Junie B. Jones and the Mushy Gushy Valentime

(Image from Amazon.com)

SUMMARY

This Valentine's story by Barbara Park is in a series of books about a little girl named Junie B. Jones.  Junie B. is a very outspoken, quirky, and goofy kindergartener who is very relatable due to her childish sounding words and dramatic attitude. 

In this particular story, Junie B.'s kindergarten class in Room Nine is preparing for Valentine's Day.  The students are told by their teacher that they get to hand out Valentine's to everyone in their class on this special day of love.  Junie B. is ecstatic when she is the first student to bring Valentine's to school!  Her nemesis, Meanie Jim, is always in competition with her, trying to "impress" her by being an annoying classmate. And Junie B.'s best friends, Grace and Lucille, are in competition to receive the most Valentine's cards from their classmates.  To the girls' surprise, Junie B. is the one who receives a Valentine from a secret admirer. It immediately becomes Junie B.'s mission to figure out which boy sent this special card.  After questioning several boys in her class, Junie B. has no luck in finding the boy.  Just when she's about to give up, Meanie Jim is spotted looking at her special Valentine!  He denies it at first, but soon confesses that he has a crush on Junie B. Jones.  She wonders how this could happen, but is glad that she found her admirer.  She joins with Jim to keep the secret of his love interest to ensure that things will not change in their favorite Room Nine.  

APA CITATION

Park, Barbara, and Denise Brunkus. Junie B. Jones and the Mushy Gushy Valentime. Scholastic Inc., 2001. 

MY IMPRESSION & RECOMMENDATIONS

I think Junie B. Jones books are so fun!  I remember reading these books when I was a beginner reader, and I loved them because I could really relate with her.  I think this series is good for helping students become interested in a story and ultimately come to enjoy reading.  The one problem I have with Junie B. Jones books is that some of her words are spelled incorrectly.  While this relates more with the reader's intellectual level, it isn't necessarily the most beneficial way for students to learn how to spell.  In all, I highly recommend Junie B. Jones books for new readers who might struggle with enjoying what they read!  They will come to love the character of Junie B. Jones and be excited to take new adventures with her!

PROFESSIONAL REVIEW

The Junie B. Jones books are vastly entertaining to young grade schoolers, who will see an exaggerated, slapstick version of themselves in Barbara Park's funny, sassy main character. These books are just the right level and length for new chapter-book readers, and they offer that quality sometimes lacking in "edutainment" for early graders: big laughs. Denise Brunkus' broadly animated illustrations add to the fun and help tell the story for new readers.


Schultz, Barbara. “Junie B. Jones Series - Book Review.” Common Sense Media: Ratings, Reviews, and Advice, Common Sense Media, 3 Mar. 2012, www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/junie-b-jones-series.