Mother Carey's Chickens: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition
Mother Carey's Chickens: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.

Mother Carey's Chickens is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Wiggin, Kate Douglas Smith (1856–1923).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"Mother Carey's Chickens" by Kate Douglas Smith Wiggin is a novel written during the late 19th century. The story centers around the Carey family, particularly the nurturing figure of Mother Carey, who embarks on a journey that leaves her children to manage their daily lives and responsibilities on their own. As they navigate their feelings of loss and the challenges of growing up, the siblings—Nancy, Gilbert, Kathleen, and their charming younger brother Peter—are affectionately referred to as “Mother Carey’s chickens,” symbolizing their bond and loyalty to one another in the absence of their mother. At the start of the novel, readers are introduced to the family dynamic as Mother Carey prepares for a trip to care for her ailing husband, Captain Carey. The children’s emotions are vividly portrayed as they deal with both the fear of separation and the weight of newfound responsibilities. As each child navigates their roles—Gilbert’s adventures, Nancy’s leadership, and Peter's innocent antics—the narrative elegantly sets the stage for the themes of love, sacrifice, and growth within a close-knit family facing adversity. This opening effectively establishes the warmth and depth of the characters, inviting readers to engage with their journey ahead.
Book and edition facts
- Title: Mother Carey's Chickens
- Author credits: Wiggin, Kate Douglas Smith (1856–1923)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- Families -- Fiction
- Mother and child -- Fiction
Gutenberg collections
- Category: American Literature
- Category: Children & Young Adult Reading
- Category: Novels
- Children's Literature
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View the complete Gutenberg catalogue record. Project Gutenberg identifies this edition as public domain in the United States; that designation does not establish its copyright status in every country.
Source notes
Catalogue metadata is public domain and is supplied through Gutendex, which imports Gutenberg's machine-readable catalogue. The automated synopsis is source-supplied, not an independently verified review. Author dates above describe the credited people; no ebook release date is presented as the book's original publication date.


