The Babysitter's Club Graphic Novel

By Ann M. Martin and Raina Telgemeier
From Scholastics

Now, I was never the target audience for the original Babysitter's Club series of novels, so my only experience with them is seeing my sister carry them around. From the cover illustrations I always assumed it was about pretty girls obsessed over pretty boys with some babysitting thrown in. I know, not very opened minded of me, but I was 12, give me a break.

Here's what the Scholastic web site has to say about it: Get ready for Kristy, Mary Anne, Claudia, and Stacey in a fantastic new format that will leave you glowing from newfound friendship.

In this new graphic novel edition of the very first Baby-Sitters Club book, Raina Telgemeier captures all the drama of the original in warm, spunky illustrations. Witness Kristy's eureka moment, when she gets the idea for a "baby-sitters club" and enlists her best friends, shy Mary Anne and artistic Claudia, in an exciting new venture. But the baby-sitting business isn't the only thing absorbing their attention: Kristy is having a hard time accepting her stepdad-to-be, and the newest member of the gang, Stacey, seems to be hiding a secret.

I was sure she was _______! Hey, I'm not going to spoil it for you if you haven't even read the original series. I got the new Babysitter's Club graphic novel through Scholastics when it came out, and I was very impressed with my first exposure to it. The art was very clean and expressive, and the story drew me in.

The audience for this is obviously girls. I would give this to a girl that has or hasn't read the original books. It is a fresh take for someone familiar with the stories, and it was adapted by the series creator, Ann M. Martin, so it is a good introduction to the series as well.

This was listed in the Scholastics book club flyer for the first time late this past school year, so I assume that it will be listed again this coming year. I have also seen it in regular bookstores and it can be ordered through your local comic shop.

Aricle by Scott Tingley

Any questions or comments, contact me at comicsintheclassroom @ gmail.com