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The Baby-Sitters Club #97
Claudia and the World's Cutest Baby
Claudia's baby cousin is finally here! She's definitely the cutest, sweetest baby ever born. And Claud can't do enough for her. She's spending every spare second at her Aunt Peaches and Uncle Russ's house--bringing gifts, changing the baby, helping with the cooking and the shopping, and, of course, offering Peaches plenty of BSC-tested baby care tips. There is just one problem. After two weeks of Claudia's help, Peaches is acting as if she is mad at Claudia. What could possibly be bothering her?
139 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 1996
45 people are currently reading
640 people want to read
About the author
Ann M. Martin
1,100 books3,045 followersAnn 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 memories and feelings. Many are written about contemporary problems or events. All of Ann's characters, even the members of the Baby-sitters Club, are made up. But many of her characters are based on real people. Sometimes Ann names her characters after people she knows, and other times she simply chooses names that she likes.
Ann has always enjoyed writing. Even before she was old enough to write, she would dictate stories to her mother to write down for her. Some of her favorite authors at that time were Lewis Carroll, P. L. Travers, Hugh Lofting, Astrid Lindgren, and Roald Dahl. They inspired her to become a writer herself.
Since ending the BSC series in 2000, Ann’s writing has concentrated on single novels, many of which are set in the 1960s.
After living in New York City for many years, Ann moved to the Hudson Valley in upstate New York where she now lives with her dog, Sadie, and her cats, Gussie, Willy and Woody. Her hobbies are reading, sewing, and needlework. Her favorite thing to do is to make clothes for children.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/annmma...
Ann gets the ideas for her books from many different places. Some are based on personal experiences, while others are based on childhood memories and feelings. Many are written about contemporary problems or events. All of Ann's characters, even the members of the Baby-sitters Club, are made up. But many of her characters are based on real people. Sometimes Ann names her characters after people she knows, and other times she simply chooses names that she likes.
Ann has always enjoyed writing. Even before she was old enough to write, she would dictate stories to her mother to write down for her. Some of her favorite authors at that time were Lewis Carroll, P. L. Travers, Hugh Lofting, Astrid Lindgren, and Roald Dahl. They inspired her to become a writer herself.
Since ending the BSC series in 2000, Ann’s writing has concentrated on single novels, many of which are set in the 1960s.
After living in New York City for many years, Ann moved to the Hudson Valley in upstate New York where she now lives with her dog, Sadie, and her cats, Gussie, Willy and Woody. Her hobbies are reading, sewing, and needlework. Her favorite thing to do is to make clothes for children.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/annmma...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
December 25, 2022
ME FALTAN 3 LIBROS PARA LLEGAR AL 100.
April 27, 2011
claudia is chillaxin' home alone when she gets the call she's been waiting for: her aunt peaches is in labor! that was quick, huh? didn't peaches just have a miscarriage like three months ago? how is she at-term with a new pregnancy already? anyway, despite having been a professional babysitter for the last seventeen years & an accredited infant care specialist, claudia does not realize that birth usually takes a while. she runs out to the garage when her family gets home & demands that they all caravan to the hospital post-haste. this is where i mention that i used to attend midwifery school, until i attended my first birth & realized that it is really, really boring for everyone other than the person giving birth. i don't know why claudia is so determined to make her family sit around in a hospital waiting room for god knows how many hours. newborns are just not that exciting.
anyway, they wait around, & eventually the baby is born. it's a girl & peaches & russ decide to name it lynn after, claudia (lynn is her middle name). they also ask her to be godmother. claudia is beyond ecstatic.
a few days later, peaches & lynn are released from the hospital & claudia chivvies her family into the car to go over for a visit. everyone coos over the baby & they eat dinner together. mrs. kishi then says they will be leaving, because the best visits as far as new parents are concerned are short visits. but claudia asks to stay longer to help out with clean-up & any baby surprises. mrs. kishi is reluctant, but peaches & russ are like, "sure! sounds great!" so claudia stays for a while longer, admiring lynn, washing the dishes, & offering various baby care tips.
