Everyone has been talking about The Baby-Sitters Club TV series. And it’s no surprise. The show appeared on Netflix on July 3, 2020, and was renewed for the second season on October 11, 2021.
Many have praised it for staying true to the source material, a novel series of the same name by none other than Ann M. Martin. While it is for a younger audience, it doesn’t fall into children’s stories but rather a young adult series.
Here, you can take a closer look at The Baby-Sitters Club book series, as well as some of the differences in the Netflix show.
A deeper look into The Baby-Sitters Club series
The Baby-Sitters Club book series (BSC) by Ann M. Martin follows the adventures of a group of middle-school girls who start a babysitting business in the fictional town of Stoneybrook, Connecticut.
The main protagonists of the series are Kristy Thomas, Mary Anne Spier, Claudia Kishi, Stacey McGill, Dawn Schafer, and Mallory Pike. For the most part, they’re best friends. They’re also the club members that make up The Baby-Sitters Club.
Every girl in the club has a unique personality and background. The girls tell their stories from alternate perspectives in this series of over 100 books.
Along with running their babysitting business, the girls deal with family life, school, and the challenges of growing up. They run into many different types of people and clients, often leading them to unexpected situations.
The main characters receive support from additional characters as well. For example, Kristy has a little sister (stepsister) named Karen and a stepfather Watson.
The BSC series is a beloved example of children’s literature. It explores themes such as family, growing up, and identity.
It’s also interesting to note that there are also The Baby-Sitters Club graphic novels, such as Claudia and Mean Janine, published by Graphix and illustrated by Raina Telgemeier.
Notable The Baby-Sitters Club books
Kristy’s Great Idea
This first book introduces readers to the main characters of the series and how Kristy comes up with the idea to form a club for babysitters. Readers follow the girls as they start their businesses and encounter their first challenges.
Claudia and the Phantom Phone Calls
When Claudia starts receiving mysterious phone calls while babysitting, she enlists the help of her friends to solve the mystery. The girls learn valuable lessons about trust and communication along the way.
Mary Anne Saves the Day
Mary Anne, who is shy and quiet, learns to assert herself when she takes on a challenging babysitting job and stands up to a difficult client. This book is a great example of how The Baby-Sitters Club characters help each other grow and learn important life lessons.
Dawn and the Impossible Three
Dawn is the newest member of The Baby-Sitters Club and takes on her first difficult job with three rambunctious children. She learns to balance her responsibilities with having fun and being creative.
Jessi’s Secret Language
In this book, Jessi teaches her friends sign language while also dealing with her feelings about her dance instructor. The girls learn about different forms of communication and how to respect each other’s differences.
Kristy and the Secret of Susan
The Baby-Sitters Club takes on a new client with a challenging child, and Kristy learns to understand and empathize with the girl’s struggles. This book highlights the importance of empathy and kindness.
The Truth about Stacey
This book focuses on Stacey McGill, a member of The Baby-Sitters Club who has recently moved from New York City to the small town of Stoneybrook. She’s the new girl who struggles to fit in and deal with her type 1 diabetes, but she finds solace in The Baby-Sitters Club and her friends.
Stacey’s Emergency
When Stacey has a health emergency, she has to learn to manage her diabetes while also dealing with the challenges of being a babysitter. This book teaches readers about the importance of self-care
Logan Likes Mary Anne
This book focuses on Mary Anne Spier, a member of The Baby-Sitters Club who has a crush on Logan Bruno, a new boy in town. With the help of her friends, she gains the confidence to talk to him.
Boy-Crazy Stacey
The story follows Stacey, a member of The Baby-Sitters Club, as she goes on vacation with her friends to the beach. It’s there that she starts liking a lifeguard named Scott.
Differences between the books and the Netflix series
Many have praised The Baby-Sitters Club TV show for staying very close to the source novel material. It may remind you of other books that reached TV, such as The Hunger Games. However, you should be aware of a few key differences.
The TV series stars Shay Rudolph, Malia Baker, Momona Tamada, Sophie Grace, Xochitl Gomez, and Jessi Ramsey. Rachel Shukert produced it.
The storylines are pretty similar; however, the Netflix show has a modern setting. Instead of taking place in the 80s, the girls’ adventures reflect life as it is today.
Given that this is a show, there are certain instances and babysitting jobs that you don’t run into, not like in the novels by Scholastic. The episodes last about 20 to 30 minutes, making it hard to cover everything in the books. You’ll have to say goodbye to certain parts.
There are also some changes in the timeline. The first five episodes go in the same chronological order as the timeline in the novel. But the sixth novel (Kristy’s Big Day) is actually the show’s eighth episode.
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FAQ
Will there be a season 3 of Babysitters Club?
Though many want to watch another season of the Baby-Sitters Club, it was announced in March 2022 that it would not return for a third season. That’s bad luck for BSC lovers.
Is Baby-Sitters Club age appropriate?
The BSC series by Ann M. Martin is generally considered age-appropriate for children between 8 and 12 years old. The books deal with topics such as friendship, family, and growing up. They are written in a relatable and accessible way for young readers, like other young adult books.
Why did Stacey leave The Baby-Sitters Club?
Stacy decides to quit the BSC due to multiple factors, including her parents moving out of Stoneybrook. However, she returns temporarily after her parents get a divorce four books later in Farewell, Dawn before staying in the BSC for good.