Module 13

Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus

Summary:

Junie B. Jones was so excited about going to kindergarten. She met her teacher and new friends. She loves everything about school except one thing… THE SCHOOL BUS. She does not like the bus and does not want to ride the bus so one afternoon she hid in the suppy closet to keep from having to ride the bus but the results are not what she expected.

Citation:

Park, B. (1992). Junie B Jones and the stupid smelly bus. New York: Random House.

My Thoughts:

Junie B. Jones is a precious character that reminds me of my Pre-K students. I love the vocabulary that Barbara Park uses because it is exactly the type of thoughts and comments that my four and five year olds say and do.  I really enjoy the Junie B books because she is never a dull moment and you never know what she is going to say or do.  Also the author covers topics that affect a pre-k or kindergarten child.

REVREVIEW. First published December 1, 1992 (Booklist).   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

Cooper, I. (1992, December 1). Booklist Review. Retrieved from Booklist Online: http://www.booklistonline.com/Junie-B-Jones-and-the-Stupid-Smelly-Bus-Barbara-Park/pid=464508 

 

Activity:

Make a tally of the number of how many ride the bus to school.