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Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus




Bibliography:
Park, B.(1992). Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus. New York: Random House.

Book Summary
This is the first book in the Junie B. Jones series. It’s the first day of kindergarten for Junie. Junie is scared to ride the school bus. After she learns that she is going to ride the bus on her first day of school Junie B. ”stayed scared about the bus for a whole week”. She doesn’t like anything on the bus; there are no cloth covers on the seat and the bus is smelly. She doesn’t like the other kids either. After school Junie is more scared to ride the bus after her new friend Lucille tells her that bad things could happen on the bus such as milk being poured on you. She hides in the class and misses the bus. Junie B. wanders around the school and is eventually found by the janitor .Junie B. explains to her mother what happened and her mother cautions her about her behavior.

My Impression
This book is hilarious. Junie B. is a mischievous character full of adventure. Though just six years old, Junie B. has her own idea of how things should be. She is particular about her name and lets the teacher know what name she prefers. Some things are just plain “stupid” or “dump” according to Junie and she doesn’t hesitate to voice her feelings and views.  

Reviews
BookList:
Books for Youth, Middle Readers: Gr. 2-3. Park, one of the funniest writers around, usually reserves her talent for middle-graders. Now she brings her refreshing humor to the beginning chapter-book set. The perennial question, Will kids read about those younger than themselves? is enthusiastically answered in the affirmative in this case. It's hard for anyone to resist Junie B. A cross between Lily Tomlin's Edith Ann and Eloise, Junie B. (she insists on the B.) is on her way to kindergarten, but that doesn't mean she has to go gently into that abyss. In riotous first-person she describes how she learns the concept of school busing ("WHERE'S THE STUPID SMELLY BUS GOING TO?"), meets her new teacher and the principal ("The principal is a baldy"), and makes new friends ("That Jim, I hate"). To avoid riding the bus home on her first day, Junie B. hides out under the teacher's desk and has a very enjoyable time sticking gold stars on her forehead and writing with "Brand-new chalk that's not even out of its little box yet!" Fortunately for readers, Junie B. is found, paving the way for another book in the series. Pencil illustrations by Denise Brunkus add to the fun. ((Reviewed Dec. 1, 1992)) -- Ilene Cooper

Use in a Library Setting
This book can be read out aloud in class as an introduction to chapter books for young readers.

References/citations:
Book image from Barnes & Noble at:
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Junie-B-Jones-and-the-Stupid-Smelly-Bus/Barbara-Park/e/9780679826422/?itm=2&USRI=junie+b+jones+and+the+stupid+smelly+bus+junie

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