Ann M. Martin Books in Order

Where to Start Reading Ann M. Martin

For most readers, the ultimate gateway to Ann M. Martin’s writing is The Baby-Sitters Club. The series defined a generation of young readers, and the absolute best place to start is at the very beginning with Kristy's Great Idea (1986). It introduces the founding members of the club, the fictional town of Stoneybrook, Connecticut, and the core themes of friendship, independence, and adolescent problem-solving that anchor the entire franchise.

However, if you are looking for standalone novels with deep emotional resonance rather than a multi-book commitment, Martin has written exceptional, award-winning contemporary and historical fiction. The Newbery Honor-winning A Corner of the Universe (2002) is a beautiful, poignant story dealing with mental illness and family dynamics in the 1960s. For animal lovers or readers interested in neurodivergent perspectives, Rain Reign (2014) is a deeply moving story about a young girl with autism and her beloved dog, Rain.

The Baby-Sitters Club Universe: A Reading Roadmap

The core Baby-Sitters Club (BSC) series spans 131 numbered novels, but the broader universe includes multiple spin-offs, super specials, mysteries, and graphic novels. Navigating this vast network of books can seem daunting, but following the publication order is the most straightforward and rewarding way to read the series. Because the timeline is highly serialized, major events—such as new sitters joining the club, moves, divorces, and school transitions—unfold chronologically as the books were released.

The Core Series vs. Super Specials and Mysteries

To get the complete story of the Stoneybrook gang, you should read the main series alongside the companion lines. The main categories include:

• The Main Series (Books 1–131): Follows the day-to-day adventures and personal growth of Kristy, Mary Anne, Claudia, Stacey, Dawn, Jessi, Mallory, and Abby. Note that while Ann M. Martin wrote the first 35 books, Scholastic later utilized ghostwriters (like Peter Lerangis and Nola Thacker) to maintain the frequent publication schedule, though Martin remained heavily involved in outlining and editing.
• BSC Super Specials (15 books): These longer books feature multiple perspectives and usually take the club on vacations or major trips (like Baby-Sitters on Board! or California Girls!). These are canon and should be read in publication sequence as they are directly referenced in the main books.
• BSC Mysteries (36 books) and Super Mysteries (4 books): Fun, light-hearted whodunits where the girls solve local Stoneybrook mysteries. While not critical to the main soap-opera storyline of the club, they provide fun side adventures.
• BSC Friends Forever (12 books and 2 Super Specials): A continuation series that wraps up the girls' middle school years with a more mature, focused narrative. Read these only after finishing the main series.
• The Prequel: The Summer Before (2010) was published long after the series ended but serves as a chronological prequel showing the lives of the four original members during the summer before the club began. It is best read after you are already familiar with the characters.

Integrating the BSC Spin-Offs

In addition to the main club, Martin created several spin-off series focusing on younger characters and alternate locations:

• Baby-Sitters Little Sister (127 books): Aimed at early readers, this series follows Karen Brewer, Kristy's energetic seven-year-old stepsister. While it runs parallel to the main BSC timeline, it is self-contained and does not need to be read in a strict sequence with the main series, though reading them in publication order is best for Karen's personal timeline.
• The Kids in Ms. Colman's Class (12 books): A spin-off of the Little Sister series focusing on Karen's second-grade classmates. It is a light, school-based series that is best enjoyed after starting the early Little Sister books.
• California Diaries (15 books): A spin-off geared toward slightly older readers, following Dawn Schafer after she moves back to California. Written in a realistic diary format, these books address heavier adolescent issues like eating disorders, identity, and family crises. It is highly recommended to read these in strict publication order (beginning with Dawn: Diary One) to preserve the ongoing timeline.

Chronological Caveats: The Family Tree Series

While the publication order is generally the safest bet for Martin's work, her four-book Family Tree series features a major chronological exception. The books follow four generations of women in a single family, tracing their lives from the early 20th century to the 1990s.

Although the first book published was The Long Way Home (2013), the chronological sequence begins with the second-published book, Better to Wish (2013), which is set in the 1930s. To experience the family saga in historical order, read them as follows:

1. Better to Wish (Book 2 in publication order, set in the 1930s focusing on Abby)
2. The Long Way Home (Book 1 in publication order, set in the 1950s/60s focusing on Abby's daughter, Mallory)
3. Best Kept Secret (Book 3 in publication order, set in the 1970s focusing on Mallory's daughter, Clara)
4. Home Is the Place (Book 4 in publication order, set in the 1990s focusing on Clara's daughter, Charlotte)

Other Beloved Series and Standalones

Beyond the Stoneybrook universe, Ann M. Martin has authored and co-authored several other notable series that deserve a place on your bookshelf:

• The Doll People (5 books): Co-authored with Laura Godwin and beautifully illustrated by Brian Selznick, this whimsical fantasy series follows the adventures of a family of porcelain dolls that secretly come to life. Read these in order, starting with The Doll People (2000). The fifth book, The Doll People's Christmas (2016), is a festive picture-book companion.
• Main Street (10 books): Set in the cozy, fictional town of Camden Falls, this slice-of-life series focuses on community, family, and friendship. It should be read in publication order, starting with Welcome to Camden Falls (2007).
• Missy Piggle-Wiggle (3 books): Co-authored with Annie Parnell (the great-granddaughter of Betty MacDonald), this series continues the classic Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle stories with magical cures for children's bad habits. Start with Missy Piggle-Wiggle and the Whatever Cure (2016).
• A Dog's Life (2 books): A moving pair of books written from canine perspectives. The first, A Dog's Life: The Autobiography of a Stray (2005), is a standalone masterpiece, followed by the companion novel Everything for a Dog (2009).
• The Rosso Family (2 books): A charming pair of books following a massive family with ten children. Read Ten Kids, No Pets (1988) first, followed by the summer vacation sequel, Eleven Kids, One Summer (1991).