Week 8: Junie B., First Grader (at last!)

Book Cover Image:

Book Summary:

This is another great Junie B. Jones series book. But this time, she is going to first grade! First grade should be great, right? Well, Junie is off to a rough start. Her bestest friend from last year trades her in for two newer models, her teacher is kind of scary, the chalkboard looks a little blurry, she has to deal with annoying May, and she has to miss recess to write in a big, dumb journal. These are just some of the struggles she will have to go through in these first days of first grade. The words of Barbara Park and illustrations of Denise Brunkus, come together to create another hilarious Junie B. book. The target grades for this book are 1-3.   

APA Reference:

Park, B. (2001). Junie B., first grader (at last!). New York, NY: Random House.

My Impressions:

I actually really enjoy Junie B. Jones books. When I first read one with my daughter when she was much younger, I was a little apprehensive. Her grammar and spelling are, like most kindergarteners or 1^st graders, in need of some revisions. I got over that really quick, though, after laughing so hard at Junie’s silly antics and funny made up words and seeing how engaged my daughter was by it. This featured book has many funny moments just like the others. One I like the best is when she is writing in her journal about having to copy sentences from the board from Mr. Scary (her teacher). She says, “I do not actually approve of this” (Park, 2001, p. 39). This just shows that her character hasn’t changed a bit. She is sassy sometimes but so funny you forgive her. I think any book that can grab and keep a reader’s attention has to be worthy of being in a school library. In light of this, these series books would be great to use with reluctant or struggling readers.  

Professional Review:

“Gr 1-3 --While first grade offers a whole year of exciting possibilities for Junie B., things get off to a confusing start. Feeling tentative about her new teacher, she renames him Mr. Scary. Her last year's best friend now has two new best friends and her old bus pal has a new buddy. Then, Junie's teacher discovers that she needs glasses. Now that is something to worry about. "What if Room One laughs their head off at me? What if I look like a goonie bird and no one wants to be my friend?" However, her classmates, who already agree that twins with rhyming names, a boy with a spiky gel hairdo, and bilingual Jose are fascinating, determine that Junie B. and her purple glasses are definitely cool. As always, Park is in touch with what the kids know and how they feel. A satisfying read, especially for fans.”

Review Reference:

Pearce, S. R., Jones, T. E., Toth, L., Charnizon, M., Grabarek, D., & Larkins, J.

(2002, January 1). [Review of the book Junie B., first grader (at last!), by B. Park].

School Library Journal, 48(1), 108. Retrieved from http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/

Library Uses:

Focus ages: grades 1-3

This book would be good to use with reading buddies. The librarian could oversee the kindergarten or first grader meeting with the older (4^th or 5^th grade) reading buddy. It is a funny book and easy enough for the buddy to read to (or with) the younger reader. It would surely grab the emerging reader and keep her interested in reading forever.