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Kristy's Great Idea
(The Baby-Sitters Club #1)
by
Kristy thinks the Baby-sitters Club is a great idea. She and her friends Claudia, Stacey, and Mary Anne all love taking care of kids. A club will give them the chance to have lots of fun - and make tons of money.
But nobody counted on crank calls, uncontrollable two-year-olds, wild pets, and parents who don't always tell the truth. And then there's Stacey, who's acting more ...more
But nobody counted on crank calls, uncontrollable two-year-olds, wild pets, and parents who don't always tell the truth. And then there's Stacey, who's acting more ...more
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Paperback, 153 pages
Published
September 1st 1995
by Scholastic
(first published 1986)
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Community Reviews
Showing 1-30
Start your review of Kristy's Great Idea (The Baby-Sitters Club, #1)
okay, so i have never babysat a day in my life. is it surprising that no one would entrust their little precious dumplings to my care??
however - i loved these books. and lately, i have found my mind drifting back to this series, and i kind of want to read them again, is that bad?? they were such a huge part of my early reading life - i read them ever so many times, and took my favorite ones on vacation with me year after year when my mom told me i could bring a friend.(is that super sad?) i stil ...more
however - i loved these books. and lately, i have found my mind drifting back to this series, and i kind of want to read them again, is that bad?? they were such a huge part of my early reading life - i read them ever so many times, and took my favorite ones on vacation with me year after year when my mom told me i could bring a friend.(is that super sad?) i stil ...more
I am firmly convinced that, years hence, when Ann M Martin no longer graces the mortal coil with her presence, scholars will reflect upon the deceptively simple narrative lines of the Baby-Sitter's Club #1 and will discover the singing truths of human experience encoded in the mundane details of affluent suburban youth.
Like so many heroines before, Kristy attempts to reconcile her desire for autonomy with the crippling social restrictions on young females with her suburban Connecticut neighborh ...more
Like so many heroines before, Kristy attempts to reconcile her desire for autonomy with the crippling social restrictions on young females with her suburban Connecticut neighborh ...more
I am using the first Baby-Sitter's Club to represent the approximately, I don't know, 100 plus BSC novels I not only read, but owned, in my late elementary / early middle school years. I was in love with these novels and even belonged to the BSC Book Club, where two novels (in sequential order) were mailed to me every month (or bimonthly, I don't really remember). I was gifted the BSC board game, which was terrible, but amusing. My sisters and I even used these novels as "textbooks" when we play
...more
I loved these books when I was younger. Really loved. I had all the 'Specials' volumes (my favourite was always #9 where they put on Peter Pan at the school and Jessie turns into a mean diva), and most of the original series. Stacey was my favourite of the original quartet. She's the epitamy of 80's cool, with her New York City living, high fashion, boy crazy personality. Stacey and Sam were ultimate couple goals.
This was a lovely little walk down memory lane with the first book in the series, w ...more
This was a lovely little walk down memory lane with the first book in the series, w ...more
An irresistible re-read for 2018
The Baby-sitters Club was a concrete part of my 90's childhood. I use to take 3-4 books outside and read them in an afternoon. My cousins and I even wanted to start our own babysitters club!!
Just today ( October 15th, 2018) Goodreads posted a blog celebrating 80's YA paperbacks and my Elementary school still had Babysitters books so I just "had" to grab a few and take a walk down memory lane.
Kristin (Kristy) Amanda Thomas, Claudia Kishi, Mary Ann Spier, and St ...more
The Baby-sitters Club was a concrete part of my 90's childhood. I use to take 3-4 books outside and read them in an afternoon. My cousins and I even wanted to start our own babysitters club!!
Just today ( October 15th, 2018) Goodreads posted a blog celebrating 80's YA paperbacks and my Elementary school still had Babysitters books so I just "had" to grab a few and take a walk down memory lane.
Kristin (Kristy) Amanda Thomas, Claudia Kishi, Mary Ann Spier, and St ...more
Like so many '90s kids, I was obsessed with The Baby-sitters Club. OBSESSED. I still have most of my collection (I sadly got rid of the many doubles I had), but I haven't really revisited the series as an adult. I was afraid that they'd feel really dated and it would tarnish the memory I have of them.
But yesterday the nostalgia got too much for me and I decided to pick up Kristy's Great Idea for the first time in about 20 years. And while aspects of the plot certainly are dated (so much of it h ...more
But yesterday the nostalgia got too much for me and I decided to pick up Kristy's Great Idea for the first time in about 20 years. And while aspects of the plot certainly are dated (so much of it h ...more
Jul 07, 2011
Rhiannon
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
read-in-2011,
ya-realistic
"The Baby-Sitters Club was a success. I, Kristin Amanda Thomas, had made it work." - Kristy, accepting the 1986 Mahatma Ghandi Award for Most Humble 12-Year Old Ever
Was Claudia described as having almond-shaped eyes:
Surprisingly, no. Although she was described as "exotic."
