The Baby-Sitters Club: The Baby-Sitters' Special Christmas; The Baby-Sitters Club: Jessi And The Mystery Of The Stolen Secrets

As the parent of a daughter who has read over 50 books in Ann M. Martin's phenomenally popular series, I'm well-versed in the ways of Baby-Sitters Club mania. Now airing as a regular monthly series on HBO, The Baby-Sitters Club programs are coming to video. The Baby-Sitters Special Christmas, though the box says it's "all-new," is making its second appearance (Goodtimes released a slow-speed recorded version in 1991). The girls--Kristy, Mary Anne, Stacey, Dawn, Mallory, and Jessi--juggle their baby-sitting jobs while making plans to put on a special Christmas party for children at the hospital. And in Jessi and the Mystery of the Stolen Secrets, the girls come under fire when someone starts leaking important information (like who has a crush on whom) from the club's notebook. Purists may carp that The Baby-Sitters Club is a far cry from literature (as earlier purists attacked the Nancy Drew series), but there's much to like here. While they undergo many tests, the girls overcome their difficulties because they share a common base of values: friendship, community, responsibility, honesty, and compassion. It's not a bad foundation to lay before kids start reading Christopher Pike and R. L. Stine. Well acted, nicely produced, and sure to be very popular, The Baby-Sitters Club videos are highly recommended. The other two new releases are Stacey Takes a Stand and The Baby-Sitters Remember. (Available from most distributors.)