The Worlds Funniest Kindergartner
The series I chose to read were the Junie B. Jones series by Barbra Park. The title of the one I am reading is, Junie B. Jones Loves Handsome Warren. This series is about a little girl in kindergarten named Junie B. Jones and her day to day life with her friends and family. Junie B. is always getting into trouble, whether its when she is school or home she is always doing something crazy. In this book there is a new boy at school named Warren. Of course Junie B. and her two best friends Grace and Lucille all like him but he does not seem to like Junie B. very much. Since he thinks she is a nutball because she was laughing and rolling around in the grass. She then makes it her mission to find a way to make him love her.
I have always enjoyed reading Junie B. Jones books since I was a little girl. These were the first chapter books I remember reading. I like how I get the feeling that sometimes I think to myself, I am Junie B. Jones. There are also times when while reading I start to question why she is acting a certain way. I like how no matter how crazy people look or talk to Junie B. she is always true to her self. She may not have all the fancy clothes her friend Lucille has but she is a great friend. I also like how her other best friend Grace is black. The way she talks about how Graces curly hair is her favorite kind of hair shows the readers that she does not discriminate and is diverse. As a young African American girl most of the books I read when I was younger were usually about white families or the main character was white, I would often wish and imagine my life like would be if I lived the characters life. I think it is very important that students have this type of exposure in books because not everyone lives in diverse neighborhoods. I also like how every chapter has about one or two illustrations. This makes it more enjoyable when reading and picturing what is going on.
I think children in grades K through 2nd grade might like these books because the Junie B. Jones is in kindergarten a lot of the things she goes through and the situations she gets herself into are ones lower grade elementary school gets usually deal with. I am pretty sure everyone can say that at least had a crush on the same person as their best friend especially in elementary. This book also assumes that little girls will do anything to impress the boy they like and will even ditch there friends for them.
The central characters of this book are Junie B. Jones, her two best friends Grace and Lucille. Grace or as Junie B. likes to call her, “That Grace” rides the bus with her to school every morning. Lucille is Junie’s other best friend who also has a crush on Warren and claims he is her boyfriend because she saw him first. Junie is always saying that she is more “beautifuller” and much richer than everyone in the whole school. Handsome Warren is the new boy that Junie B. likes. He also thinks Junie B. is a nutball and hates his new school. Junie’s mother who is always taking care of her baby brother Baby Ollie, always yells at Junie B. when she’s too hyper but always gives her great advice.
There is a website located on the inside and back of the book where you could go find activities and fun games at juniebjones.com. This book is a great way for students who are newly chapter book readers. This could be a great fun book or book to read during reading time for students in your classroom. You could also use it as a read a loud book. Junie B. Jones is a very funny character that all kids will love and enjoy listening to.