I would venture to guess that I’m asked about “The Baby-Sitters Club” at least once per shift at the children’s desk. With the continued popularity of the graphic novel adaptations, we can barely keep them on the shelves! After a few years of working here, my curiosity finally got the best of me. I had to know if the classic series lived up to the hype. And boy, did I fall down a rabbit hole!
Sandwiched between generations, I managed to miss both peaks of “The Baby-sitters Club” popularity. During my childhood, the chapter books from the 80’s were relegated to garage sales and thrift store bins, but it would still be several years until the the graphic novels revived the series. So to kick off my introduction to the BSC, I checked out “Kristy’s Great Idea” in both chapter book and graphic novel format.
As I worked my way through both versions, I was struck by just how much fun I was having! The main characters are resourceful, creative and silly. They squabble with their families and get into trouble with their teachers. They chow down on candy and make inside jokes. Kristy, Claudia, Stacey and Mary Anne seemed very much like real friends from my own girlhood.
Wandering the idyllic town of Stoneybrook — where 11-year-olds ride their bikes across town, take out ads in the newspaper and tie up the landline talking to strangers — made me nostalgic for a time I’ve never truly experienced. Were it not for all the newest generation of BSC fans I’ve encountered at the children’s desk, I likely would have never explored this delightful corner of the children’s canon.
Armed with my newfound appreciation for the BSC, I set out to find some read-alikes that capture the same magic. Whether you’re stuck on the holds list for the next installment or you’re just in the mood for something new, here’s a selection of graphic novels and chapter books in the spirit of “The Baby-Sitters Club.”
Coco Simon’s “Cupcake Diaries” is another long-running series that was recently adapted into graphic novels. In “Katie and the Cupcake Cure,” Katie starts her first day of middle school, only to be dumped by her best friend. That’s when Katie meets Mia, Emma and Alexis, and the girls discover a mutual love of baking. The newly-formed Cupcake Club bake up a storm for a school fundraiser, bringing smiles to a school that could use a sprinkle of positivity. Filled with laughter and plenty of relatable tween moments, this series is sure to have you craving something sweet.
Once you’ve read the many chapter books and graphic novels in the “Cupcake Diaries” series, there’s plenty more to explore. “The New Batch” follows Katie’s younger sister, while “Sprinkle Sundays” and “Donut Dreams” follow new casts of characters as they break into the ice cream and donut businesses.
For a series that captures the entrepreneurial spirit of the BSC, “PAWS” is an excellent choice. In “Gabby Gets It Together,” Gabby with her besties Priya and Mindy search for a creative solution to their greatest predicament — they love animals, but pet ownership is just not in the cards. And just like that, PAWS (“Pretty Awesome WalkerS”) is born! But starting a business is never easy, and the girls’ friendship is stretched to the limit as they figure how to work together and be responsible dog walkers. In the end, it’s the adorable pups themselves that bring the trio back together. Animal aficionados and aspiring business owners alike will find plenty to love here.
Parents, I apologize if it pains you to hear this, but “The Baby-Sitters Club” is officially a classic! What’s old is new again, and thanks to the popularity of the BSC adaptations, it was only a matter of time until another beloved series from the 80s and 90s received the graphic novel treatment. “Sweet Valley Twins” (itself a spinoff of “Sweet Valley High”) follows sensible Elizabeth and wild child Jessica during their more wholesome middle school years.
In “Best Friends,” the girls find themselves on diverging paths for the first time. While Jessica is eager to join the exclusive Unicorns club, Elizabeth has big dreams of starting a school newspaper. And when the girls both begin taking ballet classes, sibling rivalry complicates their connection even further. Full of identical twin hijinks, these graphic novels are light and fluffy fun for BSC fans.
”The Baby-Sitters Club” tackles complicated family dynamics, from divorce to blended families to sibling rivalry, with both care and humor. For a similarly relatable family tale, Megan Wagner Lloyd’s “Squished” has my vote. Avery is an artistic 11-year-old who loves her family, her friends and her cozy Maryland town. But with six boisterous brothers and sisters, it’s easy to get lost in all the chaos. When Avery is forced to bunk with two of her younger siblings, she must juggle family responsibilities, stand up for herself and find creative ways to make a little “me time.”
A big draw of “The Baby-Sitter’s Club” is getting to know a whole cast of connected characters in their own words. “Brinkley Yearbooks” is an all-new series that puts its own spin on the trope. “Picture Day” follows Viv, a self-proclaimed nobody. When she spontaneously chops off her signature braid on the morning of picture day, she never expects to go viral! In this tale of reinvention-gone-wrong, Viv must learn to navigate her newfound popularity.
I’ll also shout out book #2, “Tryouts,” which follows sporty Alexandra (“Al”) as she ages out of Little League baseball and decides to go out for Brinkley’s boys’ team. Both of these stories feel fresh and topical, and I love that they encourage young readers to blaze their own trails. Although there are only two installments in the series so far, I’m excited to get to know even more of the students at Brinkley Middle School!
