Advanced Literature for Children: Realistic Fiction

Park, Barbara. JUNIE B., FIRST GRADER: BOSS OF LUNCH. New York: Random House, 2002.

Junie B. Jones is finally a first grader! Park hits another one out of the park by crawling into the skin of a 6 year old who appears to this writer to have a very pronounced case of ADHD. Park is at once authentic in Junie's antics, tone, and language. The book proves equally effective and enjoyable as a beginning chapter book read silently by a student or aloud by an adult. Junie B. is ecstatic when she discovers Mrs. Gladys Gutzman, her favorite lunchroom lady, is back this school year. Junie B's kindergarten teacher, Mrs., has been replaced by Mr. Scary, who along with Mrs. Gutzman finally agree that if Junie B. learns to obey a few school rules she can be a lunchroom helper the next day. Behind the scenes the next day Junie is surprised to learn the kitchen smells like "stinkle" and keeping in character Junie shares her feelings with Mrs. Gutzman. Junie meets with mixed success at her new job as lunchroom helper but is redeemed when Mrs. Gutzman, who is surprisingly as fond of Junie B. as Junie is of her, makes an exception and brings sugar cookies to the 1st graders even though they are no longer kindergartners. Junie B. gets to put on her "real and professional" plastic mitts and pass out cookies to her classmates. A welcome addition to the series that will be enjoyed by students both new to and familar with the other books in the series. Most of the parents and teachers who might be concerned with Junie's manners, grammar, or respect for authority will undoubtly come onboard when observing children devour these titles and automatically want more despite the many distractions of childhood in the technological age. While written for a 1st-3rd grade audience they have wide appeal to K-5th year students.