Bestselling Children’s Author to Discuss Empowering Young People With Stories at Smith College

Bestselling author and Smith College alumna Ann Mathews Martin, class of 1977, will participate in a panel discussion about “Empowering Young People with Stories” on Thursday, April 11, at 7:30 p.m. in the Neilson Library Browsing Room. The event is free and open to the public.

Martin, best-known as the principal author of the popular children’s series “The Baby-sitters Club,” recently donated her literary papers to the Smith College Libraries. The panel will also include Martin’s longtime editor and successful author David Levithan; National Book Award winner and Smith College alumna Virginia Euwer Wolff, class of 1959; and young novelist Emma Straub.

With more than 176 million books in print, “The Baby-sitters Club” became the first children’s book series to appear on the USA Today bestseller list and was named one of the “Books of the Century” by the New York Times Book Review in 1998. The series was developed into a TV series as well as a feature film and prompted girls around the world to start their own baby-sitters clubs.

Celebrated for her character-driven plots and self-confident protagonists, Martin’s fan club today ranges in age from 4th graders to readers in their mid-30s. Martin’s other acclaimed novels include “A Dog’s Life,” “Belle Teal,” “The Doll People” (written with Laura Godwin), and the Newbery Honor Book “A Corner of the Universe.”

For more information on Martin’s literary papers, call Martin Antonetti, interim director of special collections, at (413)585-2907. For more information about the panel discussion, call Mary Irwin, gift and development officer, at (413) 585-2903.

For disability access information or to request accommodations, call (413) 585-2407. To request a sign language interpreter specifically, call (413) 585-2071 (voice or TTY) or e-mail arc@smith.edu. All requests must be made at least 10 days prior to the event.