the next day before school, claudia rushes back to peaches & russ's house to check in. russ is trying to make coffee & the baby starts wailing. claudia offers to handle the coffee-making while peaches & russ attend to the baby. she doesn't understand how the coffeepot works, so she kind of wings it & then runs upstairs & look at lynn. while she's up there, everyone smells burning. turns out claudia put the coffee & water into the back of the coffeemaker, where the electronics are, & now it's broken. russ sighs heavily & heads out to get convenience store coffee. claudia leaves for school.
she stops by that after school & stays pretty much until bedtime, fussing over lynn, thinking she's helping the new parents. & she does this pretty much every single day into perpetuity. mrs. kishi points out that having claudia around all the time may be stressful for peaches & russ, & that they need time to get used to being parents without other people hovering around, but claudia blows her off. she thinks she is being very helpful & that russ & peaches wouldn't be able to get by without her.
so when she finds out that she's going on a lass trip to philadelphia for a weekend, she is nervous. will the new little family still be alive by sunday? how are they going to make it without claudia breaking the coffeepot every morning & "accidentally" waking her up from naps? but she is excited to visit philly. she hopes to check out some art museums, especially the rodin museum. the only hitch is that melissa, a classmate of claudia's, is kind of crowding her. she wants to room with claudia, but claudia would rather room with abby & stacey, who are also going on the trip. claudia throws her a bone & invites melissa to the mall with some of her BSC friends, but it's no fun. melissa tries too hard to get claudia to like her & having her around is really more of a chore than a pleasure. but claudia is reluctant to say anything because she doesn't want to hurt melissa's feelings.
do you see where this is going yet?
in philly, melissa connives to switch rooms so she can be right next to the room that claudia is sharing with abby & stacey. she follows claudia & her friends around all the time & totally ignores her own roommate. it all comes to a head at the philadelphia art museum, when claudia admits she'd like to see the rodin museum but they don't have time. melissa suggests sneaking over & looking around for a few minutes before coming back to meet everyone else on the school bus. claudia agrees, but of course she & melissa get lost on their way back to the philadelphia art museum. melissa unhelpfully bursts into tears. they don't have enough money to take a cab to the art museum or the hotel & they didn't tell anyone where they were going. finally a passerby takes pity on them & points them to another nearby museum, where the security guards have been instructed to keep an eye out for a missing 13-year-old who likes art. the security guards call claudia's teacher, who comes to pick them up in a cab. they are in BIG TROUBLE...& claudia is pissed at melissa. she blames melissa for the whole mess, until she starts thinking about how she has been behaving in the same needy, clingy way with peaches, russ, & lynn. she resolves to give them their space & thinks that maybe she could be friends with melissa after all if melissa did the same.
B-plot: the arnold twins are sneaking scary movies & freaking themselves out until logan arranges for them to watch a documentary about how special effects are done. they decide to make their own horror movie using some of the techniques they learned. borrrr-ing.
i love claudia but she was so obnoxious in this book. if i had just had a baby a few years ago & someone came over before i was even out of bed & BROKE MY COFFEEMAKER...i would quite possibly kill them. & if i were tried by a jury of my peers (other new moms), i would get away with it. claudia also bosses peaches around in all these other ways, suggesting alternative diaper lotions & swaddling techniques & shit. i guess it's realistic, in that pretty much no one gets as much needless unsolicited advice as a new parent.
anyway, they wait around, & eventually the baby is born. it's a girl & peaches & russ decide to name it lynn after, claudia (lynn is her middle name). they also ask her to be godmother. claudia is beyond ecstatic.
a few days later, peaches & lynn are released from the hospital & claudia chivvies her family into the car to go over for a visit. everyone coos over the baby & they eat dinner together. mrs. kishi then says they will be leaving, because the best visits as far as new parents are concerned are short visits. but claudia asks to stay longer to help out with clean-up & any baby surprises. mrs. kishi is reluctant, but peaches & russ are like, "sure! sounds great!" so claudia stays for a while longer, admiring lynn, washing the dishes, & offering various baby care tips.
