Readers looking for recommendations similar in theme to Babysitters Club might enjoy the following books:
This graphic memoir begins by following Shannon in Kindergarten in 1979. She and Adrienne have been friends since they were kids, but as they get older, Adrienne begins to hang out with Jenny, the most popular girl in school and Shannon’s biggest bully. Anxiety begins to plague Shannon as all of the girls in Jenny’s circle begin to bully other kids to stay in her good graces. Shannon needs to find a way to deal with everything, and it doesn’t help that her siblings also pick on her. Will she and Adrienne stay friends? Can she stand up for herself?
A group of four girls want to break the mold as they take on the beauty pageant, Flora, and its old crowning tradition: a crown made of real bird feathers. Ostentation of Others and Outsiders is created as Ofelia, Aster, Cat, and Lane must choose to either give up the fight or escalate their efforts. Shifting perspectives, each character is given her own voice as their different backgrounds are explored, and some secrets try to come out.
It’s the beginning of Lucy’s sixth grade year, and with it comes the exciting possibility of joining the new coding club at school. With such a huge goal, Lucy has no time to spare and wants to immediately start working on her app, that is until she realizes the club isn’t what she thought it would be. Lucy suddenly starts receiving cryptic messages and realizes they’re clues she needs to crack. Friendship and teamwork will be needed as they crack the codes.
It’s no secret that at the age of 12 Gabby Duran is the most sought after babysitter. Even Hollywood celebrities seek her out. It’s after a star studded babysitting night that Gabby is approached by a mysterious woman who has a mission for her: babysit and protect an alien child. Sworn to secrecy, Gabby needs to keep the child safe or risk outing the Association Linking Intergalactics and Earthlings as Neighbors (A.L.I.E.N), all while trying to audition for the solo part in the school band. And you thought you had it tough.
What if the Baby-Sitters Club was a Newspaper Club and the friends involved were baby journalists? Brooke, Vanessa, and Heather are in charge of their middle school newspaper’s advice column after signing up for a journalism class. They make a new friend, Tim, and must balance all of their extracurriculars, schoolwork, and writing for The Lincoln Log.
Think The Baby-Sitters Club but in a more modern setting and with supernatural elements and witchy powers. Esme Pearl, a regular teen with a slew of regular babysitting gigs and a club around them, meets Cassandra Heaven, who is decidedly not a regular teen but wants to join Esme’s babysitting club for some reason. Cassandra has magical powers and a mysterious note from her (maybe deceased) mother that reads: “Dear Cassandra, Find the babysitters. Love, Mom.”
This book, published thirty five years after the first installment of the iconic series, is a tribute to the endearing influence of the Baby-Sitters Club on a generation of readers. Editors Marisa Crawford and Megan Milks have created an anthology that compiles essays and artworks from authors and artists who grew up with the Baby-Sitters Club and are now reflecting as adults on its significant cultural influence.
Quiz Time!
What Type of Babysitter are You?
- You’re legally old enough to babysit. What are you most excited about?
A) It’s your passion to work and mold the minds of children
B) Meh, just trying to make some cash
C) Pretty nervous, not sure what will happen
D) Excited? I can always Google tips.
2. You’ve arrived at the home of the kids that you will be babysitting for. The parents show you around and give you the list of emergency numbers. How do you feel?
A) Absorbing it all and can’t wait for the parents to leave so that you can show everyone what you are made of
B) It’s fine, I guess. We’ll what happens when they leave and the kids are no longer on their best behavior
C) Please don’t leave me here with your children! I’m a child too.
D) Take a picture of the contacts list. Are they still here? You have TikToks to watch
3. Parents are gone and the children stare at you looking for signs of weakness. What do you do?
A) Break out your babysitting plan. Crafts are up first. Let’s lay some newspaper down on the table before we open the glitter glue.
B) What do you guys want to do? I literally don’t care as long as you don’t hurt yourself?
C) Freeze in terror. Why are they looking at you like that? Want to play Candyland, you offer tentatively?
D) Toss the remote to them as you flop down on the armchair with your phone and earbuds. Here, watch some Bluey until bedtime. When’s your bedtime again?
4. Oops! It’s bedtime and they’ve snuck some chocolate into bed which they’ve somehow also melted into the sheets already. What do you do?
A) You asked the parents where the linen closet was before they left. Time to change the sheets!
B) You sigh heavily and ask the kids, Do you know how to change your sheets? When they shake their heads no, you sigh again and grab paper towels. You rub the stain until it’s, well, smeared and less obviously chocolatey. That’s gonna have to do.
C) Oh no! These sheets are ruined and they are going to blame you. You run around to look for fresh sheets but forget to ask the kids where to look.
D) Oh it’s fine, just pull the blanket up higher and no one will notice. For a while anyway. You’ll have gotten paid already by then.
5. It’s the end of your babysitting stint (you’ve raided the fridge as is traditional when babysitting after the kids go to bed) and the parents have come home. They ask you how the night went. How do you respond?
A) It was wonderful. Your kids were a pleasure to spend time with. You didn’t have a thing to worry about!
B) It was fine. [Awkward silence]
C) I…think it was ok. Except…[you spill the whole story about the chocolate incident]
D) Fine. Can you take me home now?
Scroll down for your results…
Mostly A’s — Eager Babysitter
You’ve been dreaming of being a bonafide babysitter since you were 7 years old. Now that it’s actually happening, you are in heaven. You cannot wait to show all the local families how responsible you are and how your calendar is booked with basic First Aid and CPR courses. The bookshelf in your room contains every book your local library had on being a prepared babysitter, as well as games and activities for young children. You are determined to be ready for anything.
Mostly B’s — Reluctant Babysitter
Your parents are definitely making you do this. You don’t mind the extra money, but at what cost? Surely there are jobs for tweens/teens that don’t involve going to other people’s houses (awkward) and watching out for other people’s children (you get enough of that with your younger siblings.) Sigh.
Mostly C’s — Panicky Babysitter
Who decided that you were allowed to do this? You are just a child yourself after all. All of your carnival goldfish have come to untimely ends and you’ve seen too many scary movies. This is entirely too much pressure!
Mostly D’s — Screentime Babysitter
You’re perfectly fine making sure the kids watch their favorite shows while you scroll on your phone to your heart’s content. Should be the easiest cash you ever make. Right?
This blog is created by Hannah, Maria and Ella in conjunction with the These Books Made Me podcast, a Prince George’s County Memorial Library System production. Check out the corresponding episode on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you normally listen to podcasts.
