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Baby-Sitters Little Sister #7
Karen's Birthday
From the bestselling author of the generation-defining series The Baby-sitters Club comes a series for a new generation!
It’s Karen’s special day!It’s Karen’s birthday! She can’t wait for all those presents. Karen is even having two parties -- one at Daddy’s house and one at Mommy’s. But what Karen really wants for her birthday is one party, with her whole family together. Will Karen’s birthday wish come true?
It’s Karen’s special day!It’s Karen’s birthday! She can’t wait for all those presents. Karen is even having two parties -- one at Daddy’s house and one at Mommy’s. But what Karen really wants for her birthday is one party, with her whole family together. Will Karen’s birthday wish come true?
115 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 1990
50 people are currently reading
350 people want to read
About the author
Ann M. Martin
1,112 books3,058 followersAnn Matthews Martin was born on August 12, 1955. She grew up in Princeton, New Jersey, with her parents and her younger sister, Jane. After graduating from Smith College, Ann became a teacher and then an editor of children's books. She's now a full-time writer.
Ann gets the ideas for her books from many different places. Some are based on personal experiences, while others are based on childhood memories and feelings. Many are written about contemporary problems or events. All of Ann's characters, even the members of the Baby-sitters Club, are made up. But many of her characters are based on real people. Sometimes Ann names her characters after people she knows, and other times she simply chooses names that she likes.
Ann has always enjoyed writing. Even before she was old enough to write, she would dictate stories to her mother to write down for her. Some of her favorite authors at that time were Lewis Carroll, P. L. Travers, Hugh Lofting, Astrid Lindgren, and Roald Dahl. They inspired her to become a writer herself.
Since ending the BSC series in 2000, Ann’s writing has concentrated on single novels, many of which are set in the 1960s.
After living in New York City for many years, Ann moved to the Hudson Valley in upstate New York where she now lives with her dog, Sadie, and her cats, Gussie, Willy and Woody. Her hobbies are reading, sewing, and needlework. Her favorite thing to do is to make clothes for children.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/annmma...
Ann gets the ideas for her books from many different places. Some are based on personal experiences, while others are based on childhood memories and feelings. Many are written about contemporary problems or events. All of Ann's characters, even the members of the Baby-sitters Club, are made up. But many of her characters are based on real people. Sometimes Ann names her characters after people she knows, and other times she simply chooses names that she likes.
Ann has always enjoyed writing. Even before she was old enough to write, she would dictate stories to her mother to write down for her. Some of her favorite authors at that time were Lewis Carroll, P. L. Travers, Hugh Lofting, Astrid Lindgren, and Roald Dahl. They inspired her to become a writer herself.
Since ending the BSC series in 2000, Ann’s writing has concentrated on single novels, many of which are set in the 1960s.
After living in New York City for many years, Ann moved to the Hudson Valley in upstate New York where she now lives with her dog, Sadie, and her cats, Gussie, Willy and Woody. Her hobbies are reading, sewing, and needlework. Her favorite thing to do is to make clothes for children.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/annmma...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
December 14, 2010
Karen's birthday is coming up, and all she wants is for her mother and father to get back together. Fair enough, right? Well, in Karen's typical manner, she goes about it in a completely selfish way. She gets into all sorts of trouble just to have her parents talk. Kid, I know you're young and all, but when you parents keep on arguing due to your mishaps, it ain't gonna work out.
However, Karen's step-grandmother sorts things out for her. Ah, good to see Karen is learning early that others will fix her messes for her.
Meanwhile, Karen's friend, Hannie, decides she loves the boy down the street, and they're going to get married! Only Scott, the boy, doesn't know it yet. Hell, he doesn't even know who Hannie is. Ah, the stalkers start early in Stoneybrook.
Given this is early in the series, and AMM wrote this book, the characters are all acting their appropriate age. Where did it all go wrong, AMM? Where did it all go wrong?
However, Karen's step-grandmother sorts things out for her. Ah, good to see Karen is learning early that others will fix her messes for her.
Meanwhile, Karen's friend, Hannie, decides she loves the boy down the street, and they're going to get married! Only Scott, the boy, doesn't know it yet. Hell, he doesn't even know who Hannie is. Ah, the stalkers start early in Stoneybrook.
Given this is early in the series, and AMM wrote this book, the characters are all acting their appropriate age. Where did it all go wrong, AMM? Where did it all go wrong?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 2, 2023
This was actually my first time reading (well, listening) to this one, and I found myself so incredibly angry throughout the entire book.
