Junie B. Jones First Boxed Set Ever!: Books 1-4

“Good. I liked it a lot, it’s really similar to me. It’s just a little too crazy.” We’ll be ordering the next set :)

Received Book #27 crammed in with books #1, #3, and #4. I’m disappointed that we didn’t get book #2 in this boxed set, and the rating for this collection was listed as VERY GOOD when I bought it. Still, the Junie B. Jones books are great, and I love reading them with my 5 year old!

These stories have entertained and held the attention of (25) 5 year olds. I have read many of the Junie B. books aloud to my kindergarten classes. We would read and discuss two chapters a day. Most, if not all of my students, loved listening to Junie's hilarious antics. One parent, who rarely visted the school, made a special trip in so she could order the series for her son from the Scholastic Book Club. Apparently, he's been bugging her for quite some time. Yes, Junie B. has the tendency to go overboard, but that is what keeps my students wanting to know more. What crazy thing will she do next? Of course, we discuss the topics that arise: listening, friendships, name-calling, honesty, etc. These are matters we deal with every day. Reading and discussing these stories encouraged independent thinking and reasoning. We would even brainstorm better ways for Junie B. to handle situations. But most importantly, the series made the children laugh and encouraged reading.

These books are funny and above all interesting to the age group they are intended for. And it is not painful for the parent to read these books to their children like it is for so many chapter books in this age group. I personally enjoy these books as they remind me of the Ramona series of books by Beverly Cleary. Ramona often did things that were not necessarily nice. In fact, many of Cleary's characters didn't always behave in the best way possible. Ramona was often mischievous and somewhat of a pest in the books and encountered the same sort of problems that children her age have to deal with. Much like Junie B. Both are written very well from the perspective of a child at that age, regardless of the age of the writer. As for the arguments against the books, my first grade daughter has roughly a third grade reading level. She knows proper grammar and English and knows when Junie is saying something incorrectly. However, the fact of the matter is that first graders are often just learning grammar. Grammar rules are difficult at that age. If almost every word you encounter you ad an -ed to create the past tense, first grade logic dictates that the past tense version of "run" would be "runned". On the name calling and attitude issue, my daughter also doesn't use those words. Once again, she is able to tell the difference between right and wrong. Books often present right and wrong. I agree with the reviewer that perhaps they wouldn't be appropriate for a toddler, but a first grader just entering chapter books generally is very able to understand what is acceptable and what is not acceptable. My daughter knows that just because other children hit, it does not make it okay for her to hit. By the logic presented by some of the reviewers, the average child should run right out and start calling everyone stupid because they will all of a sudden decide it's not wrong anymore. These books are written as entertainment. They are written to appeal to your child's sense of humour and occasionally the parent reading the book to their child. Junie B. Jones is not meant to be a "Book of Virtues". It is meant to be reading material for your child who is just discovering the joy of reading and what she can experience through books. If every book a child had to read was supposed to teach some sort of moral lesson as opposed to simply being enjoyable it would make reading a very boring place.

Junie B. books have propelled my 6 year old daughter into the wonderful world of reading chapter books on her own. She loves them so much that she can't put them down, and she recently started a Junie B. "library" collection. In her words: "I love Barbara Park (the author). She's SO good at writting the way kids talk and think. Barbara Park and Junie B. rock."As a parent, I was skeptical at first. About a year ago, a neighbor (who is very heavy-hearted and serious about life) said she didn't like the books because she thought Junie B. had too much of an attitude. She loaned us one (The Stinky Smelly Bus) so that I could see for myself. I was hesitent, but read the book to my daughter. In summary, although Junie B. is far from perfect, she is surrounded by very clever, compassionate adults, she always learns from her mistakes, and she has a big heart. Additionally, the interest in my daughter's eyes and the big belly laughs she let out during the reading convinced me to buy a second book in the series. I'm now a full force supporter of Junie B., and I enjoy seeing my daughter trade the various books in the series with her friends at school. Junie B. Jones books are their (and my) FAVORITE BY FAR! Thank you Barbara Park for lighting up my daughter's reading world and keeping it fun and interesting!!!A final note: I do NOT recommend these books for children under six; they may misinterpret the wonderful messages Barbara Park is conveying, and focus only on Junie B.'s "spirited" personality (just as some of the other reviewers here have done!).

I bought a bunch of books for my daughter (age 6) to read, and she likes the Junie B. Jones series best. She laughs out loud as she reads and is totally engrossed in the story.The events in the Junie B. Jones series are typical things that young children either directly encounter in their daily lives or fantasize encountering (such as being left behind by a school bus). Some of them may seem mundane to grown-ups, but full of excitement, suspense and breathless anticipation for young readers. Junie B. Jones is a spirited girl with a unique, creative, and humorous view of the world around her. She may first come across as opinionated (as most 5, 6 year olds are), but one quickly discovers the "loopholes" in her opinions. My daughter frequently points out, with a laugh, what Junie B. Jones says wrong or how she mis-interpretes a situation.The stories end well and in a joyful and high spirited note.I highly recommend this series!

Junie B. is a sassy little girl with a great sense of humor. The author's use of children's grammar only makes it that much more funny to children and adults alike. These books are a great way to get kids engaged in the fun of reading. My daughter read one and then wanted to read them all!