Assuming all Children are Nightmares

Junie B Jones is my first book club chosen and both books I read from the series were very similar,  though I jumped from the first of the series to a later publish. As much as I adore this book, re-reading as an adult brings many questions of the climax and strong point of each book. Most of the book is Junie acting out, getting into shenanigans and maybe one page is directed towards a lesson, or what I can assume is close to a lesson. Most of the book seems like it spans over less than a day, following Junie B Jones through one single adventure, though this seems as it would be ideal for a younger reader. Younger readers are obviously the wanted readers, and they may find relation with Junie B. While they may relate, Barbara Park was almost feeding into the assumption of children, from the point of view from people who don’t want children? The assumption created this imagery of Junie B. Jones being every adult’s nightmare: wild, loud and opinionated. The never ending energy, questions and statements; the relationships in this chapter book are as impermanent as expected for a young child. Everything in this book, from the length to relationships is directly related to its audience, as it should. Junie B Jones attitude is the child every child can giggle with, learn with and relate to, believe it or not. The assumed image of this child, may not be based on one child, but since Junie B. Jones is so crazy and wild, it is likely that somewhere, every child can wish they were her or relate to that hopefulness. It’s unfortunately obvious that every child kind of wants to be a nightmare.