Look, Karen can be a lot, but she is turning 7 here and ALL she wants is Watson, Lisa, Seth, Elizabeth and the Thomas kids in one room for like 2 hours. And everyone blows up at her about it! I was so furious that grown ups couldn't put their differences aside to make a little girl happy on her birthday, and instead start glaring at her and acting like she's a brat. Complete parenting fail.
Then, Karen DOES start acting like a brat, but only to get her parents to talk to each other, and no one figures out what's going on even though it seems so obvious. Kristy even lays in to her, and for such a "child whisperer" she really dropped the ball there.
Ugh, I'm still annoyed. Poor Karen.
Look, Karen can be a lot, but she is turning 7 here and ALL she wants is Watson, Lisa, Seth, Elizabeth and the Thomas kids in one room for like 2 hours. And everyone blows up at her about it! I was so furious that grown ups couldn't put their differences aside to make a little girl happy on her birthday, and instead start glaring at her and acting like she's a brat. Complete parenting fail.
Then, Karen DOES start acting like a brat, but only to get her parents to talk to each other, and no one figures out what's going on even though it seems so obvious. Kristy even lays in to her, and for such a "child whisperer" she really dropped the ball there.
Ugh, I'm still annoyed. Poor Karen.
October 31, 2023
I feel like Karen wasn't given enough support by her families in this book while she was processing her parents split, but I enjoyed reading about the 3 birthday parties she had(a class party, a fancy dinner party at the little house, and a circus outing/celebration at the big house) and all the gifts she got, such as roald dahl books, stuffed animals, and a playground for her pet rat. Made me even more excited to celebrate my birthday back in the day.
April 20, 2025
“Karen’s Birthday” by Ann M. Martin
In 1990 Scholastic published Ann M. Martin’s children’s book “Karen’s Birthday.” The book is #7 in Scholastic’s Little Sister book series. The novel is illustrated by Susan Tang. The book is about six year old Karen Brewer who will soon have a birthday and her brother who is four years old. They both recently saw television ads about the Happy-Time Circus coming to their Stamford, Connecticut hometown. The ads asked TV viewers to come to Stamford and see a circus of elephants, bears, lions, tigers, balancing act performers, clowns, and trapeze performers. A few days after seeing the ads her dad (Watson) called her on the phone and asked if she would like to go with her friends to the Happy-Time Circus event. He said on the phone call he would gift the tickets to her as a birthday present. She told him she would visit with brother Andrew and her friends and call him back. Andrew and Karen’s mother and father are divorced; and they both have remarried. The Brewer children now have many stepbrothers and stepsisters; and both Karen and her brother enjoy very much spending time with them. When Karen and Andrew went to her father’s “big house” every weekend she loved her four stepsisters and stepbrothers, her stepmother (Lisa), step-grandmother (Nannie), and her father (Watson). During the weekdays Karen and Andrew lived with their mother (Elizabeth) and stepfather (Seth) in a “little house.” Karen wants both big and little house families to be bonded as one extended family. She called this bonding “one —two by two.”
After coming up with the “one two-by-two strategy Karen made a list of 212 birthday gift items that she wrote on sheets of paper and sent them to. her father (Watson). When he received them he called her mother (Elizabeth) and talked to her about the 212 item wishlist. They both agreed Karen's list is both interesting and excessive.
Next she prepared an invitation list for big and little house occupants to attend the Happy-Time Circus on her birthday. After the circus she announced there would be a birthday dinner at the big house. She wanted her mother to go to the big house and make the meal. She sent the invitations to everyone who lived in the big and little houses. She also began making strategies for her mother and father to cancel their divorces and remarry. Everyone was shocked by the invitations and her birthday circus, dinner, and gifting invitation announcements. The book ends with how the big and little house families celebrated Karen’s birthday with dinners, gifting, circus attendance, and wonderful commitments between Karen’s mother and father to visit and help their children with school challenges, friendship relationships, and inter family activities. Karen had a wonderful birthday celebration and she was delighted that her father and mother are committed to visiting with each other about their children activities and welfare (P)
In 1990 Scholastic published Ann M. Martin’s children’s book “Karen’s Birthday.” The book is #7 in Scholastic’s Little Sister book series. The novel is illustrated by Susan Tang. The book is about six year old Karen Brewer who will soon have a birthday and her brother who is four years old. They both recently saw television ads about the Happy-Time Circus coming to their Stamford, Connecticut hometown. The ads asked TV viewers to come to Stamford and see a circus of elephants, bears, lions, tigers, balancing act performers, clowns, and trapeze performers. A few days after seeing the ads her dad (Watson) called her on the phone and asked if she would like to go with her friends to the Happy-Time Circus event. He said on the phone call he would gift the tickets to her as a birthday present. She told him she would visit with brother Andrew and her friends and call him back. Andrew and Karen’s mother and father are divorced; and they both have remarried. The Brewer children now have many stepbrothers and stepsisters; and both Karen and her brother enjoy very much spending time with them. When Karen and Andrew went to her father’s “big house” every weekend she loved her four stepsisters and stepbrothers, her stepmother (Lisa), step-grandmother (Nannie), and her father (Watson). During the weekdays Karen and Andrew lived with their mother (Elizabeth) and stepfather (Seth) in a “little house.” Karen wants both big and little house families to be bonded as one extended family. She called this bonding “one —two by two.”
