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Quick answer: If your child loved The Baby-Sitters Club by Ann M. Martin, try Smile by Raina Telgemeier, The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall, Dork Diaries by Rachel Renée Russell, The Popularity Papers by Amy Ignatow, Front Desk by Kelly Yang and Allie Finkle’s Rules for Girls by Meg Cabot.
The Baby-Sitters Club has been a favorite since the 1980s, and the graphic novels and Netflix series introduced it to a new generation. Kids love the friendships, the business the girls run together and the everyday problems they solve. If your child has finished the club’s adventures, the picks below offer the same mix of friendship, humor and real-life problems. Some are graphic novels, some are chapter books and a few are for older readers, so check the ages column.
Table of Contents
Why Readers Love The Baby-Sitters Club
Readers love The Baby-Sitters Club because the friends feel real. Kristy, Mary Anne, Claudia, Stacey and Dawn have different personalities, families and problems, from divorce to diabetes, and they solve them together. The club meetings, the snacks hidden in Claudia’s room and the babysitting disasters make the books funny and cozy. The series also shows girls running their own business, which still feels empowering. The graphic novels by Raina Telgemeier, Gale Galligan and others have made it popular again.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick below shares at least one thing readers loved about The Baby-Sitters Club: its characters, its mood, its setting or the questions it raises. We mixed well-known favorites with a few less obvious choices, and we noted the genre and who each book suits best in the table, so you can scan for the right fit before you read the blurbs.
We kept every description spoiler-free and flagged mature content where it matters, since some of these books are written for adults and others suit teens. If you’re not sure where to start, the tips near the end of this list match each pick to what you loved most. The FAQ at the bottom answers the questions readers ask most often.
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smile | Raina Telgemeier | 8–12 | Graphic novel fans |
| The Penderwicks | Jeanne Birdsall | 8–12 | Warm sister stories |
| Dork Diaries | Rachel Renée Russell | 9–12 | Funny diary books |
| The Popularity Papers | Amy Ignatow | 9–12 | Best friend projects |
| Front Desk | Kelly Yang | 8–12 | Kids with jobs and responsibility |
| Allie Finkle’s Rules for Girls | Meg Cabot | 7–10 | Younger readers |
| The Babysitters Coven | Kate Williams | 13+ | Older teens who loved BSC |
| Ivy and Bean | Annie Barrows | 6–9 | Early readers |
| Sisters | Raina Telgemeier | 8–12 | Family road trips |
| Real Friends | Shannon Hale | 8–12 | Friendship ups and downs |
| The Friendship Code | Stacia Deutsch | 8–12 | Girls who code |
| Ramona Quimby, Age 8 | Beverly Cleary | 7–10 | Classic family stories |
| Ellie, Engineer | Jackson Pearce | 8–11 | Crafty problem-solvers |
| Stargazing | Jen Wang | 8–12 | Graphic novel friendship |
| The Mother-Daughter Book Club | Heather Vogel Frederick | 10–13 | Book-loving girls |
1. Smile by Raina Telgemeier
Raina’s true story of a dental injury, middle school friendships and growing up. Telgemeier also drew the first Baby-Sitters Club graphic novels, so the style will feel familiar.
2. The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall
Four sisters spend a summer at a grand estate, make a new friend and get into adventures. It’s old-fashioned in the best way and full of sibling love.
3. Dork Diaries by Rachel Renée Russell
Nikki Maxwell writes about her new school, her crush and her rivals in a doodle-filled diary. It’s silly, relatable and fast to read.
4. The Popularity Papers by Amy Ignatow
Two best friends study the popular girls in a notebook full of drawings and notes. It’s funny and honest about changing friendships.
5. Front Desk by Kelly Yang
Mia, ten, runs the front desk of a motel while her immigrant parents clean rooms. Like the club, she solves real problems and helps her community.
6. Allie Finkle’s Rules for Girls by Meg Cabot
Allie keeps a notebook of rules for life as she moves to a new house and school. It’s light and funny, perfect for early chapter book readers.
7. The Babysitters Coven by Kate Williams
A teen babysitter learns she comes from a line of witches who protect the innocent. It’s a fun YA nod to the club with magic and mystery.
8. Ivy and Bean by Annie Barrows
Two very different girls become best friends and get into mischief. Short chapters and pictures make it great for younger siblings.
9. Sisters by Raina Telgemeier
Raina and her little sister travel cross-country in a car, revealing how their relationship changed. It’s a companion to Smile.
10. Real Friends by Shannon Hale
A graphic memoir about the author’s struggle to find and keep friends in elementary school. It’s honest about cliques and belonging.
11. The Friendship Code by Stacia Deutsch
Lucy joins a coding club and gets mysterious coded messages. It’s part of the Girls Who Code series and mixes friendship with a puzzle.
12. Ramona Quimby, Age 8 by Beverly Cleary
Ramona starts third grade and helps her family through money worries. Cleary’s books share the club’s warmth and everyday problems.
13. Ellie, Engineer by Jackson Pearce
Ellie builds inventions for friends and neighbors, even when her plans go wrong. It’s fun for kids who loved the club’s can-do spirit.
14. Stargazing by Jen Wang
Two Chinese American girls become friends when one moves into the other’s backyard. It’s sweet and moving.
15. The Mother-Daughter Book Club by Heather Vogel Frederick
Four very different girls are pushed into a book club by their mothers and become close friends while reading Little Women.
How to Pick Your Child’s Next Read After The Baby-Sitters Club
- Love the graphic novels? Smile, Sisters, Real Friends and Stargazing.
- Want a club or group of friends? The Mother-Daughter Book Club and The Friendship Code.
- Younger readers? Ivy and Bean and Allie Finkle.
- Want laughs? Dork Diaries and The Popularity Papers.
- Want classics? The Penderwicks and Ramona.
- Teen who grew up with BSC? The Babysitters Coven.
Should Kids Read the Novels or the Graphic Novels?
Both are great. The graphic novels follow the original stories closely and are perfect for reluctant readers or kids who love comics. The original novels are short chapter books and have many more stories: there are well over 100 in the main series, plus Super Specials and mysteries. Many kids start with the graphic novels and then move on to the novels when they want more. Little Sister books, about Karen Brewer, suit younger readers.
Related: best books for 9-year-old girls and book club books for middle schoolers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What age is The Baby-Sitters Club for?
The Baby-Sitters Club books suit ages 8–12. The graphic novels work well from about age 7.
What graphic novels are like The Baby-Sitters Club?
Smile, Sisters, Real Friends and Stargazing are the best graphic novel matches.
Is there a modern version of The Baby-Sitters Club?
Yes. The graphic novels and the Netflix series update the stories, and The Babysitters Coven is a YA twist on the idea.