Was Mimi's accent described as rolling:
Nope
How many times was the word "incredulously" used:
Twice
What Would Claudia Wear:
-Short, very baggy lavender plaid overalls, a white lacy blouse, a black fedora, red high-top sneakers wit ...more
Was Claudia described as having almond-shaped eyes:
Surprisingly, no. Although she was described as "exotic."
Was Mimi's accent described as rolling:
Nope
How many times was the word "incredulously" used:
Twice
What Would Claudia Wear:
-Short, very baggy lavender plaid overalls, a white lacy blouse, a black fedora, red high-top sneakers wit ...more
Ok, so this was better than New York, New York!, but still it wasn't a wowzer for me.
This is the first book in The Baby-Sitters Club series, and I think the mother of all the related books and series.
This is not the type of book I would normally read. If it weren't for this Lava Challenge I'm participating in, I would have never picked this book up to begin with. But these reading challenges are forcing me out of my comfort-zone and I am finding different aspects of myself that I never knew exi ...more
This is the first book in The Baby-Sitters Club series, and I think the mother of all the related books and series.
This is not the type of book I would normally read. If it weren't for this Lava Challenge I'm participating in, I would have never picked this book up to begin with. But these reading challenges are forcing me out of my comfort-zone and I am finding different aspects of myself that I never knew exi ...more
This book made me feel guilty. As a little soon-to-be gay boy in the 1980s, I watched my older sister devour the Baby-Sitters Club series. She just ate them up. And I learned at a young age it wasn’t “appropriate” for young boys to like the same things as their sisters.
“Michael, take off those Madonna gloves!”
When I picked up the first of the super-popular Baby-Sitters Club series, I couldn’t help but feel a bit of guilt. Kristy’s Great Idea is book #1, and about Krsity Thomas’ idea of forming a ...more
“Michael, take off those Madonna gloves!”
When I picked up the first of the super-popular Baby-Sitters Club series, I couldn’t help but feel a bit of guilt. Kristy’s Great Idea is book #1, and about Krsity Thomas’ idea of forming a ...more
I don't feel like taking the time to add the whole series. But C'mon, you know you read them...all 549085290 of them AND the spin-offs. Looking back, they were terribly written and not realistic at all...But that didn't stop us from dressing like Claudia or trying to start our own BSC.
Nov 19, 2019
~The Bookish Redhead~
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
children-s,
young-adult-fiction
I am unashamedly going to admit, that The Baby-sitters club, was and is still, a firm favourite series of mine from my childhood. Sure, the writing isn't particularly special, the characters are just adequately developed, and one can usually guess where the plot is going, by the second or third chapter, but, these books have a lasting charm, that essentially shaped my childhood.
This book is a comfort, and I have taken refuge in it, during the last few days. I have enjoyed the simplicity of the p ...more
This book is a comfort, and I have taken refuge in it, during the last few days. I have enjoyed the simplicity of the p ...more
I am rereading the baby-sitters club books. I read them for the first time when I was in middle school and high school. I loved them so much, so I decided I wanted to reread them. I giving them five stars because they are great for middle grade kids and I loved them so much when I was that age. I loved reading them now because the memories they bring back too me, but I would not say they are great for a 36 year old person to read the first time.
I absolutely loved these books in Elementary school in the 90s. I so desperately wanted to be part of a baby-sitters club! I've been meaning to reread some of these for awhile, but I guess the new show that came out finally gave me the push to do so. I probably won't watch it because I never even watched the original show in the 90s - the books were my jam!
I have a lot of fond memories of Kristy, Mary Anne, Claudia, and Stacey. Although I didn't remember any specific details about what happens i ...more
I have a lot of fond memories of Kristy, Mary Anne, Claudia, and Stacey. Although I didn't remember any specific details about what happens i ...more
Sep 18, 2009
Dray
rated it
it was amazing
Recommends it for:
80s babies who are all now too old to be reading these
Recommended to Dray by:
they had colorful covers. that's all it takes
I'm terribly tempted to add all the BSC books to my goodreads for two reasons:
1. I'm at work doing absolutely nothing else.
2. It would make me look all badass with lots of books...until someone happened to notice that half of them are the Babysitter's Club books. My badass badge would then be taken away.
So I'll just add the first one. These books get five stars for the sheer entertainment value of 7-10 year old Andréa. I thought those girls were SO COOL. Stacy and Claudia were totally my favorit ...more
1. I'm at work doing absolutely nothing else.
2. It would make me look all badass with lots of books...until someone happened to notice that half of them are the Babysitter's Club books. My badass badge would then be taken away.
So I'll just add the first one. These books get five stars for the sheer entertainment value of 7-10 year old Andréa. I thought those girls were SO COOL. Stacy and Claudia were totally my favorit ...more
Nov 16, 2017
Cora Tea Party Princess
rated it
liked it
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Cora by:
Aoife
5 Words: Friendship, secrets, loyalty, family, responsibility.
That was cute.
I would have likely loved it when I was 12, and even now when I'm very much older it was a lovely read. I enjoyed the story, how the girls were introduced, the funny little problems they encountered. It was lovely.
That was cute.
I would have likely loved it when I was 12, and even now when I'm very much older it was a lovely read. I enjoyed the story, how the girls were introduced, the funny little problems they encountered. It was lovely.
Feb 20, 2017
Sarah DiMento
added it
This just popped up on my Goodsreads updates and now I'm feeling so nostalgic. I adored this series when I was a kid. Even just looking at the covers makes me happy. I'm really tempted to buy them all and read them again, but what if they're terrible now??
I'm working on a podcast about the BSC and when I went for a walk last week and spotted the first book in a Little Free Library, I grabbed it (I have some other copies from my childhood). It holds up. I didn't realize how outspoken and obnoxious Kristy was. And I love the clothing descriptions which are cringe-worthy but seen as "soooo cool."
Nov 13, 2007
Jessica
added it
Recommends it for:
maybe little girls who hate to read, if you're really desperate
Shelves:
wee-ones-and-bored-teenagers
I can't rate these books, because giving a bad rating would be a lie -- I was crazy about them when I read them -- but giving them a good rating would be misleading because it would lead you to believe that they were good, and they're not. I mean, in a way they must be or they wouldn't have been so popular, but they're definitely Lame, especially when you consider how much incredible children't fiction there is out there.
The closest thing to these books for me is the Doors, one of the other few ...more
The closest thing to these books for me is the Doors, one of the other few ...more
Looking back I'm a bit ashamed to admit I enjoyed this series so much. By no means are the books well written; the characters are flat, the plots predictable. Everything is dressed in a neat and tidy bundle, all works out in under 150 pages. You can almost hear the sappy music as the book draws to a close. Even as a preteen I recognized this was not great literature, especially as the series rapidly expanded, Ann Martin and what must have been a slew of ghost writers turning out books at an alar
...more
A Single Step, or, Adventures in Gayby-sitting
During Orientation Week in college, I made all the best friends I would ever need, thank you very much. This was the beginning of my Great Transformation. From an aloof, emotionally-reserved Band Geek in high school, I was embarking on a Journey that would make me a Free Man and a Cool Kid and in retrospect probably a complete freeloading burnout.
In that first week, I went with my new best friends to sit on "Mount Oberlin" -- a tiny hill that was the ...more
During Orientation Week in college, I made all the best friends I would ever need, thank you very much. This was the beginning of my Great Transformation. From an aloof, emotionally-reserved Band Geek in high school, I was embarking on a Journey that would make me a Free Man and a Cool Kid and in retrospect probably a complete freeloading burnout.
In that first week, I went with my new best friends to sit on "Mount Oberlin" -- a tiny hill that was the ...more
On one of my book challenges, I needed to read a book from my childhood. Plus, I'm in a pretty serious reading slump, and thought a short book would help me get out of it..
I loved these books when I was younger, I remember checking out a couple every time I went to the library as a child.
It wasn't a bad book, I enjoyed the nostalgia from re-reading it, and it was a quick read.
2.5/5.
(my ten year old self would've given it a 5/5)
I loved these books when I was younger, I remember checking out a couple every time I went to the library as a child.
It wasn't a bad book, I enjoyed the nostalgia from re-reading it, and it was a quick read.
2.5/5.
(my ten year old self would've given it a 5/5)
Decided I wanted to Re-Live my childhood and read all these books from start to finish! 4 childhood friends come together to start a BABY-SITTERS CLUB. All of these girls Have major differences but all manage to be great friends. In this specific book we find out a big secret that Stacy is hiding...but would her friends truly judge her if they knew? What a great and fast nostalgic read
I blame Paperback Crush for this foray into my childhood. The rereads of my beloved Babysitters Club did not disappoint. What a joy it was to be reunited with my favorites from this beloved series that marked my childhood.
Since I read this to my daughter I allowed her to rate it. But I fully agree with her choice :)
I never read a single one of these books when I was a kid, even though I was a kid when they were at their height. I was very turned off by their covers, and also by the fact that they were the popular thing to be reading at school....I tended to reject anything that was popular.