After coming up with the “one two-by-two strategy Karen made a list of 212 birthday gift items that she wrote on sheets of paper and sent them to. her father (Watson). When he received them he called her mother (Elizabeth) and talked to her about the 212 item wishlist. They both agreed Karen's list is both interesting and excessive.
Next she prepared an invitation list for big and little house occupants to attend the Happy-Time Circus on her birthday. After the circus she announced there would be a birthday dinner at the big house. She wanted her mother to go to the big house and make the meal. She sent the invitations to everyone who lived in the big and little houses. She also began making strategies for her mother and father to cancel their divorces and remarry. Everyone was shocked by the invitations and her birthday circus, dinner, and gifting invitation announcements. The book ends with how the big and little house families celebrated Karen’s birthday with dinners, gifting, circus attendance, and wonderful commitments between Karen’s mother and father to visit and help their children with school challenges, friendship relationships, and inter family activities. Karen had a wonderful birthday celebration and she was delighted that her father and mother are committed to visiting with each other about their children activities and welfare (P)
February 18, 2024
Austen loved it and wants to keep reading all the Karen Brewer books (don’t worry, she still loves Boxcar Children too but we’ve almost read all of those) but I’m giving this one 2 🌟 because it made me so mad. Literally all this almost-7-year-old wants is to have one party where her whole family (big house family and little house family) come together…and spoiler alert: they don’t do it AND on top of that, they all make her feel terrible for even asking that. In the end, her mom and dad can at least start talking on the phone to each other - so hopefully there’s not another miscommunication that leads to abandonment issues like when they both think the other parent is picking her up from a field trip in the beginning of the book. Oh, and Karen’s friend also talks about marrying another friend, and they’re 7 and that just bothers me. Oh also, there’s a circus with animals sooooo yeah 👎. I think I would have enjoyed the graphic novel adaptation of this one more.
April 18, 2023
Karen tries to get her divorced parents to rekindle and remarry by doing numerous bad behaviored things so they have to talk to each other more. Her dad even calls her a brat lol, oh Karen. Her friend at the big house, Hannie, is planning her own wedding so Karen thinks it would be a fantastic idea to have a double wedding. Things don't go as planned. Ending was good and the last paragraph was a big step for Karen. She is 7 now after all, time to grow up!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 22, 2025
best children's book series ever! it was interesting to re-read as an adult though lol Karen's parents kinda stink. Karen is 6 years old and they get mad at her. so what do they do? her mom and dad both IGNORE HER instead of telling her why they are upset at her! that was the thing I noticed as an adult 😭
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 25, 2022
I guess this was written before the concept of co-parenting, but I found it unsettling that Karen's mother and father would not honor her request to have her birthday party with her whole family - parents, siblings, step-parents, etc.
November 23, 2019
Karen is such a brat!
January 17, 2022
It’s my birthday and I’ll read if I want to!
July 16, 2022
Ugh Karen is so spoiled and entitled.
June 18, 2023
I read these books when I was younger and they are still as good as they were then. I love how it taught Karen that she can't always have what she wants
September 18, 2023
It was a really interesting book! If you like drama that's the book for you! It's definitely worth reading
May 23, 2024
I'm not going to lie, I think the graphic novel does a better job of really showing the emotion behind Karen's plot.
February 14, 2025
Always a classic! I'm so glad to be reading this to my daughter as my mom read it to me 🥰
May 12, 2025
Quite Clear
To understand everything in the series, you should read this book. I think that the quality of the illustrations was not very impressive and was kind of blurry.
To understand everything in the series, you should read this book. I think that the quality of the illustrations was not very impressive and was kind of blurry.
