| Kristy's Great Idea | |
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| Baby-Sitters Club | 1 |
| Published: August 1986 | |
| Ghostwriter: None | |
Kristy's Great Idea is the first Baby-Sitters Club book ever written and published.
Tagline
Four friends and baby-sitting — what could be more fun?
Plot synopsis
Main plot
Kristy Thomas, a 12 year old student at Stoneybrook Middle School, comes up with an idea for a club/business when she sees her mother struggling to find a baby-sitter for her younger brother, David Michael Thomas. Together with her friends, Mary Anne Spier and Claudia Kishi, Kristy starts a club for baby-sitters, so that parents can make one phone call and reach several sitters. Claudia introduces her new friend Stacey McGill to the club, and the girls become friends. Stacey, however, seems to have a secret. It turns out that she is diabetic and can not eat sweets. The girls soon become best friends and babysit for many different neighborhood children.
Secondary plot
Kristy's mom is dating again, after her father left 6 years ago. Kristy has trouble adjusting to change, and isn't sure if she is going to like Watson Brewer and his two children. When there is an emergency, she is forced to sit for Karen Brewer and Andrew Brewer and she realizes that they are not the monsters she thought they were.
Other plot information
It's the beginning of seventh grade for the members of the Baby-Sitter's Club. Each of the four members baby-sits for a different client. They have to deal with eccentric Mrs. Porter, extra kids, and even a pair of St Bernard dogs. Stacey meets Kristy's cute older brother Sam Thomas, who prank calls the meetings of the BSC. Kristy gets in trouble at school and has to write an essay on decorum. Janine Kishi explains the meaning hopefully. Mrs. Newton wants Jamie to adjust to other children, because she is 7 months pregnant.
Clients in this book
- Jamie Newton
- Karen Brewer and Andrew Brewer
- Pinky and Buffy Mckeever
- David Michael Thomas
- Claire and Margo Pike
- Rob Feldman, Brenda Feldman, and Rosie Feldman
- Nina Marshall and Eleanor Marshall
- Charlotte Johanssen's parents call and set up a job, however we do not meet Charlotte until Claudia and the Phantom Phone Calls
Other characters
Places in this book
Notable outfits
- Short, very baggy lavender plaid overalls, a white lacy blouse, a black fedora, and red high-top sneakers without sock. Her long black hair was carefully arranged in four braids. Her makeup was blue and gold eyeshadow and magenta blush. - Claudia
- Baggy yellow - and - black checked-shirt, black pants, red jazz shoes, and a bracelet that looked as though it was made from a telephone cord. Dangling jointed skeleton earrings that jump when she moves completes this ensemble. - Claudia
- Stacey had on a pink sweatshirt with sequins and a large purple parrot on the front; short, tight-fitting jeans with zippers up the outsides of the legs; and pink plastic shoes.
Trivia/continuity
- This book contains the only mention of the Pike's cat, Sarge
- A BSC Graphix version of this book exists.
- Mary Anne made up a flashlight code that she and Kristy use to talk to each other because her father won't let her use the phone after dinner.
- The girls decide to have a sleepover every month.
- Kristy has a cousin, Robin, who also has diabetes.
- Stacey's private school in New York City does not have uniforms. She takes the subway to get to school.
- Claudia's phone number is KL 5-3231
- Mary Anne's mom died of cancer.
- This book takes place at the beginning of Kristy's 7th grade year. It is presumed that Elizabeth and Watson have been dating awhile, but in The Baby-sitters Remember, Kristy says that Watson and Elizabeth met during her seventh grade year.
- Charlie is dating a girl named Carole.
- Sam's in the Math Club.
