Book Guru Grandma ~ Book Review

Baby in a Basket by Gloria & Ted Rand

It’s a VERY snowy morning, and I know I should be out shoveling it all off the walks, but since I live on a corner lot with a lot of sidewalks, and I’m afraid I will flash freeze if I go out there, I would much rather stay in my cozy little house and chat with you about books!  (That right there, my friends, is classic rationalization)!

One of my favs about a lot of snow takes place in Alaska in 1917. And…BONUS! It’s a true story! I have found through the years that children love, love, love true stories, well written. It is very satisfying. Brrrr. Cozy up to read this one, and get out the tissues. The book is Baby in a Basket by Gloria Rand and illustrated by Ted Rand. This book would be enjoyed by 2nd or 3rd graders on up to you! Whatever your age!

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The story surrounds Marie Boyer, who was Fairbanks, Alaska’s first kindergarten teacher, and her two daughters, three-year old Betty and tiny little baby Ann, who was only four months old. Marie’s husband, Edward Howard Boyer, was the postmaster of Fairbanks. Marie and the girls were leaving on a journey to leave behind the long winter in Alaska, and stay with relatives in Seattle, Washington, until the weather warmed up. The journey would be long, and involved ten days travel in an open sleigh, and then five days aboard a steamship. Edward stayed behind because of his job.

Imagine what we have to do to get ready for a trip of that length with two little ones, and then imagine what it meant at that time, and under those conditions. After Marie’s preparations, which included lining a basket with heavy canvas as a cradle for baby Ann, and knitting red leggings and mittens for the girls, mending their little fur coats and hats, heating milk in a thermos, and borrowing extra blankets,  she was ready to go. Mr. McNutt was the sharp-eyed driver of the sleigh, which was pulled by six very large horses. There were two other male passengers. Interesting fact: out in the vast expanses of snow, there are roadhouses built one day’s journey apart, and these roadhouses provide hot dinner and a bed for the brave travelers. After several days journey, the weather became very dark, windy, and cold. At the end of that day’s travel, the wind rocked the sleigh from side to side, and as it came to a narrow bridge, close to the roadhouse, the horses bolted and the lead horse went off the bridge and through the ice that covered the river. The sleigh followed, scattering the passengers and their possessions in every direction.

Marie couldn’t find her little girls. She cried out and called for help, but it was nearly impossible to see through the blizzard. Even the men could not stand up, so they all crawled across the ice, looking for the little girls. Then Mr. McNutt spotted something red and crawled over to it. Betty’s legging had caught on the edge of the ice, but Betty was under the water! Quickly, Mr. McNutt pulled her out and wrapped her in a blanket.  But, where was baby Ann? They continued searching until exhaustion overtook them. Their clothing was frozen stiff and they could search no more. They knew if they didn’t get into the roadhouse, they would die. Marie pleaded with them. The thought of leaving her baby out in the blizzard, caused her to collapse, and the two other passengers had to drag her to the roadhouse, while Mr. McNutt crawled along dragging Betty.

When they reached the roadhouse, the owner quickly put on his warm clothing and went out to search for the baby. They waited for a long time but when he returned, he was alone. Marie begged, sobbing and pleading for the others to go out with her to try again. But. at just that moment, the front door swung open and two snow-covered men came in. They were carrying a basket! Marie recognized it as being Ann’s and gasped, “Is my baby in there?” The two men were fur trappers, and they explained that they were crossing the river downstream when they saw a little basket sailing along on top of the ice. They thought it was a basket of furs, and they couldn’t let that go by, so they grabbed it, and a little red mitten waved out at them. Can you imagine the scene, as Marie, looked in and saw baby Ann, who was dry and safe? There was a great deal of celebrating that night, and I love the author’s insight about the feelings of the two trappers. They kept watch on Ann, who was sleeping in her basket by the fire, the whole evening. One remarked, “There she was, ridin’ on downriver.” Hard to believe, but there she was, a beautiful baby in that there basket.

What a truly superb story. I hope you will buy yourself a copy. I have read it to older ladies that I visit, and I have given a copy to a friend who received a bad medical diagnosis for a family member. I asked her to count the miracles in this story, beginning with the easy-to-spot red leggings, to the very improbable rescue of this tiny baby. I think it would be a good and perfect book for anyone who is in need of hope. And, it helps us all to remember, in the dark days of winter, that we are loved and watched over by our caring and loving Maker.