10 ’90s book series that should get their own Netflix shows

In light of the new Babysitters Club show, here are 10 book series of the ’90s that should be a Netflix original series based on their nostalgia factor alone.

10. The Magic Attic Club

Yes, this book series was developed exclusively as a way to sell dolls that were slightly cheaper than the American Girl ones. But they were still really cool! There was a group of girls who found a costume chest in their neighbor’s attic, and whatever outfit they put on, they would find themselves transported into an appropriate location (where they would usually learn an important and plot-relevant lesson along the way).

9. Bailey School Kids

This one might skew a little bit younger than some of the others on the list, and sure, the content could be considered slightly repetitive. But what’s not to enjoy about a strong ensemble cast of kids attending the weirdest school in the world that is plagued by monsters on a weekly basis and all the adults in their lives only serve to gaslight them into thinking that there’s a perfectly reasonable explanation for all the supernatural hijinks?

8. Pen Pals

Pen Pals was an underrated classic, revolving around a group of teenagers attending an all-female boarding school. Massively starved of boy attention, they become pen pals with kids at the neighboring boys’ school and… start dating them? It’s kind of silly but still, fun enough to turn into a series.

7. Help I’m Trapped…

Help I’m Trapped was a series of books where kids kept getting magically switched into ever more outlandish bodies (one of them ends up as Santa Claus at one point?) That’s really sort of the entire plot of the books, but who wouldn’t enjoy an anthology series that highlights the ever-popular body-swapping trope and almost nothing else?

6. Wayside School

Wayside School is probably the kid equivalent of doing shrooms for the first time. It’s all about the adventures of the students at a very bizarre school where everything is weird but no one ever seems to realize or acknowledge it. The way forward would probably be to slightly alter to plot and introduce a new student to the proceedings, who would orient the audience into what would probably end up as an experimental, risk-taking kids show.

5. Girl Talk

You’re probably more familiar with Girl Talk as the game you would play with girls you thought were your friends but secretly made fun of you behind your back. You know, the one with the sticker zits? But there actually was a Girl Talk book series, and the girls in that were far more supportive of their fellow women.

4. Fear Street

Fear Street was the slightly more adult version of Goosebumps that was aimed at teenagers. Basically it features a large ensemble of teens who all have the misfortune to live on Fear Street, where supernatural and also your run-of-the-mill horrifying encounters happen on a fairly regular basis. If done properly, this could fill a Supernatural-sized hole in the hearts of viewers jonesing for a new obsession.

3. American Girl

Yeah, I know that we have movies about Kit Kittridge and some of the other newbies in the American Girl universe. But I think it’s time that we got justice for Addy, Molly, Samantha, Kirsten, and the rest of our OG American Girl dolls — the books are already serialized so most of the work has been done already!

2. Dear America

Oh, you mean, the reason I got into history as a kid? Yes, a well-made anthology series of Dear America books would be watched by adults and kids alike. We got a taste of it back in the day with the Royal Diaries, but it could be executed in such a better way with Netflix and their practically unlimited budget on board.

1. Sweet Valley High/Twins

Honestly, I think either of these would be fun. Sweet Valley High is basically Riverdale, so we know that already has a built-in audience. The increasingly implausible adventures of our favorite twin sisters would find a ready home on Netflix. But if you wanted something a bit more innocent and light, the Sweet Valley Twins series would also be a lot of fun to see adapted.