The Baby-Sitter’s Club was one of my all-time favorite book series when I was growing up so I was very happy when I saw that a graphic novel version of “Kristy’s Great Idea” was being made.  I can vividly remember checking each new book out from the library and reading well past my bedtime with the help of a flashlight, hoping my mom wouldn’t know (she always did).  She also took me and my sister to meet Ann M. Martin and it was my first experience with meeting an author.   This book brought me right back to my childhood and I am happy knowing that a new generation of kids will be able to enjoy these stories.

Kristy’s Great Idea is about four friends, Kristy, Mary Anne, Claudia, and Stacey and the idea for a club that will help parents in their neighborhood find reliable babysitters.  Along the way, each deals with their own family and school issues while becoming the best of friends.

This brought back so many memories for me but I can also see kids that have never read the series enjoying it as well due to the illustrations and the humor.  Raina Telgemeier doe a great job of making the story feel modern while at the same time sticking with the books original themes.  There are no cell phones or computers (like the original) so the club uses a land line phone in Claudia’s room and advertises using flyers and the local newspaper.  While I found this amusing and true to the original book, younger readers may be confused and find it funny that modern technology is not a part of this world.   I am looking forward to reading the others in the series to see how each character develops into their own.

I would recommend this to nostalgic 30 year olds who remember this series with fondness and to children who are just finding out who Ann M. Martin is.  It was fun, quick, and the illustrations were vibrant and lively.

Author: Raina Telgemeier, Ann M. Martin

Published: 2006

Rating:  5 Stars