September 9, 2013
In 2nd grade, we had to read a book for leisure during class time. I really struggled with that for some reason. I couldn't get into any book well enough to give decent plot summaries to my teacher. In fact, I did so poorly with one book that she told me to put it down and pick something else. I felt terrible and I hated reading.
When searching for another book at the teacher's request, I discovered Karen's Birthday (I remember when I first plucked it off the shelf, feels like yesterday). The cover attracted me to it, and from the moment I opened the first page, the 8-year-old me was hooked. The first-person narration was new to me, and it felt like Karen was speaking directly to me. I was able to connect with her, understand her, wanted to be best friends with her! The next time the teacher had us do plot summaries, I passed with flying colors.
I absolutely believe that if I had not read this book, I would never have learned to love reading for pleasure, dramatic as that sounds. It's far from being excellent literature, but it helped me to regain my confidence as a reader at a crucial time during my childhood. Because I enjoyed this book so much, I went on to read almost every other book in this series, as well as anything else I could get my hands on!
When searching for another book at the teacher's request, I discovered Karen's Birthday (I remember when I first plucked it off the shelf, feels like yesterday). The cover attracted me to it, and from the moment I opened the first page, the 8-year-old me was hooked. The first-person narration was new to me, and it felt like Karen was speaking directly to me. I was able to connect with her, understand her, wanted to be best friends with her! The next time the teacher had us do plot summaries, I passed with flying colors.
I absolutely believe that if I had not read this book, I would never have learned to love reading for pleasure, dramatic as that sounds. It's far from being excellent literature, but it helped me to regain my confidence as a reader at a crucial time during my childhood. Because I enjoyed this book so much, I went on to read almost every other book in this series, as well as anything else I could get my hands on!
December 6, 2016
I've read this book so many times that I can't count. I always loved the Baby-sitter's series and then I started reading Little Sister. At first, I thought it was a cute book. What divorced kid wouldn't want their parents together for their birthday? I understand where she was coming from if there had been a lack of communication between her parents lately. How else would she get her parents together if she hadn't made a ridiculously long list of birthday gifts so her dad would call her mom? Of course, I never understood why she believed her parents would end up back together when they had been divorced for awhile. It was clear that they were happily married to their other spouses. But I guess she got so excited about her friend's wedding that she believed her parents would get back together too? And she never really thought how that would effect her parents or her stepfamily? It just didn't make sense to me, but the book is supposed to be told from a child's perspective. And this child has an active imagination that lands her in trouble sometimes.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 20, 2013
I agree. I used to HATE reading in the 2nd and 1st grade probably in 3rd too. These were,the first series I read in 2nd grade. First book I read was Karen's little sister which I loved but forgot. Then I fell in LOVE with reading.
* $poiler ( Last part)
Anyhoo, in this book its Karen's birthday. Problem is since her mom and dad dont get,along it has to be 2 separate parties one at each house. Her wish is,to have,both families together to have one party.it didnt come true. Ugghhh! ;(
* $poiler ( Last part)
Anyhoo, in this book its Karen's birthday. Problem is since her mom and dad dont get,along it has to be 2 separate parties one at each house. Her wish is,to have,both families together to have one party.it didnt come true. Ugghhh! ;(
February 6, 2011
In which Karen has two birthday parties because her parents are divorced, and her birthday wish is for her parents to get back together (which isn't going to happen, because her father is already engaged or married to Kristy's mom).
April 10, 2025
When you were too old for childrens books, but too young for The Baby Sitters Club.
Ann M. Martin really is a genius to piggy back on the success of The Baby Sitters Club.
After reading the little sisters series I remember feeling like a real adult opening up that first BSC book.
Ann M. Martin really is a genius to piggy back on the success of The Baby Sitters Club.
After reading the little sisters series I remember feeling like a real adult opening up that first BSC book.
May 6, 2021
Loved these books as a child
April 15, 2013
I felt really bad for Karen here. Her parents couldn't have dealt with each other for ONE night? She's SEVEN, for heaven's sake. Grow up and get over yourselves.
March 7, 2015
Karen wants both of her families together for her birthday and when that doesn't look likely she schemes up ways to make it happen.
June 15, 2018
read for S.S.R. time in 5th grade, I was a baby sitter's club fiend!
November 5, 2015
this novel is good to red
April 6, 2016
I liked this book because Karen Learns a lesson.
February 25, 2008
i am not a fan of the babysitters club, but i do reccomend this book to many people.
July 24, 2011
What young girl did not love the Baby-Sitters Club and Karen, the Baby-Sitters Little Sister?
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews