Ann M. Martin

Ann M. Martin is an acclaimed American author best known as the creator of the hugely popular "The Baby-Sitters Club" series, which has sold over 170 million copies worldwide and has remained a beloved staple of children’s literature since its debut in 1986.

Born on August 12, 1955, in Princeton, New Jersey, Martin grew up with a deep love of books and storytelling. She graduated from Smith College, where she studied education and child psychology, before teaching elementary school and later working as an editor of children’s books.

Martin began writing full-time in the early 1980s; her first published book was "Bummer Summer" (1983). She launched "The Baby-Sitters Club" in 1986, creating relatable stories about friendship, responsibility, and growing up that resonated with generations of young readers.

Beyond "The Baby-Sitters Club," Martin has written numerous acclaimed novels for young readers, including "Rain Reign," a moving story featuring a child with Asperger’s syndrome that received widespread critical praise and won the Josette Frank Award, and "A Corner of the Universe," which received a Newbery Honor.

In 1990, she co-founded "The Lisa Libraries," a nonprofit organization that donates new books and establishes libraries for children in underserved communities, in memory of a friend. She also established the Ann M. Martin Foundation, which supports literacy, education, the arts, and animal welfare. Martin continues to write and advocate for children’s literacy from her home in upstate New York.