Book Review: Junie B. Jones Series
My very first year of teaching, eleven years ago, I taught first grade. They were at an age where most of them were beginning to read, but they all still loved to be read to. I remember purchasing a boxed set of Junie B. Jones books, written by Barbara Park. I also remember starting to read a chapter or two each day to my students. I recall how much they snickered and laughed. Unfortunately, I also forgot that I did not finish reading the story.
I say, “unfortunately” because a few months ago my best friend asked for some chapter books that she could read to her three- and -five-year-old daughters. Since my most vivid memory was of my students’ giggling, I let her borrow my Junie B. Jones books. The next time I saw her, she returned the books. I asked if her kids liked them, and she said they thought they were silly, but that she didn’t agree with what the books were teaching her children in regards to behavior.
As it turns out, many parents agree with my friend (and I, although my memory needed a jump-start) about the lessons being addressed in this series. The main character often engages in rude, obnoxious behavior, and even the language is questionable. Although some people may feel that these issues provide opportunities for parents to address the correct behaviors, I believe a parent would spend more time teaching behavior lessons than they would actually reading the stories.
This is one of those cases where you may need to read them for yourself. I, personally, do not feel the stories are appropriate for the reading level for which they are written (approximately kindergarten through second grade), but there are definitely major fans of this series.
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Written by Laura on March 4, 2011
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