Baby Island

I first read Baby Island when I was nine. I loved it, reread it numerous times, and eagerly looked forward to the day when I would be allowed to babysit babies on my own.

When my children came along, I read aloud to them the story of Mary, her sister Jean, and the babies: the toddler twins, Elisha and Elijah Snodgrass; infant Jonah Snodgrass; and baby Ann Elizabeth Arlington. The adventures of the girls and babies after being shipwrecked on a seemingly deserted island greatly pleased my children, just as they had me.

Today the children and I were discussing what I should read aloud and Jacy and I both said, "Baby Island!" (Other suggestions were Ribsy by Beverly Cleary, Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe, and Henry Reed, Inc. by Keith Robertson. ) It has been twelve years since I last read Baby Island to the children, so I decided to go with it. Now David, Marley, and Sam get to enjoy the story of Mary, Jean, and their little charges for the first time while Jacy, Sarah, Joan, and I get to delight in a favorite again.