The babysitter seems nervous. Their table manners are, to put it generously, unusual. And when dinner turns out to be literal garbage—as in, actual garbage—Freddie realizes this night is going to be different. Much, much different.
An Unexpected Alliance
“There’s Something Odd About the Babysitter” takes a familiar picture book setup—child versus babysitter—and spins it into something wonderfully strange. The twist is that the babysitter isn’t the enemy. They’re just…odd. And once Freddie decides to stop being suspicious and start being curious, the two of them become the most unlikely team imaginable.
Elayne Crain has a sharp instinct for comic timing, and the story’s pacing is excellent. The oddness is introduced gradually—just enough weirdness to hook readers, with more revealed as the evening unfolds. And while the full nature of the babysitter’s oddness is best discovered in the pages themselves, suffice it to say that garbage for dinner is only the beginning.
Teamwork From the Most Unlikely Places
At its core, this is a story about giving someone a chance—about choosing curiosity and collaboration over suspicion and judgment. Freddie doesn’t decide to trust the babysitter because they suddenly become normal. He decides to team up because something interesting is happening, and interesting beats boring every time.
John Ledda’s illustrations bring a delightful sense of the uncanny to the proceedings. The babysitter is rendered with just the right amount of visual strangeness—enough to keep readers guessing, enough to make Freddie’s gradual acceptance feel believable and earned.
The Night He Won’t Forget
What started out as an evening Freddie was dreading becomes one he’ll never forget—which is, of course, the best possible outcome of any babysitting situation. Crain’s story is funny, surprising, and quietly affirming: sometimes the strangest companions lead to the best adventures.
Perfect For
Pre-K through Grade 2. A wonderful read-aloud with built-in suspense and humor. Great for conversations about first impressions, trying new things, and the value of an open mind. Perfect for any child who has ever dreaded a babysitter—and for the babysitters who read to them.