the next day before school, claudia rushes back to peaches & russ's house to check in. russ is trying to make coffee & the baby starts wailing. claudia offers to handle the coffee-making while peaches & russ attend to the baby. she doesn't understand how the coffeepot works, so she kind of wings it & then runs upstairs & look at lynn. while she's up there, everyone smells burning. turns out claudia put the coffee & water into the back of the coffeemaker, where the electronics are, & now it's broken. russ sighs heavily & heads out to get convenience store coffee. claudia leaves for school.
she stops by that after school & stays pretty much until bedtime, fussing over lynn, thinking she's helping the new parents. & she does this pretty much every single day into perpetuity. mrs. kishi points out that having claudia around all the time may be stressful for peaches & russ, & that they need time to get used to being parents without other people hovering around, but claudia blows her off. she thinks she is being very helpful & that russ & peaches wouldn't be able to get by without her.
so when she finds out that she's going on a lass trip to philadelphia for a weekend, she is nervous. will the new little family still be alive by sunday? how are they going to make it without claudia breaking the coffeepot every morning & "accidentally" waking her up from naps? but she is excited to visit philly. she hopes to check out some art museums, especially the rodin museum. the only hitch is that melissa, a classmate of claudia's, is kind of crowding her. she wants to room with claudia, but claudia would rather room with abby & stacey, who are also going on the trip. claudia throws her a bone & invites melissa to the mall with some of her BSC friends, but it's no fun. melissa tries too hard to get claudia to like her & having her around is really more of a chore than a pleasure. but claudia is reluctant to say anything because she doesn't want to hurt melissa's feelings.
do you see where this is going yet?
in philly, melissa connives to switch rooms so she can be right next to the room that claudia is sharing with abby & stacey. she follows claudia & her friends around all the time & totally ignores her own roommate. it all comes to a head at the philadelphia art museum, when claudia admits she'd like to see the rodin museum but they don't have time. melissa suggests sneaking over & looking around for a few minutes before coming back to meet everyone else on the school bus. claudia agrees, but of course she & melissa get lost on their way back to the philadelphia art museum. melissa unhelpfully bursts into tears. they don't have enough money to take a cab to the art museum or the hotel & they didn't tell anyone where they were going. finally a passerby takes pity on them & points them to another nearby museum, where the security guards have been instructed to keep an eye out for a missing 13-year-old who likes art. the security guards call claudia's teacher, who comes to pick them up in a cab. they are in BIG TROUBLE...& claudia is pissed at melissa. she blames melissa for the whole mess, until she starts thinking about how she has been behaving in the same needy, clingy way with peaches, russ, & lynn. she resolves to give them their space & thinks that maybe she could be friends with melissa after all if melissa did the same.
B-plot: the arnold twins are sneaking scary movies & freaking themselves out until logan arranges for them to watch a documentary about how special effects are done. they decide to make their own horror movie using some of the techniques they learned. borrrr-ing.
i love claudia but she was so obnoxious in this book. if i had just had a baby a few years ago & someone came over before i was even out of bed & BROKE MY COFFEEMAKER...i would quite possibly kill them. & if i were tried by a jury of my peers (other new moms), i would get away with it. claudia also bosses peaches around in all these other ways, suggesting alternative diaper lotions & swaddling techniques & shit. i guess it's realistic, in that pretty much no one gets as much needless unsolicited advice as a new parent.
