Junie B. Jones books are a great way for young readers to get interested in reading. Junie B. Jones is an amusing and unique young girl, who learns many life lessons throughout her daily adventures in life. There are many interesting ways that teachers can incorporate the Junie B. Jones series into their classrooms through read-alouds and allowing students to select them for independent reading. Junie B. Jones is very relatable for young children, and it is intriguing to see how she does things. It is the perfect book for young children that are just starting to read on their own because it is an easier read, yet has the feel of a chapter book.
The Junie B. series is considered to be realistic-fiction. The books contain a realistic story line and any of the events could happen in real life. Junie B. is just a normal Kindergarten student (or first grade student if you reading Junie B. is a First Grader), who has loving parents, and has a big mouth that sometimes gets her into trouble .
There are many interesting and lovable characters in the Junie B. series. The characters vary from book to book and are who Junie comes into contact with in her day-to-day life. Her best friends are some of the children in Room One; there is Herb, Junie’s best friend, who also is not very fond of May, some of her other best friends are Jose and Lennie. There is also Sheldon, who is the only person who also brings his lunch to school, although he tends to get on Junie B.’s nerves, because he is allergic to everything! Lastly there is May, a girl in her class, who Junie does not particularly get along with. The pair often gets into many arguments, which have to get broken up by their teacher. Junie B. Jones lives with her parents, Robert and Susan Jones, and her little brother Ollie. In the words of Junie B., “Ollie is ten months old. He cannot skip or play tag or color. So far, I am not that satisfied with him.” There is also her grandpa Frank Miller.
Setting: The setting in the series changes from book-to-book. Sometimes the plot takes place in her classroom at school, her bedroom, various rooms in her home, the school cafeteria and her backyard. The series takes place where ever Junie B. Jones goes!
Point of View: The narrative is in first person, from Junie B.’s point of view. The story would not be the same nor nearly as funny if it were in third person point of view. Junie B. Jones has such funny ways of saying things. Her mannerisms help make the stories relatable to kids and help her spunky personality shine through the text.
Over the years, teachers and parents have had issues with the Junie B. Jones series. The American Library Association had it on its list of Top 100 banned or challenged books from 2000-2009. Some educators and parents are alarmed that the books contain improper grammar and spelling. Junie B. often says her adverbs without the suffix -ly and constantly forgets to add the -ed ending to past tense verbs, so they often come out like "funnest". However, one could use Junie's spelling mistakes as a teaching tool and opportunity to have the kids find the errors and correct them. Also, some parents have issues with Junie B.’s behavior. Junie, like many kids of the Kindergarten age, is constantly talking back to her teachers, calls people mean names such as "stupid" or "dumb", and gets in her fair share of trouble. Again, as a parent or educator, one can use Junie's actions as an opportunity to have kids talk about what they would do differently or have kids discuss what Junie B. should have done. One key characteristic of the Junie B. Jones series is the incorporation of some of Junie B.'s writing. The series showcases some of her diary in which she writes in a child-like style with stick-like letters.
The Books:
1. Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus (1992)
2. Junie B. Jones and a Little Monkey Business(1993)
3. Junie B. Jones and Her Big Fat Mouth(1993)
4. Junie B. Jones and Some Sneaky Peeky Spying(1994)
5. Junie B. Jones and the Yucky Blucky Fruitcake(1995)
6. Junie B. Jones and That Meanie Jim’s Birthday(1996)
7. Junie B. Jones Loves Handsome Warren(1996)
8. Junie B. Jones Has a Monster Under Her Bed(1997)
9. Junie B. Jones Is Not a Crook(1997)
10. Junie B. Jones Is a Party Animal(1997)
11. Junie B. Jones Is a Beauty Shop Guy(1998)
12. Junie B. Jones Smells Something Fishy(1998)
13. Junie B. Jones is (Almost) a Flower Girl(1999)
14. Junie B. Jones And the Mushy Gushy Valentine(1999)
15. Junie B. Jones Has a Peep in Her Pocket(2000)
16. Junie B. Jones is Captain Field Day(2001)
17. Junie B. Jones Is a Graduation Girl(2001)
18. Junie B., First Grader (at last!)(2001)
19. Junie B., First Grader: Boss of Lunch(2002)
20. Junie B., First Grader: Toothless Wonder(2002)
21. Junie B., First Grader: Cheater Pants(2003)
22. Junie B., First Grader: One-Man Band(2003)
23. Junie B., First Grader: Shipwrecked(2004)
24. Junie B., First Grader: Boo… and I MEAN IT!(2004)
25. Junie B., First Grader: Jingle Bells, Batman Smells (P.S So Does May)(2005)
26. Junie B., First Grader: Aloha-ha-ha!(2006)
27. Junie B., First Grader: Dumb Bunny!(2007)
28. Junie B., First Grader: Turkeys We have Loved and Eaten (and other Thankful Stuff)(2012)
29. Junie B. My Valentine(2013)
Biographical Aspects: Barbara Park shines through Junie B. Jones. In an article written by NY Daily News, Park is quoted saying "I don't have a problem being 6 years old in my head" when asked how she writes the series. Barbara also goes on to say, ""I find that when I'm struggling to think of how a 6-year-old would feel about something, I just have to go right down to the common denominator, find the simplest way that you can look at an object or a problem, and not muck it up with all of the stuff that adults do and over-analyze."
