Kids Books Worth Reading : Junie B. Jones is Great if You Love to Laugh

The kids book series "Junie B. Jones" by Barbara Park has been a favorite in our house since my daughter was 4 years old and is still read once in a while when we need a good laugh, 6 years later. It takes the mystery out of going to school, looks at the absurdity of life from a child's perspective and the challenges faced in the book have given us the opportunity to discuss appropriate behavior while laughing at the same time. The book was the first she became interested in trying to read on her own, and that in itself makes it a great choice for kids.

In our house we've read a bedtime story every night for over 10 years. When it was time to start talking about going to school, a parent recommended this series to me and it was an instant hit. The story takes place when Junie B. Jones is starting kindergarten in book 1 titled "Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus" and continues up till she starts grade 2 in book 30 "Junie B. Jones is a Second Grader".

The book is written from the perspective of a 5 year old and the language is age appropriate. The experiences she has and how it impacts her school life lightens up the prospect of going to school for any youngster. Meeting new kids, making friends, discovering her classroom, and special activities such as taking the school bus, eating in the cafeteria, recess, Valentine's Day, Pet Day, Halloween, field trips and so many new things from a kids perspective. Her descriptions of the principal, her teachers, the caretaker, the cafeteria lady, her grandparents, parents and brother are so honest, heartwarming and naive it brings back memories. The book also is a great reminder for parents of how children see the world; through new eyes, minds not yet told how to think, and their interpretation is not always what we adults are expecting.

The absurdity of the situations she gets herself into are too funny and, as you read it as a parent, you know these stories could actually happen; she gives herself a very bad haircut, she is excluded from a birthday party, she takes a fish stick to school for pet day, she looses her first tooth and 25 more stories to keep you and your kids giggling. There are times when I've been reading the stories and I have laughed so hard that I start to cry, so we would have to wait to continue. As she got older and was able to read, my daughter would take the book from me and keep reading the story until I calmed down, so we could find out what was happening in the story - before midnight!

The language used by Junie B. in the book is that used by a 5 year old; therefore the grammar and words when she is speaking are often incorrect, but the meaning is always there, it makes it very real. The situations and how all the characters act and react; what they say and how they say it, have always been an opportunity for discussion in our house. When she started school it became an opportunity to check in and see if she was experiencing the same issues Junie B. was telling us about in her stories. It also gave us the opportunity to talk about how to deal with situations like mean boys and girls, being nervous in new places and with new people, friendships, teachers, and school in general. It taught us, as parents, to use the books she's reading to discuss what's happening during her school day.

We have the whole series and it's one that we'll keep. It's worth having in our library to loan to friends with kids and right now it still gets read once in a while.

I highly recommend this series as one that'll keep your kids wanting to read more and laughing as they do. It's available in libraries, second hand book stores (which is where we got most of ours) or from amazon.com.

This is a hot gift idea for your kids, nieces, nephews or grandchildren between 4 to 6 years old to have read to them or to read them themselves under the covers with a flashlight after lights out ;O). Books can be taken anywhere, don't require batteries, can be put down and picked up later and are a great way to spend time. The gift of reading is one that lasts forever and can't be taken away. A great book series to consider as a gift, "Junie B. Jones" by Barbara Park.

© 2012 eye say