Claudia and the Bad Joke (Baby-Sitters Club) [Turtleback]

Ann M. Martin (Author)

Product Details

• Turtleback
• Publisher: Demco Media (November 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0606040846
• ISBN-13: 978-0606040846
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,925,388 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Ann M. Martin is the bestselling author of the momentous series The Baby-sitters Club, as well as the Main Street series. Her other acclaimed novels include "A Dog's Life," "Belle Teal," "Here Today," and the Newbery Honor Book "A Corner of the Universe." She lives in upstate New York. For more information, visit www.scholastic.com/bsc.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars GOOD WORK!, August 20, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Claudia and the Bad Joke (Baby-Sitters Club, No. 19) (Paperback)

I liked this book. Claudia was my favorite of the original quartet, so naturally I enjoyed this book. I love the descriptions of Claudia's cleverly put together ensembles and her appreciation for art. That speaks to sensitivity and creativity.

Betsy Sobak, Claudia's young charge is a virtuoso in the fine art of practical jokes. Her jokes are hostile and are always at the expense of another person. During Claudia's first sitting stint with Betsy, she falls from a tire swing and breaks her leg. Luckily for Claudia, her trio of sitting pals come through like the Cavalry by out-joking Betsy (in a safe way, of course) to teach her an object lesson in how to treat people in a humane fashion. Lesson: It is only kidding or funny if all sides are enjoying it, but if one side is not having fun, it is no longer kidding, it is mean.

I liked Betsy. The description given of her sounds like a cute kid with a vivid imagination. Ann Martin has a real gift for descriptions, dialogs, character development and I like the way the charges have a parallel plot running to the central plot the sitters are contending with. Ms. Martin has a real gift for the voices and feelings of kids.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Practial jokes can hurt people, August 29, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Claudia and the Bad Joke (Baby-Sitters Club, No. 19) (Paperback)

Claudia is nervous when she sits for Betsy Sobak. Betsy puts a practial joke on Claudia to brake her leg. Then Claudia thinks on quitting the club cause of Betsy! Can the club put a joke on Betsy? Find Out!

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Betsy Sobak, June 17, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Claudia and the Bad Joke (Baby-Sitters Club, No. 19) (Paperback)

Claudia's not worried when she hears her newest baby-sitting charge, Betsy Sobak, is a great practical joker.After all, how much harm can one little girl do? Plenty. Claudia breaks her leg as a result of one of Betsy's mean jokes...and now she's talking about quitting the club. "Baby-Sitting," she says, "is too dangerous." Kristy thinks Betsy needs to be taught a lesson. She also thinks the Baby-Sitters are just the ones to do it. Wath out, Betsy Sobak! The joke war is on!