BACK TO SCHOOL: Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus by Barbara Park, Illustrated by Denise Brunkus

My name is Junie B.  It is very important that you remember the B.  People are always forgetting the B. part. 

This is the story of my first day of kindergarten.  My mom made me ride the bus, but I don’t like the bus.  It isn’t at all like my daddy’s car.  It is squeaky when it stops and makes me cover my ears.  And it smells like egg salad sandwich.  I’m not taking the bus. Not even to get home.

Junie B. Jones is a precocious, opinionated six-year-old full of more personality than you should be able to fit in a person less than four feet tall.  I instantly liked her and I can see why there is an entire series featuring Junie B.  

This book has some wonderful vocabulary words for younger children, such as “crossing guard”, “velvet”, “jingle”, and “emergency.”  It is told from the point of view of Janie so there are some grammar flaws, such as “rided” instead of “rode”. But it adds a little flavor and character to the story because what six-year-old uses perfect grammar?  This is a fun-packed chapter book perfect for reading for back-to-school.  

AGE: 5 to 9

BOOK BRIEFS: 

F= Funny

E/S= Emotional/Social Development

DS= Developmental Stages

V= Vocabulary Enhancement

I found this book at B&N.