Author: Barbara Park
Illustrator: Barbara Park
Genre: Chapter Book
Subgenre: Fiction, Humor
Theme: Future Goals, Asking for Help
Primary/Secondary Characters: Junie B. Jones, Daddy, Maxine, Mrs. (Junie's Teacher)
Date of Publication: Year 1998
Publishing Company: Random House Books for Young Readers
Summary: Junie B. Jones tags along with her father to the beauty shop to get his hair cut, by Maxine, the beautician. Junie B. is fascinated by the spinny chair and all the cool tools that the "beauty shop guy" gets to use. Junie B. then decides that she wants to be a beautician when she grows up, and that that will be her goal in life. Junie B. decides she needs practice, so she cuts the hair of her elephant, Phillip Bob, trims her bunny slippers, and then decides to cut her own hair. Junie B. fails miserably, and has to go to school the next day with a hat on, covering her awful mistake. Junie B. is afraid to tell anybody what happened, and eventually realizes that she msut ask her teacher, who she refers to as "Mrs." for help. Mrs. helps Junie B. and her father takes her to Maxine. She quickly fixes her hair, and Junie B. loves her new hair. She then realizes if it wasn’t for her cutting her own hair, this new haircut wouldn’t have happened, so all her hopes and dreams of being a beauty shop guy aren’t crushed after all, and she reaches into her drawer and pulls out an extra pair of scissors. She learns to never do things she knows nothing about, and to always ask for help in a time of need. Children in the classroom can greatly benefit from this book as they learn to never do something they are to not do, especially when their parents tell them otherwise. Junie B.'s use of inappropriate grammar and foolish acts teaches students what not to do, and how to make better decisions, which is crucial at a young age. Keeping this book in the classroom for pleasure reading is also a great idea, as these books spark students' interest and keep them wanting to read more.
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