January 27, 2018
in this installment of “thirteen-year-olds are self-absorbed but not self-aware” by ghostwriter Peter Lerangis, claudia’s aunt peaches finally has a baby. she lost her last baby (see Claudia and Crazy Peaches), so everyone in the family is EXTRA excited for this one. claudia goes a bit overboard, though. the baby is named lynn, after her middle name, and claud is named the godmother. she believes this means it’s her responsibility to constantly be at peaches and russ’s house, giving “helpful” little tips about how to care for the baby. unsurprisingly, peaches and russ get worn thin from having a 13-year-old around 24/7 in addition to their newborn and peaches finally snaps at claudia. claudia escapes to her class trip to philadelphia, where one of her classmates, melissa, is annoyingly obsessed with her. melissa constantly wants to be around claudia and do whatever she does, sort of like karen in Kristy and the Copycat or jill in Baby-sitters' Haunted House. except in both of those books, the copycat kids are younger and therefore look up to kristy and dawn, respectively. melissa is claudia’s age and therefore has no excuse other than lack of social skills. at one point, the class goes to the philadelphia museum of art (abby makes them run up while singing the rocky theme, haha) and when claudia says she wanted to go to the rodin museum melissa convinces her they have enough time to sneak away. they don’t, and they can’t find their way back, so the whole class goes back to the hotel and the teacher calls the cops. claudia finally snaps at melissa, calling her the “world’s biggest pest.” they get back to the hotel and are in trouble and on bad terms with their classmates. when melissa apologizes for having followed claudia around, claudia realizes that she’s been doing the same thing to peaches (something the reader figured out about 10 chapters prior), so she apologizes and they determine that claudia will still be very present in lynn’s life but will actually call before she comes over and not spend every second there. in a TOTALLY HILARIOUS AND DELIGHTFUL subplot, the arnold twins have become obsessed with horror movies, though they’re terrified of them. what finally cures them of their fears (and helps them actually go to sleep at night) is watching the making-of documentary that shows that everything was just special effects. they become interested in special effects and make a movie wherein kristy is a gross babysitter whose eyeballs (cotton balls) fall out and who tears off her own ear (play doh).
highlights:
-when asked what the city of brotherly love is, claudia thinks of the spanish word for brother, hermano, so she guesses hermosa beach. it's hilarious but also nice deductive skills!
-kristy-being-kristy moment: when claud is gonna go to the hospital when peaches is giving birth, kristy tells her to take a flyer for the bsc.
-a whole chapter devoted to the entire kishi family freaking out over peaches going into labor. russ says they’re going to the hospital, which claudia takes to mean everyone in the family needs to rush there. then they sit around for hours waiting after a number of silly misunderstandings (such as claudia thinking the delivery room is for mail delivery, etc). the whole chapter is really silly and funny.
-the subplot! the arnold twins are so funny! I love it, and I love their movie with kristy!
-comedian abby: in a fake british accent she yells, "last one to the privy is a colonial guttersnipe!"
-at one point melissa says she wants an extra roll because she loves rolls "just like claudia. right, claud?" I can’t decide if it’s funny or sad.
-at the rodin museum when claud and melissa see the thinker, melissa says, "what a hunk." claud gives her a dirty look, and melissa says, "of marble, I mean."
lowlights/nitpicks:
-they talk about pretzels with mustard as being a yummy thing you can get in philly. kristy says that mustard doesn't go on pretzels (WRONG) so claud brings out jumbo hard pretzels and tries mustard on them and is not impressed. come on, you dolts! you don't know about soft pretzels? you've all been to nyc!
-claud says that she empathized with the ramseys experiencing racism from their neighbors because she's felt prejudice in stoneybrook, but the series implies that claudia has never experienced prejudice up to that point (considering she doesn't even understand that the members of the family in Keep Out, Claudia! are white supremacists)
-they call it a philly cheesesteak hoagie (actually just called a cheesesteak, hoagie is implied) and describe it as having cheese (most true cheesesteaks should have a cheez whiz style product, not real cheese)
-melissa follows claud around the museum complaining about every art piece. I am mostly sympathetic towards melissa, but this is the point where I would’ve popped her one. IF YOU DON’T HAVE THE SAME INTERESTS AS THE PERSON YOU’RE OBSESSED WITH THEN STOP FOLLOWING THEM AROUND AND SHITTING ALL OVER THEIR INTERESTS. jerk.
-claud and stacey and abby sneak out for a burger after all the drama with claudia sneaking out and getting in trouble. I would think claud wouldn't sneak out again
-any claudia book with no outfit descriptions is at least a little disappointing
snacks in claudia’s room:
-jumbo size hard pretzels behind the shoe boxes in her closet
highlights:
-when asked what the city of brotherly love is, claudia thinks of the spanish word for brother, hermano, so she guesses hermosa beach. it's hilarious but also nice deductive skills!
-kristy-being-kristy moment: when claud is gonna go to the hospital when peaches is giving birth, kristy tells her to take a flyer for the bsc.
