Ann M. Martin ​

Ann Matthews Martin is an American author, best known for her children's series The Baby-Sitters Club. The series, aimed at young readers, has been a top-selling success and was adapted into a popular television series and graphic novels.

Quick Facts ​

• Best known for creating The Baby-sitters Club franchise.
• Her books sold over 176 million copies.
• Wrote the first 36 novels herself.
• Several of her works were adapted into TV series, including Netflix's Baby-sitters Club series.
• Was awarded the Children’s Choice Award by International Reading Association (IRA) and Children's Book Council (CBC) for her outstanding contributions to the field of literature.

Background ​

Martin was born on August 12 in 1955 in Princeton, New Jersey, where she grew up. She went to Smith College, where she studied psychology and education, before beginning her writing career. After graduating from college in 1977, Martin became a teacher and also started writing children's books. Her best-known work is The Baby-Sitters Club, a series of novels about a group of young girls who start their own babysitting business. The series was first published in 1986. The books sold millions of copies and were translated into numerous foreign languages. They also spawned a television series and a film. She continued her writing career after The Baby-Sitters Club ended and has written other popular series such as The Main Street and Family Tree series.

Writing Style and Impact ​

Martin's writing style is characterized by relatable characters and realistic storylines. She focuses on female characters and writes about themes like friendship, family, and growing up. Her work, especially the Baby-Sitter's Club series, has been noted for its contribution in bringing a diversity of characters, topics, and situations in children’s literature and have inspired countless young readers to take up reading.

Notable Works ​

• The Baby-Sitters Club series (1986-2000)
• The Kids in Ms. Colman's Class series (1995-1998)
• California Diaries series (1997-2000)
• Main Street series (2007-2011)
• Everything for a Dog (2009)