Don't Sit On the Baby!

July 2, 2012
With light humor and ample encouragement, Bondy introduces prospective babysitters to the basics, including what to expect from different children at different ages, finding clients, keeping kids comfortable and safe, and handling emergency situations. Presenting babysitting as a challenging but rewarding way to earn money and build experience, Bondy also includes personal testimonies and practical advice from tween and teenage babysitters. Quizzes, recipes, and tips for starting a babysitters club should entertain and ease readers into their first gig. Ages 12–up.

February 1, 2013

Gr 7 Up-Wearing multiple hats as a writer and editor for MTV World, a former nanny puts her comedy skills to work in this useful guide. The table of contents, index, and list of resources, including both the phone number of the Poison Control Center and a link to the Yo Gabba Gabba! craft website, make it a valuable tool. Bondy explains the reality of babysitting kids of all ages, from teething infants to bored first graders. She does not sugarcoat the challenges or make it seem like an impossible task. Additionally, the tone is gender-neutral, never assuming that the audience is female. The book is well organized and clearly written and has the added bonus of offering tips for how to create a resume and find a babysitting job. Given its slightly sarcastic tone, it should find a willing audience among upper middle school through high school students and would make an excellent addition to career/job search collections.-Sarah Knutson, American Canyon Middle School, CA

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2012
Grades 6-12 Bondy has done a great service for wannabe and inexperienced babysitters everywhere in this chatty introduction to the joys and challenges of being paid to watch someone else's children. Speaking from years of experience as a babysitter and nanny, Bondy writes in a tone that is fresh and authentic. Following a brief overview of the role of sitter and a fun but pointed quiz to help readers assess if babysitting will suit them, the book focuses on essential skills, including playtime ideas; tips for dealing with finicky eaters and changing diapers; and an introduction to basic first aid. The well-designed layouts are easy to navigate, while a helpful index will further assist readers seeking specific topics. The final portion of the book focuses on the business side of sitting: how to find and secure the right job; how to ask for more money; and when to quit. An attractive package bolstered with anecdotes from real-life teen sitters, this is a solid, useful choice for all libraries.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)