-a whole chapter devoted to the entire kishi family freaking out over peaches going into labor. russ says they’re going to the hospital, which claudia takes to mean everyone in the family needs to rush there. then they sit around for hours waiting after a number of silly misunderstandings (such as claudia thinking the delivery room is for mail delivery, etc). the whole chapter is really silly and funny.
-the subplot! the arnold twins are so funny! I love it, and I love their movie with kristy!
-comedian abby: in a fake british accent she yells, "last one to the privy is a colonial guttersnipe!"
-at one point melissa says she wants an extra roll because she loves rolls "just like claudia. right, claud?" I can’t decide if it’s funny or sad.
-at the rodin museum when claud and melissa see the thinker, melissa says, "what a hunk." claud gives her a dirty look, and melissa says, "of marble, I mean."
lowlights/nitpicks:
-they talk about pretzels with mustard as being a yummy thing you can get in philly. kristy says that mustard doesn't go on pretzels (WRONG) so claud brings out jumbo hard pretzels and tries mustard on them and is not impressed. come on, you dolts! you don't know about soft pretzels? you've all been to nyc!
-claud says that she empathized with the ramseys experiencing racism from their neighbors because she's felt prejudice in stoneybrook, but the series implies that claudia has never experienced prejudice up to that point (considering she doesn't even understand that the members of the family in Keep Out, Claudia! are white supremacists)
-they call it a philly cheesesteak hoagie (actually just called a cheesesteak, hoagie is implied) and describe it as having cheese (most true cheesesteaks should have a cheez whiz style product, not real cheese)
-melissa follows claud around the museum complaining about every art piece. I am mostly sympathetic towards melissa, but this is the point where I would’ve popped her one. IF YOU DON’T HAVE THE SAME INTERESTS AS THE PERSON YOU’RE OBSESSED WITH THEN STOP FOLLOWING THEM AROUND AND SHITTING ALL OVER THEIR INTERESTS. jerk.
-claud and stacey and abby sneak out for a burger after all the drama with claudia sneaking out and getting in trouble. I would think claud wouldn't sneak out again
-any claudia book with no outfit descriptions is at least a little disappointing
snacks in claudia’s room:
-jumbo size hard pretzels behind the shoe boxes in her closet
May 9, 2020
I still legitimately love this one, even though it makes me cringe. Even as a kid I thought Claudia was embarrassingly overbearing, but it’s even worse to read about it as an adult. Peaches had the patience of a saint with her!
I also love the side plot with Melissa, although I’m pretty sure we never hear about her again. I even love the baby-sitting plot, and those are usually my least favorite parts of the book. My friends and I spent countless hours making scary movies on our camcorders when I was a teenager, so Marilyn and Carolyn making the horror movie with Kristy made me smile with fond memories of doing the same.
I also love the side plot with Melissa, although I’m pretty sure we never hear about her again. I even love the baby-sitting plot, and those are usually my least favorite parts of the book. My friends and I spent countless hours making scary movies on our camcorders when I was a teenager, so Marilyn and Carolyn making the horror movie with Kristy made me smile with fond memories of doing the same.
July 27, 2022
All I can say is that my brother and his wife are lucky they live 2+ hours away from me, because my nieces are actually the world's cutest babies, and I would be a total Claudia if they lived closer. (Well, not the offering tips part. I don't know shit about babies, and I sure am not going to change a diaper. But being over there all day every day?! Heck yes. Auntie Ashley would LOOOOOOOVE that.)
In short, baby Lynn has NOTHING on Lily and Emmy. Sorry, Claudia.
In short, baby Lynn has NOTHING on Lily and Emmy. Sorry, Claudia.
July 1, 2024
To quote Claudia herself Oh My Lord! She is so obnoxious in this book. Her aunt Peaches has her baby and little girl called Lynn after Claudia's middle name. Claudia is named godmother and takes her role far too seriously. Claudia butts in every chance she gets. From making the family rush to the hospital the minute labour is announced to showing up at their house every damn day destroying their coffee maker, waking together baby after she just went down for a nap and offering her expert advice because who knows more about raising a child than a 13 year old babysitter? Peaches yells at her cause she's a new mother and completely exhausted. In a parallel story the class goes to Philadelphia on a weekend field trip. A girl named Melissa who we've never met and will probably never see again follows Claudia around like a puppy and Claudia also snaps after she and Melissa get lost sneaking off to see an art museum. Claudia soon realizes how Peaches felt and they reach an understanding. The b plot is awesome. The Arnold twins are watching forbidden scary movies and having a tough time sleeping. Then they see a making of documentary and decide they want to make horror movies and make on where they both trash and kill Kristy and its hilarious. This one wasn't bad but Claudia was truly the worst here.
December 27, 2020
(LL)
It’s great for readers to see that sometimes you might think you’re helping out new parents, but you’re making everything a little more difficult. It’s great for Peaches to have a baby after the miscarriage a few books back, and it was fun to see a new baby from a baby-sitter’s family and how that impacted their life. The subplot with the Arnold twins was pretty cool, and Mary Anne definitely found one way to help kids not be scared of horror movies, however, that approach doesn’t always work!
As an aside: Claudia was really mean to Melissa, and for no real reason. Melissa wanted to tag along on a field trip and Claudia’s attitude sucked. I know it’s the subplot that matches the main plots predicament, but it doesn’t show Claudia in a good light. Not the first time a BSC member hasn’t been accepting of new people...just saying.
It’s great for readers to see that sometimes you might think you’re helping out new parents, but you’re making everything a little more difficult. It’s great for Peaches to have a baby after the miscarriage a few books back, and it was fun to see a new baby from a baby-sitter’s family and how that impacted their life. The subplot with the Arnold twins was pretty cool, and Mary Anne definitely found one way to help kids not be scared of horror movies, however, that approach doesn’t always work!
As an aside: Claudia was really mean to Melissa, and for no real reason. Melissa wanted to tag along on a field trip and Claudia’s attitude sucked. I know it’s the subplot that matches the main plots predicament, but it doesn’t show Claudia in a good light. Not the first time a BSC member hasn’t been accepting of new people...just saying.
November 20, 2016
ITA-ENG
Claudia non si accorge di essere una rompipalle.
Claudia doesn't realize she's a pain in the ass.
Claudia non si accorge di essere una rompipalle.
Claudia doesn't realize she's a pain in the ass.
August 17, 2020
Claudia's aunt Peaches had a baby girl named Lynn, which was Claudia's middle name. Not only did Aunt Peaches and Uncle Russ name their daughter after Claudia, they also asked Claudia to be Lynn's godmother. Claudia knew all about babies from her babysitting experience, so gave Peaches advice on how to care for baby Lynn. Claudia also visited baby Lynn every day after school and frequently stayed past dinner. Aunt Peaches felt frustrated by Claudia's intrusion and unsolicited advice, when she wanted a quiet night at home with her family of three.
Meanwhile, Claudia was excited because her social studies teacher, Ms. Bernhardt, was taking her students (including fellow BSC members Stacey and Abby) to Philadelphia for the weekend. Claudia wanted to spend time with Stacey and Abby, but a girl named Melissa kept following her around and trying to impress her. Claudia wanted to visit the Rodin Museum during her trip, so readily agreed when Melissa suggested the girls sneak over to the museum while the rest of their group enjoyed the nearby Philadelphia Museum of Art (home of the Rocky statue and steps). However, the girls got lost on their way back and got in trouble with Ms. Bernhardt. Claudia called Melissa a pest, which helped her realize that she was being a pest to Aunt Peaches and Uncle Russ.
Claudia's behavior toward her aunt and uncle was cringeworthy. I did not understand why she, a thirteen year-old babysitter, thought she would know more about childrearing than a grown adult with two nieces. If I were Aunt Peaches, I would be hesitant to get Claudia and her friends to care for my child with that attitude. It sort of reminded me of the time Dawn parent-trained Mrs. Barrett in Dawn and the Impossible Three. I liked that the Melissa plot related to the Aunt Peaches plot, but did not find Melissa as bad as Claudia. She wanted to be friends with Claudia, but was a little misguided on how to do so.
