Graphic novel, that is.

Ann M. Martin’s beloved series debuted in 1986 and has enjoyed the devotion of tween girls ever since. So why mess with a good thing? To make it even better, of course. Scholastic Graphix now brings us The Baby-sitters Club graphic novels, a hip new take on the old favorites. All signs point to the new series enjoying as much acclaim as the originals.

Newsarama’s all-ages review of the books gets thumbs up from both the adult and the kids. They also tell us more about the talent behind the pen:

[W]ho better to do the adaptation than a former babysitter and lifelong fan of the series? Raina Telgemeier, 2005 Eisner Award nominee for Talent Deserving of Wider Recognition, brings the gang from Stoneybrook to life better than I think anyone else could have.

[...]

Raina’s spare, cartoony style belies the depth of her work — the whole thing just feels so real. She very effectively uses background, or the lack thereof, to focus the reader’s attention. When she wants us to focus on the characters’ expressions or conversation, the backgrounds are almost completely empty, and when she’s establishing place and action, her backgrounds are fully realized. These are not action stories, but there’s never a dull moment thanks to the constant movement and expression of the characters. The Baby-sitters Club graphic novels are thoroughly entertaining and I couldn’t get the girls to put them down. Not only are these great books for young girls, they are also wonderful for grown-up girls. Will boys like The Baby-sitters Club? Of course, but only if no one catches them reading their sister’s copy!

I have to admit, I was prepared to scoff. My daughter loves the original books and I wasn’t so sure I would see the merit in a version that waters down the need to actually read. (Now you know my deep dark secret: For all my big talk about being a cartoon addict, I really am all about the library. Once a bookworm, always a bookworm.) But I went and checked out the preview pages over at Scholastic and I have to say, I agree with the Newsarama reviewers. They look like supremely fun reads.

So be on the lookout for The Baby-sitters Club Graphix if there’s a tween girl on your shopping list. Fans of the originals will find this a fun diversion, and it may just be the perfect way to get that anime fan or non-reader to pick up a book (and that’s always a good thing). And don’t forget to let your Baby-sitters fan take the quiz to see which baby-sitter she most resembles. (Apparently I’m Kristy. I’m guessing she has a big mouth.)

This entry was posted on Monday, November 27th, 2006 at 7:30 am and is filed under Kid Stuff. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.