On the recommendation of friends who have fond memories of these books, I read the first book just last month and I can't believe how much I LOVED it. I've read two more since then. I've been encouraging my students to r ...more
On the recommendation of friends who have fond memories of these books, I read the first book just last month and I can't believe how much I LOVED it. I've read two more since then. I've been encouraging my students to r ...more
When asked to name a childhood hero at a recent Feminist Club meeting, I instantly knew who to name: Kristy Thomas. Kristy is a tomboy, an alpha female, and totally gay (well, she gets a boyfriend later, but he is totally a beard). This book is girl love at its finest.
Okay, I read this for the pure nostalgia factor, as I started the Netflix series this weekend and it brought back ALL the childhood memories of these books that were my favourite when I was in primary school.
The first book is undeniably sweet, and very age appropriate (not my current age) - it was great seeing all the little seeds they planted in this first book that would be developed further on.
It also made me admire how well the Netflix series managed to balance that old school feel while br ...more
The first book is undeniably sweet, and very age appropriate (not my current age) - it was great seeing all the little seeds they planted in this first book that would be developed further on.
It also made me admire how well the Netflix series managed to balance that old school feel while br ...more
May 24, 2020
April (Aprilius Maximus)
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
favourites,
2020
BOOK #18 READ FOR BELIEVATHON ROUND 2.
I reread this book for my rereading childhood favourites video!
representation: being a child of a non-nuclear family, Japanese American character, (view spoiler).
[trigger warnings are listed at the bottom of this review and may contain spoilers]
★★★★.5
TELL ME WHY I WANNA GO AND READ ALL 2495000 BOOKS IN THIS SERIES. This held up so well in my opinion, even though it was first published in the 80's! I loved it so much ( ...more
I reread this book for my rereading childhood favourites video!
representation: being a child of a non-nuclear family, Japanese American character, (view spoiler).
[trigger warnings are listed at the bottom of this review and may contain spoilers]
★★★★.5
TELL ME WHY I WANNA GO AND READ ALL 2495000 BOOKS IN THIS SERIES. This held up so well in my opinion, even though it was first published in the 80's! I loved it so much ( ...more
Jan 03, 2010
Ciara
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
kids-books,
read-in-2010
always a classic. i read this one for the first time on my birthday in 1986. that was the year i turned seven. being a precocious reader, i was the target audience for the babysitters club series. i have been reading them ever since...24 years now, i guess. i'm not going to bother finding that at all shameful. it's an accomplishment!
these early books are kind of a yawn, because ann wrote them, & she doesn't have the same flair for drama & middle school catfights as some of the later ghosties (pe ...more
these early books are kind of a yawn, because ann wrote them, & she doesn't have the same flair for drama & middle school catfights as some of the later ghosties (pe ...more
Feb 03, 2019
Asheley
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
childrens-and-middle-grade,
2019-read
I reread this one in no time at all before listening to the corresponding episode of SSR Podcast, which was so much fun.
*
I read every BSC book over and over when I was young and honestly I could read them all over again right now. I can't remember many things I wanted more when I was young than to be in a cool club like the one in this books and to have BFFs as cool as these girls. I thought it was so cool that Kristy and Mary Anne lived next to each other and used their flashlights to signal-ta ...more
*
I read every BSC book over and over when I was young and honestly I could read them all over again right now. I can't remember many things I wanted more when I was young than to be in a cool club like the one in this books and to have BFFs as cool as these girls. I thought it was so cool that Kristy and Mary Anne lived next to each other and used their flashlights to signal-ta ...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hannah O'Regan Review 3 | 1 | 1 | Sep 27, 2019 06:53PM | |
| STOP FIGHTING! I'M GOING TO DIE!!! | 6 | 67 | Nov 25, 2014 05:36AM |
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Ann Matthews Martin was born on August 12, 1955. She grew up in Princeton, New Jersey, with her parents and her younger sister, Jane. After graduating from Smith College, Ann became a teacher and then an editor of children's books. She's now a full-time writer.
Ann gets the ideas for her books from many different places. Some are based on personal experiences, while others are based on childhood me ...more
Ann gets the ideas for her books from many different places. Some are based on personal experiences, while others are based on childhood me ...more
Other books in the series
The Baby-Sitters Club
(1 - 10 of 131 books)
Articles featuring this book
Gabrielle Moss has charted the history of ‘80s and ‘90s YA novels, from The Baby-Sitters Club to Wildfire, in Paperback Crush: The Tot...
219 likes · 89 comments
16 trivia questions
More quizzes & trivia...
“I hoped that Mary Anne, Claudia, Stacey, and I - the Baby Sitters Club - would stay together for a long time.”
—
10 likes
“Sheep are in.”
—
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More quotes…