Meanwhile, Claudia was excited because her social studies teacher, Ms. Bernhardt, was taking her students (including fellow BSC members Stacey and Abby) to Philadelphia for the weekend. Claudia wanted to spend time with Stacey and Abby, but a girl named Melissa kept following her around and trying to impress her. Claudia wanted to visit the Rodin Museum during her trip, so readily agreed when Melissa suggested the girls sneak over to the museum while the rest of their group enjoyed the nearby Philadelphia Museum of Art (home of the Rocky statue and steps). However, the girls got lost on their way back and got in trouble with Ms. Bernhardt. Claudia called Melissa a pest, which helped her realize that she was being a pest to Aunt Peaches and Uncle Russ.
Claudia's behavior toward her aunt and uncle was cringeworthy. I did not understand why she, a thirteen year-old babysitter, thought she would know more about childrearing than a grown adult with two nieces. If I were Aunt Peaches, I would be hesitant to get Claudia and her friends to care for my child with that attitude. It sort of reminded me of the time Dawn parent-trained Mrs. Barrett in Dawn and the Impossible Three. I liked that the Melissa plot related to the Aunt Peaches plot, but did not find Melissa as bad as Claudia. She wanted to be friends with Claudia, but was a little misguided on how to do so.
June 21, 2017
I always found Claudia so annoying in this, and that feeling has only intensified with age. I had several younger cousins, and I can remember them all being born. I never, however, got so freaking stoked about any of them that I wanted to be around them all the time. Then again I wasn't particularly close to the aunts that were having them, so maybe that's the reason why? Who knows.
Anyway, it was always so weird to me She was seriously annoying in this, and it even made me feel sort of bad for poor Melissa. She was being just like Claudia and getting shafted fo rit. I dunno, jsut not good times. Boo, Claud. Boo.
Anyway, it was always so weird to me She was seriously annoying in this, and it even made me feel sort of bad for poor Melissa. She was being just like Claudia and getting shafted fo rit. I dunno, jsut not good times. Boo, Claud. Boo.
October 9, 2023
Claudia makes a pest of herself always hanging out and "helping" at her aunt and uncle's house when their new baby is born.
Meh on the Melissa plotline. I feel like it was unnecessary and not exactly parallel either, like Melissa being a pest for wanting to be friends with Claudia is hardly in the same league as Claudia being a pest when Peaches and Russ desperately need sleep and alone time.
I wish Peaches had set stronger boundaries earlier on. Or that Claudia's mom had been much firmer with her daughter. But ultimately, no harm no foul, and Claudia becomes a good godmother to baby Lynn.
Meh on the Melissa plotline. I feel like it was unnecessary and not exactly parallel either, like Melissa being a pest for wanting to be friends with Claudia is hardly in the same league as Claudia being a pest when Peaches and Russ desperately need sleep and alone time.
I wish Peaches had set stronger boundaries earlier on. Or that Claudia's mom had been much firmer with her daughter. But ultimately, no harm no foul, and Claudia becomes a good godmother to baby Lynn.
July 26, 2022
Honestly, if this was anyone but Claudia I could have been annoyed (especially since I'm so old I firmly relate to the adults over the kids in these books) but don't we all know she has the best of intentions, even when she is a pest? Bonus points to this one for a trip to Philly in the book, as I read it on a plane home from NYC where I was hanging out with a friend from Philly. Less points, though, because Abby and Stacey seem a bit out of character on the trip.
August 13, 2022
Claudia is ecstatic to hear that Peaches and Russ are expecting a baby! When baby Lynn is born, Claudia is constantly visiting them to help...and is surprised when Peaches seems upset with Claudia. After a class trip to Philadelphia, Claudia realizes that she should be a bit more thoughtful about her visits to Peaches and Russ.
January 23, 2023
3.5 ⭐️
This was a better than average book. I enjoy Claudia books but this one seemed a bit all over the place. There was the main plot about Claudia helping her Aunt Peaches with the new baby and becoming a bit of a pest. Then there is the babysitting plot and a random trip to Philadelphia plot. Good quick read.
This was a better than average book. I enjoy Claudia books but this one seemed a bit all over the place. There was the main plot about Claudia helping her Aunt Peaches with the new baby and becoming a bit of a pest. Then there is the babysitting plot and a random trip to Philadelphia plot. Good quick read.
