The Babysitters Club books were an absolute highlight of growing up in the ’90s — and one of the best bits of pop culture news for parents like us was finding out that Netflix had turned the series into a live-action show, giving a whole new generation (including our own kids) the chance to meet Kristy, Mary Anne, Claudia, Stacey and Dawn.
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Kristy, Mary Anne, Claudia, Stacey and Dawn are back!
When Netflix first confirmed it was adapting Ann M. Martin’s bestselling book series, plenty of us ’90s kids had a full-on fangirl moment. The 10-part live-action series brought the group of teenage babysitters to life for a whole new audience, while giving those of us who grew up with the books a very welcome bit of nostalgia.
Remember all the boy-based dramas, the mischievous kids to babysit, the great friendships, and that early introduction to female empowerment? Plenty of us read and re-read every book in the series, convinced the girls were the epitome of cool — not just for running their own babysitting business, but for having their very own landline!
The series followed the same much-loved premise: a tight-knit group of friends juggling babysitting jobs, friendship fallouts, and growing up — themes that clearly still connect with kids today.
“The themes of The Babysitters Club still resonate 30 years after the original book series was released and there has never been a more opportune time to tell an aspirational story about empowering young female entrepreneurs,” said Melissa Cobb, vice president of Kids & Family at Netflix, when the adaptation was announced. “Our ambition is to contemporize the storylines and adventures of this iconic group of girlfriends to reflect modern-day issues.”
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Take a Trip Down Memory Lane with The Babysitters Club
The first book in The Babysitters Club series was Kristy’s Great Idea, which grew into a phenomenon of over 200 books licensed in more than 20 territories, with over 180 million copies sold.
“I’m amazed that there are so many passionate fans of The Babysitters Club after all these years, and I’m honoured to continue to hear from readers — now grown, who have become writers, editors, teachers, librarians, filmmakers — who say that they see a reflection of themselves in the characters of Kristy and her friends,” said Ann M. Martin, author of The Babysitters Club. “I’m very excited about the series, which I hope will inspire a new generation of readers and leaders everywhere.”
If you were a fan of the Stoneybrook girls, revisiting this one with your own kids is a lovely bit of shared nostalgia — and it might just have you digging out the old books too.
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Have you watched The Babysitters Club with your own kids, or introduced them to the original books? Leave a comment below and let us know — we’d love to hear from you!
FAQs About The Babysitters Club
Who wrote The Babysitters Club books?
The series was written by Ann M. Martin, starting with Kristy’s Great Idea.
How many Babysitters Club books are there?
The series grew to more than 200 books, licensed in over 20 territories, with over 180 million copies sold worldwide.
Is The Babysitters Club suitable for younger children too?
The stories follow a group of teenage friends dealing with everyday friendship, family and growing-up themes, so they tend to appeal most to primary and early secondary school-age kids, though younger children often enjoy them as a read-aloud with a parent.
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