"Junie B., First Grader (At Last!)"

Junie B., First Grader (At Last!)
Author: Barbara Park
Illustrator: Denise Brunkus
Genre: Chapter Book
Subgenre: Young Adolescent Book, Fiction
Theme: Fitting In, Elementary School Friends
Primary/Secondary Characters: Junie B. Jones, Mr. Scary, Herb & May
Date of Publication: Year 2001
Publishing Company: Scholastic Inc.

Summary: June B. Jones is finally a first grader, she has been waiting for this day for a very long time. As she is shy at first, she enters her class and sees fellow students she had in her kindergarten class. Unfortunately, all the students have made other friends and want nothing to do with June B. Jones. Junie B. struggles with having no friends, until she meets a boy named Herb on the school bus who talks with her and becomes her friend. Her fellow classmate, May, always makes fun of Junie B. in class and always tells her that she is better than her, which makes Junie B. mad and upset. Mr. Scary, her first grade teacher, notices one day that Junie B. cannot see the board in class and brings her to the nurse. Junie B. ends up getting glasses, and is nervous that everyone in class will make fun of her. When she brings them to class for show and tell, May makes fun of Junie B., but Herb defends her and the rest of the class side with Herb. This makes Junie B. feel accepted and she then enjoys first grade.
This can be used in a classroom in many ways. Many children have trouble fitting in, and want something or someone to relate to. Having a character from a novel will aid children with their personal issues of fitting in or being "popular" and help them cope with those issues. The comedy in this book is great, and every child will grow to love Junie B. Jones. As this novel is part of a large series, children will want to follow Junie B. in all of her adventures.