One of the benefits of being a teacher is getting to select, and purchase books on behalf of my class. This year, we decided to buy some cool graphic novels for our students. Of course, this means that I got to read them, too!

One of the series I chose for my Grade 6 class was The Babysiters Club graphic novels. They are based on the novels by Ann M. Martin but are illustrated by Raina Telgemeier. I know her from the excellent Smile graphic novels. I actually never read the Ann Martin novels when I was growing up eventhough they are from my generation. I did recently watch the Baby-Sitters Club TV series on NETFLIX though. It is really well done and I enjoyed watching it with my family.

Kristy’s Great Idea

(Baby-Sitters Club Graphic Novels #1)

The Truth About Stacey

(Baby-Sitters Club Graphic Novels #2)

Mary Anne Saves The Day

(Baby-Sitters Club Graphic Novels #3)

I won’t comment on each novel individually. They are great! They must follow the novels very closely because the NETFLIX series followed almost exactly the same plot points as the graphic novels. I think it might’ve take away some of the excitement of reading the graphic novels so soon after watching the TV series, since they were so similiar. I still enjoyed reading them and read parts of them to my elementary school-aged daughter.

I like how the author makes each girl unique. You have the tomboy, the artistic type, the fashion girl, and the nerdy girl. These books were written ages ago but the problems teenage girls are timeless, so they still hold up.

If you have a younger daughter or niece in your family, you can’t go wrong with these as a gift. The girls are all cool. They are all courageous. They are great role models for growing girls.

Rating: ★★★★★

Book #64, 65, 66 in my 2022 Reading Challenge