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Summary: Read Aloud!!!!
Review: My child is in kindergarten and cannot yet read. This book is BEST read aloud! We have a great time with Junie B. If I'm looking for correct grammar and spelling...then I select another book. This one is fun! During the crisis in the U.S. recently, this book allowed us to escape from the reality of terror to the world of kindergarten fun and childhood. Read aloud with your child on your lap and laugh with Junie B.
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Summary: Not a good example of anything!
Review: In anticipation of purchasing these highly-recommended books for my six year-old, I borrowed two from the library. They were cute and somewhat amusing for an adult reader, but they are not anything I want my child reading. I have two major problems with these books: First, they do not model correct grammar and usage, which children absorb from the books that are read to them. In an effort to give Junie B. her own "voice", the grammar is purposefully terrible and words like "bestest" abound. You cannot teach a child to speak and read correctly using this as an example. Second, Junie B. is a terrible role model. She talks back to adults, calls her grandparents by their first names, refers to one child in class as "that Jim that I HATE!" can't sit still in school, yells in class, and is just generally an obnoxious kid. To give the author some credit, I have to say I did find it amusing to read this as an adult -- Junie B. is certainly a character and her exploits are zany -- but she's a character I don't want my children to emulate.
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Summary: Unequivocally Awful!
Review: I've never returned a set of children's books before, but as a professional writer by trade, I find this the mental equivalent of toxic waste! It's bad enough that Park uses poor grammar like 'bestest' to be 'cute' but the plot line is vapid and the character's sassy mouth, backtalk & disrespect supercedes any benefit of attempting to read it aloud! Disturbingly enough, my first grader was 'reading it in school', so I logged on to purchase it here based on the glowing reviews...boy was I astounded. I thought perhaps it was 'just me' so en route to PTA, I left it on the bed for my husband to read aloud to our daughter, and the first thing out of his mouth when I came home was, "I can't believe you'd BUY [...] like that!" To put this in context, we are not 'high brow' folks by any means, but also are not big fans of pop culture sarcasm (e.g. Rugrats, South Park, etc.) If you think those role models are fine, then this book is for you. Personally, I feel we've got enough 'junk food' out there without being subjected to the literary equivalent of same.
Rating:
Summary: Loved it!
Review: My daugther (age 5) gets the biggest kick out of these stories. She started reading Junie B. Jones in her kindergarten. We soon got this set and read them at home as well. Barbara Park captures the sweetness,wit and true life experiences of a typical 5-6 year old. Of course, Junie B. is a little over the top but that just makes her more magical. My daughter and I laugh right out loud as we read. As my daughter says, Junie B. is a bit of a "wild child" but very amusing. I can just imagine Mrs., her mom and dad, etc. and their reaction to her antics. What a treat!
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Summary: BRISA H. age 5
Review: My name is Maggie. I am 24 years old and have 2 daughters, ages 3 and 5. My 5 year old's name is Brisa. She is starting kindergarten in August of 2001. She absolutely loves Junie B Jones and so do I. One day my younger sister Ashley bought her first book (Junie B. Jones and her big fat mouth)at a school fair. My daughters and I got our hands on it and... well we've started a collection. Junie B. is hallarious and she allways has something to say. Now, my daughter Brisa is looking forward to kindergarten. Thanks Junie B. Jones!
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Summary: Give me a break!
Review: I learned to love to read at a very early age. My standardized achievement test were always off the charts in reading and comprehension. It was not the hum-drum everyday books that pulled me away from video games to read. It was the vivid wild imaginative books that kept my attention. I love Junie B., as politically incorrect as she is, she is reality TV in book form. Kids are kids, and all kids say STUPID!
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Summary: So I am not alone, thank goodness.
Review: My daughter is in first grade and they went to see a Junie B. Jones play in the theater.. she loved it and she told me that they were reading the Junie B. Jones books in class everyday.. so I got one for her and when I read it, I just didn't know what to think. Maybe it was just me but as I read in one of the other reviews, I found myself telling her that all what this girl does isn't something that she could do. We had to stop very often for me to repeat that "this isn't very nice", or "you wouldn't do that, would you?". Anyway, I"m glad I'm not the only one.. maybe this book would be good for third or fourth graders who can tell that this is just a fun book to read, sort of like "catcher in the rye" for high school students..
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Summary: Everyone needs to relax!
Review: Reading with our children is supposed to be fun. It is fun for kids to read about bad behavior and it's healthy for them to have an outlet to experience bad behavior. It's a treat for my kids to read about Junie's antics, and they know what is right and what is wrong. The books are fiction and very entertaining. They will definitely put a smile on your child's face, because I'm sure they can relate to what goes on in Junie's world. It also sets an example of what is not appropriate behavior. As long as you are open with your children and set clear guidelines as far as what is acceptable behavior, it is okay to let the children indulge in a bit of fantasy bad behavior. Isn't that what reading is about, going somewhere you wouldn't normally in your every day life?
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Summary: These are recommended reading?
Review: How did these books end up as recommended reading to early readers? These books are included in my kids' accelerated reading program, and I can't believe it. Not only are the books filled with improper English and improper spelling, the repeatedly use words like "dumb" and "stupid". These are punishable words at our school, and will earn you a trip to the principal's office.
I ordered a whole stack of these to add to our library of accelerated reader books, and I am going to throw them out. I wouldn't give them away, because I don't want anyone else to read them.
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Summary: THUMBS DOWN ON THESE BOOKS! STICK TO THE CLASSICS! !
Review: My daughter received these books for Christmas and I was excited because I had heard so many wonderful things about them. After reading the first few chapters of "smelly bus," I was trying to figure out why in the world anyone would recommend these books, especially teachers! Junie uses words like "bestest and runned" not to mention "stupid and dumb." I spent more time explaining to my daughter that we do not talk like that or act like that in school. Do yourself a favor and don't bother buying these books! There are too many good books out there for kids to read. Better to read Laura Ingel Wilder series or other classics!
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