March 5, 2023
When I was 10 I joined a readers club/group where we got a new book every week. I chose The babysitters club.
The books are fantastic! So enjoyable. I loved getting the book every week. They are super quick reads and I was able to read it in one day.
Highly recommend for young teenagers to read or even younger if they are able too read well.
The books are fantastic! So enjoyable. I loved getting the book every week. They are super quick reads and I was able to read it in one day.
Highly recommend for young teenagers to read or even younger if they are able too read well.
March 28, 2021
My problem with Lerengis-written books are that they make Claudia out to be an idiot. Everyone's personalities are so exaggerated. If a different ghostie had written this, it would have been a lot better.
September 3, 2021
Great book
Feeling nostalgic so have been reading my favorite young adult books. I really enjoyed this series growing up and this book is great. I like how Claudia sees things from a different perspective.
Feeling nostalgic so have been reading my favorite young adult books. I really enjoyed this series growing up and this book is great. I like how Claudia sees things from a different perspective.
May 21, 2024
blast from the past
Oh the nostalgia! A book I requested from the library was *almost* available, so I needed a quick read to get me through. Saw a baby-sitters club book pop up as I was browsing and had to do it! A trip down memory lane for sure.
Oh the nostalgia! A book I requested from the library was *almost* available, so I needed a quick read to get me through. Saw a baby-sitters club book pop up as I was browsing and had to do it! A trip down memory lane for sure.
November 12, 2019
Review on www.Audible.com listen to this book.
August 28, 2020
"Mary Anne also used to live across the street from me, in the house next to Kristy’s. What a threesome we were."
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December 15, 2020Read my recap at A Year with the BSC via Stoneybrook Forever: https://www.livethemovies.com/bsc-blo...
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October 1, 2021I loved the fact that this book teachers you a very good lesson about family.
July 9, 2022
This one gave me alllll the nostalgia feels 😭😭😭
October 26, 2023
Really enjoyed the relationship between Claudia and Peaches in this book!
August 19, 2010
Even as a kid I thought it was crazy that Claudia would be so obsessed with her new baby cousin. At thirteen, I did find babies cute and would take any opportunity to play with them, but I wasn't that obsessed. (At eighteen, however, I often tease my boyfriend by cooing over every baby we see and pretending to be obsessed). Then again, there is no way that I would have been allowed to babysit at thirteen, but let's suspend reality for the sake of the BSC, shall we? I liked the parallels between Melissa and Claudia's situations - for once the subplot linked! Although the bit about the Arnold twins really didn't fit in anywhere. Plus, every time I watch the National Treasure film about the Declaration of Independence I'm reminded of Claudia's trip to Philadelphia. Overall, some of this book was quite enjoyable but Claudia was a bit over the top and out of character. 7/10
May 1, 2013
Fantastic books for young girls getting into reading!! Great stories about friendship and life lessons. The characters deal with all sorts of situations and often find responsible solutions to problems.
I loved this series growing up and wanted to start my own babysitting business with friends. Great lessons in entrepreneurship for tweens.
The books may be dated with out references to modern technology but the story stands and lessons are still relevant.
Awesome books that girls will love! And the series grows with them! Terrific Author!
I loved this series growing up and wanted to start my own babysitting business with friends. Great lessons in entrepreneurship for tweens.
The books may be dated with out references to modern technology but the story stands and lessons are still relevant.
Awesome books that girls will love! And the series grows with them! Terrific Author!
July 8, 2011
LOVED the first half - Claudia's reaction to getting a cousin was too sweet for words and literally brought me to tears.
HATED the second half - seriously, Claudia was a pest and really should know better.
HATED the second half - seriously, Claudia was a pest and really should know better.
January 18, 2009
Yet another read with thin characters. I really forgot how bad some of the later BSC books are. Claudia's aunt has her baby and Claudia is a pain in the neck about it.
June 7, 2011
Cute idea, execution was annoying. Claudia managed to somehow pester her aunt and uncle as well as the reader. Oi.
July 19, 2011
Claudia has a thing for babies. And for side ponytails. Basically, if she aged normally like people have a tendency to do, she would have inevitably become a star on Teen Moms.
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