My Response: I absolutely LOVE the Junie B. Jones series and it will forever be one of my favorite "beginner" chapter books. I love how quirky, sarcastic and sassy the Junie B. Jones character is and can relate to her because I too was like that growing up. Junie's extreme honesty and kindergarten/first grade humor never cease to make me giggle; even as a 22-year-old college senior! I can't wait to share Junie B. with my future students and laugh along with them.
The Junie B. series is considered to be realistic-fiction. The books contain a realistic story line and any of the events could happen in real life. Junie B. is just a normal Kindergarten student (or first grade student if you reading Junie B. is a First Grader), who has loving parents, and has a big mouth that sometimes gets her into trouble .
There are many interesting and lovable characters in the Junie B. series. The characters vary from book to book and are who Junie comes into contact with in her day-to-day life. Her best friends are some of the children in Room One; there is Herb, Junie’s best friend, who also is not very fond of May, some of her other best friends are Jose and Lennie. There is also Sheldon, who is the only person who also brings his lunch to school, although he tends to get on Junie B.’s nerves, because he is allergic to everything! Lastly there is May, a girl in her class, who Junie does not particularly get along with. The pair often gets into many arguments, which have to get broken up by their teacher. Junie B. Jones lives with her parents, Robert and Susan Jones, and her little brother Ollie. In the words of Junie B., “Ollie is ten months old. He cannot skip or play tag or color. So far, I am not that satisfied with him.” There is also her grandpa Frank Miller.
Setting: The setting in the series changes from book-to-book. Sometimes the plot takes place in her classroom at school, her bedroom, various rooms in her home, the school cafeteria and her backyard. The series takes place where ever Junie B. Jones goes!
Point of View: The narrative is in first person, from Junie B.’s point of view. The story would not be the same nor nearly as funny if it were in third person point of view. Junie B. Jones has such funny ways of saying things. Her mannerisms help make the stories relatable to kids and help her spunky personality shine through the text.
Over the years, teachers and parents have had issues with the Junie B. Jones series. The American Library Association had it on its list of Top 100 banned or challenged books from 2000-2009. Some educators and parents are alarmed that the books contain improper grammar and spelling. Junie B. often says her adverbs without the suffix -ly and constantly forgets to add the -ed ending to past tense verbs, so they often come out like "funnest". However, one could use Junie's spelling mistakes as a teaching tool and opportunity to have the kids find the errors and correct them. Also, some parents have issues with Junie B.’s behavior. Junie, like many kids of the Kindergarten age, is constantly talking back to her teachers, calls people mean names such as "stupid" or "dumb", and gets in her fair share of trouble. Again, as a parent or educator, one can use Junie's actions as an opportunity to have kids talk about what they would do differently or have kids discuss what Junie B. should have done. One key characteristic of the Junie B. Jones series is the incorporation of some of Junie B.'s writing. The series showcases some of her diary in which she writes in a child-like style with stick-like letters.
The Books:
1. Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus (1992)
2. Junie B. Jones and a Little Monkey Business(1993)
3. Junie B. Jones and Her Big Fat Mouth(1993)
4. Junie B. Jones and Some Sneaky Peeky Spying(1994)
5. Junie B. Jones and the Yucky Blucky Fruitcake(1995)
6. Junie B. Jones and That Meanie Jim’s Birthday(1996)
7. Junie B. Jones Loves Handsome Warren(1996)
8. Junie B. Jones Has a Monster Under Her Bed(1997)
9. Junie B. Jones Is Not a Crook(1997)
10. Junie B. Jones Is a Party Animal(1997)
11. Junie B. Jones Is a Beauty Shop Guy(1998)
12. Junie B. Jones Smells Something Fishy(1998)
13. Junie B. Jones is (Almost) a Flower Girl(1999)
14. Junie B. Jones And the Mushy Gushy Valentine(1999)
15. Junie B. Jones Has a Peep in Her Pocket(2000)
16. Junie B. Jones is Captain Field Day(2001)
17. Junie B. Jones Is a Graduation Girl(2001)
18. Junie B., First Grader (at last!)(2001)
19. Junie B., First Grader: Boss of Lunch(2002)
20. Junie B., First Grader: Toothless Wonder(2002)
21. Junie B., First Grader: Cheater Pants(2003)
22. Junie B., First Grader: One-Man Band(2003)
23. Junie B., First Grader: Shipwrecked(2004)
24. Junie B., First Grader: Boo… and I MEAN IT!(2004)
25. Junie B., First Grader: Jingle Bells, Batman Smells (P.S So Does May)(2005)
26. Junie B., First Grader: Aloha-ha-ha!(2006)
27. Junie B., First Grader: Dumb Bunny!(2007)
28. Junie B., First Grader: Turkeys We have Loved and Eaten (and other Thankful Stuff)(2012)
29. Junie B. My Valentine(2013)
Biographical Aspects: Barbara Park shines through Junie B. Jones. In an article written by NY Daily News, Park is quoted saying "I don't have a problem being 6 years old in my head" when asked how she writes the series. Barbara also goes on to say, ""I find that when I'm struggling to think of how a 6-year-old would feel about something, I just have to go right down to the common denominator, find the simplest way that you can look at an object or a problem, and not muck it up with all of the stuff that adults do and over-analyze."
My Response: I absolutely LOVE the Junie B. Jones series and it will forever be one of my favorite "beginner" chapter books. I love how quirky, sarcastic and sassy the Junie B. Jones character is and can relate to her because I too was like that growing up. Junie's extreme honesty and kindergarten/first grade humor never cease to make me giggle; even as a 22-year-old college senior! I can't wait to share Junie B. with my future students and laugh along with them.