Parents' Guide to

The Baby-Sitters Club Series

By Carrie Kingsley, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 8+

Fun, updated graphic novel version has deep layers.

Book Raina Telgemeier, Gale Galligan, Ann M. Martin Graphic Novel 2015
The Baby-Sitters Club Series Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

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age 8+

Based on 3 parent reviews

Jeanne W.
Jeanne W. Parent of 10 and 12-year-old
May 18, 2021
age 7+

Great elementary school reads

My daughters blew through these books when we got them - all the rage in second and third grade. The stories are graphic novel remakes of the classic chapter book series by Ann Martin. Very innocent, mostly focuses on the drama of middle school girls' lives like friends, school, and family issues along with their cooperative babysitting business. The update could have added a bit more diversity to the characters, but solid reading and a great choice for a reluctant elementary reader.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
1 person found this helpful.
katty H.
katty H. Adult
May 1, 2023
age 8+

The most important part is how they work together.

I really like how the book is entertaining and awesome to read.
See all 3 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In this updated version of THE BABY-SITTERS CLUB series (based on the original novels by Ann M. Martin), graphic novelists Raina Telegemeier and Gale Galligan add full color to friends Kristy, Mary Anne, Claudia, Stacey, and Dawn and their babysitting business. The girls team up to offer babysitting services to the neighborhood, but keeping kids safe, happy, and entertained isn’t the only complication in the girls’ lives. Mary Anne’s protective dad has a hard time letting her grow up, Claudia feels like an outcast in her family until her grandmother needs help, Stacey has a medical secret she’s embarrassed to share, Kristy has issues with friends and being a bridesmaid in her mom’s wedding, Dawn tries to fit in but feels like she’s always out, and sometimes the girls are broken into factions, fighting with each other. In other words, it’s a reflection of the messy lives tween friends face as they’re growing up but still need parents and teachers to guide them.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (3):
Kids say (10):

While babysitting ties all the books together, the girls’ adventures wrangling kids (and sometimes pets) often takes a back seat to their own stories. The Baby-Sitters Club series is as much about how to navigate friendships as it is about running a small business. What stands out no matter what client issues come up or who has family problems is the girls’ commitment: Even when they’re arguing, they run the business together, and even when the business demands are overwhelming, they prioritize each other. The work-life balance is something most adults struggle with, and it’s nice to see a series that shows young readers, in a relatable way, why it’s a hard but worthwhile goal.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how each of the girls in The Baby-Sitters Club brings something different to the group. Which character do you most relate to, and why?

  • Which of your friends would you think about starting a business with, and why?

  • What other graphic novels have you enjoyed?

Book Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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