attention.
Trixie Beldon was my favorite and I have all of them and Nancy Drew. Janet Lennon also had a series. Brings back lots of memories.
Posted by: Deneise | 11/23/2022 at 06:35 PM
Deneise: Trixie Belden! hadn't thought about those in years. I loved them!
Posted by: carol | 11/23/2022 at 09:02 PM
Didn't they give the babies hardtack to chew on when they were teething?
Caddie Woodlawn, the other book mentioned on the cover was one of my favorites. I read it repeatedly into adulthood, until my father gave it to a visiting British much younger cousin.
Trixie Belden were also great.
Posted by: Faith | 11/29/2022 at 07:45 PM
Faith: you are right about the hardtack for the babies. I might have to give Caddie Woodlawn a try based on your recommendation!
Posted by: carol | 11/29/2022 at 08:31 PM