Junie B. Jones and Her Big Fat Mouth

Junie B. Jones and Her Big Fat Mouth
Barbara Park

My Rating: 4 out of 5

Genre: Fiction/Beginning Chapter Books

In the third of Park's series, it's career day in Room 9! Junie B. and her class are excited to meet police officers and dentists, and even more excited when they get to pick their very own careers. Of course, Junie B. gets a little too excited and shoots of her mouth during the presentations and winds up getting in trouble. Thus, begins the beginning of a very rough week for Junie B. While all of her classmates seem to know exactly what career to pick, Junie B has no idea! On the way home, all of the kids on her bus that are in Room 9 chatter with excitement about their potential careers. Junie B. tries to join in, copying everyone else's job, until a boy named Jim calls her out for being a copy cat. Junie B. quickly makes up a job that doesn't quite make sense, and Jim continues to make fun of her. Junie B. gets angry at herself and her big fat mouth.

I highly recommend the Junie B series for first through third grade classrooms. Readers will have a blast following Junie B. on her adventures, and will even learn a few lessons along the way! The Junie B. Jones series is a wonderful series for readers of all level. Park's series is so funny that even older readers will get a kick out of reading Junie B. Jones.

Junie B. Jones and a Little Monkey Business

Junie B. Jones and a Little Monkey Business
Barbara Park

My Rating: 4 out of 5

Genre: Fiction/First chapter book

There is going to be a new baby in the family, and Junie B. is not thrilled. She thinks babies are stinky messes, and doesn't see what the big deal is. Junie goes to school and tells her two best friends, Grace and Lucille, about the new addition - causing a commotion Junie B. wasn't expecting. It's finally the big day and Junie B.'s mom goes to the hospital, leaving her with Grandpa Frank. Eventually, her grandma comes home from the hospital and exclaims how Junie B's new little brother is a cute little monkey, with long fingers and dark hair. Junie B. hears this and, like the impressionable kindergartner that she is, actually thinks her brother is a real monkey! Junie B. excitedly carries this information with her to school the next day, blabbing to everyone how her brother is a real-life monkey because she just can't keep her big, fat, mouth shut!

The second in Park's series, this book is great for readers who are transitioning from picture books to chapter books. The hilarious adventures of Junie B. will have readers laughing out loud and eager to move on to the next book in the series.

Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus

Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus

Barbara Park

My rating: 4 out of 5

Genre: Fiction

The first in her series, Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus, introduces us to the precocious five-year-old who is about to enter Kindergarten, Junie B. Jones. She is excited and worried about her first day of school, but she is even more worried about riding the bus. On the morning of her first day, Junie hesitantly gets on the bus and immediately finds everything wrong with it that she can. From the moment we step on the bus with Junie B. we are transported into her crazy kindergarten world.

The Junie B. Jones series is great one for readers who are just starting chapter books. Park's use of humor makes reading Junie B. Jones a delight. Junie B. seems to come to life through her dialogue - both internal and external. I would recommend this series for second through fifth grade. While the reading level may be a little low for most fifth graders, they are great for readers who may not be reading on grade level. Junie B. Jones is truly "the world's funniest kindergatener" and students will enjoy sharing in her adventures.