For decades, young readers around the world have delighted in The Baby-sitters Club book series by Ann M. Martin. While originally set to debut only four titles in 1986, the beloved series has grown to consist of over 250 titles along with the Baby-sitters Little Sister spin-off and full-color graphic novel adaptations.
(Soak up some awesome 1980s nostalgia with The Baby-sitters Club Retro Tin that includes the first six books in the best-selling series — with their classic covers! It's a perfect way to share the series you loved with your tween reader while taking a stroll down memory lane.)
The Baby-sitters Club books have truly stood the test of time — turns out, there’s a bunch of valuable life lessons tucked inside each story. From sharing a blueprint for running a business to the value in being kind to others, the core ideas of hard work, self-confidence, and the value of friendship are as relevant today as when these books were first printed.
1. You’re Never Too Young to Be a #Boss
Kristy was only in middle school when she had the "great idea" to start a baby-sitting club that was actually a highly organized company (check out the first book in the graphic novel series here). These girls may have been dealing with typical teen issues, like homework and crushes, but that didn’t stop them from having regular meetings, assigning officers, keeping records, and even coming up with marketing and advertising ideas. The Baby-sitters Club books show readers that they too can accomplish big goals with enough determination and hard work.
2. It’s Cool to Be Your Own Person
The members of the Baby-sitters Club accept each other for who they are and love one another despite their differences. Claudia may be a junk food addict and Dawn a vegetarian, but that doesn’t stop them from being friends. Stacey adores all things beauty and fashion while Kristy considers throwing on a baseball cap as doing her hair, and yet they still care for and respect one another. It can be easy for kids to fall into the false belief that there’s only one way to be cool or look beautiful. Reading The Baby-sitters Club books might just help kids realize their unique differences and learn that real friends will celebrate the things that make you, you.
3. It’s Okay to Make Mistakes
The Baby-sitters Club members are besties, but even best friends fight sometimes. For instance, in The Baby-sitters Club #4: Mary Anne Saves the Day, the girls have a major blow up over whether sitting jobs are being assigned equally and fairly. They insult each other and wind up not speaking for weeks. In time, they realize how unkind they were to each other and apologize, forming even stronger bonds. Hooray for growth mindset and healthy friendships!
4. Disagreements With Friends Happen: It's Normal
In Baby-sitters Little Sister #8: Karen's Sleepover, Karen is having her first sleepover. She and her friends plan on telling spooky stories, baking cookies, and raiding the refrigerator. But then Karen and Nancy get into a big fight and Karen doesn't want Nancy to come to her party. A new girl, Pamela, comes instead and she isn't any fun. What will Karen do? This story lets young readers know that all friendships have bumps in the road, but ultimately the bond of true friendship is strong enough to overcome any obstacle.
5. No One Is Perfect
As kids enter their school years, it’s easy for them to compare themselves to their peers. The Baby-sitters Club's characters may be fictional, but their lives are just as complex as anyone's in the real world. Kristy struggles in her relationship with her stepmom, Karen. Stacey has diabetes and is coping with her parents’ divorce. Claudia loses her beloved grandmother and fights to keep up in school. These and other trials the girls face not only create compelling plot lines, but they help readers understand that everyone faces challenges in their lives, and they can find happiness and success in spite of them.
Right now, there's never been a better time to introduce your young reader to The Baby-sitters Club books, because this summer is the Summer of Baby-sitters Club! Keep an eye out at your local bookstore for special Baby-sitters Club pop-up displays with free branded buttons and pins (while supplies last!).
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