Dawn on the Coast

Publication Date: 2026

Ghostwriter? The original novel was ghostwritten by Jan Car, but the text copyright is still given to Ann M. Martin

Illustrator: Arley Nopra

Synopsis:

No real changes from the original book.

Established or continued in this book:

The Girls (and Logan): 

Claudia candy: none mentioned, but at a meeting of the We ♥ Kids Club, Dawn enjoys apple slices with natural peanut butter (the girl offering them specifies that it's natural peanut butter--awkward, as it would be normal for her, but making a point to the reader about healthy snacks being more common with Dawn's California friends), as well as carrot sticks. 

Dawn in her room:

I like the illustration of the BSC hanging out, showcasing their different interests and personalities:

Their Families:

Trip-man mention!

The Pike family:

The Club (and clients): 

The Perkinses, Newtons, and Feldmans:

SMS: school break

PSA Time: nothing stood out

Misc:

Martin uses the dedication page to state "I would like to thank Jan Carr for her help in writing this book."

Nopra dedicates the book to "my family outside Ontario--the Sangalangs, Rullodas, Magnos, Asodisens, Reyeses, Duldulaos, Laurentes, Hernandezes, Fajardos, and Nopras: I fondely remembered our vacations together while working on this book. I treasure all the joyful moments we've shared and look forward to our next reunion!"

In the Karen's Surprise (the Baby-sitters Little Sister graphic novel published the same year as this), a classmate mentions visiting "Wander World" in Florida. Dawn goes to "Wander Land" in California. In the original BSC book, it's just Disneyland. And that font sure is reminiscent of something...

The We ♥ Kids Club, with (left to right) Maggie, Sunny, and Jill.

Dawn baby-sitting for her old charges, Clover and Daffodil:

The secret tunnel at Dawn's house (I'm still sad The Ghost at Dawn's House wasn't adapted to a graphic novel):

Karen's Surprise (LSGN#12)

Publication date: 2026

Illustrator: Shauna Grant

Synopsis:

Karen's class is putting on a school play for Thanksgiving. Rather than have tryouts, names are simply drawn out of a hat for the different parts. Karen's annoyed to be assigned the role of turkey (a roast turkey; most of the class are various Thanksgiving dinner foods) and only be able to be on stage for a little bit. With some inspiration from Kristy, Karen writes a little song for the food to sing. Everyone's happy with it, especially the students now get to have a more satisfying part in the play.

But Karen surprises everyone during the play by busting out a long solo (everyone had a line or two; Karen does a whole dance number). Her classmates and teacher are upset with her, but no one in the audience knows she wasn't supposed to do that. Her teacher talks to Karen about the importance of staying in her lane and not potentially causing a group effort to go off the rails, and Karen seems to understand.

Meanwhile, there's the question of what to do for the holiday itself. Both Karen's mom and Karen's dad want her and Andrew to have Thanksgiving dinner with them, and on the actual date, so Karen and Andrew are going to have two Thanksgiving dinners. Two little kids, with (age-appropriate) poor self-control, given access to a bunch of their favorite foods, and rushed from one place to another and back (not evening spending the night at their dad's). Maybe this sort of thing is why Karen and Andrew's parents divorced.

After Karen and Andrew feel guilty for leaving their grandparents at their mom's house and delaying dinner for the hungry family at their dad's house, and then being too tired and full to enjoy anything, their parents do realize their mistake and apologize for putting their wants ahead of the kids' needs. They promise to be more careful the future.

Continuity related to BSC books: 

The Baby-sitters Club is mentioned in passing.

Misc:

Martin dedicates the book to "Susan and Ashley, who keep my life from being too surprising. Thank you."

Grant dedicates the book to "Nola, Lola, and the niblings in my life. Keep reaching for your dreams!"

While she can be a brat, it's easy to feel bad for Karen when you see how often she has to comfort her brother who's not that much younger than she is.

Karen and her class in costume:

Jessi Ramsey, Pet Sitter (GN#18)

Publication Date: 2025

Ghostwriter? No, the text copyright is for Ann M. Martin.

Illustrator: Ellen T. Crenshaw with color by Braden Lamb and Beniam C. Hollman

Synopsis:

No real changes from the original book, just a few "modern" updates like the talking parrot mimicking a commercial that's clearly for cell phones, and Jessi's mom having a cell phone. The drawings of the pets are great!

Established or continued in this book:

The Girls (and Logan): 

Claudia candy: 

Jessi's oft-forgotten reading glasses!

Their Families: 

Jessi and Becca with their first pet, Misty the hamster. I like that Becca is sporting a protective hairstyle:

The Club (and clients): 

Jamie Newton and Nina Marshall, with Mrs. Perkins (her dog escaped):

Gabby and Myriah Perkins, with the Mancusis' snake:

The club voting on whether they should switch roles:

SMS: nothing stood out

PSA Time: nothing stood out

Misc:

Martin dedicates this book to her friends "Nicole, Anna, Rebecca, Katie, and Alison" and Crenshaw to "Paloma, Sam, and Rini. You bring me joy and inspiration every day!"

The menagerie: