Junie B. Jones

Junie B. Jones is a children's book series written by Barbara Park and illustrated by Denise Brunkus. Published by Random House from 1992-2013, the stories begin with Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus, in which Junie B. is an "almost six year old" starting her first day of kindergarten.

Characters

Junie (Beatrice) Jones: The series' title character and main protagonist, Junie B., lives with her parents Robert and Susan, and her baby brother Ollie. Her birthday is in the month of June (hence her name). She also has a dog named Tickle. She is 5 years old in the first kindergarten adventures, and six years old in the first grade stories. Junie B. is friendly and has a bright personality.^[1] In kindergarten, her two best friends are Lucille and Grace. In the first grade, her best friends are Herb, José, and Lennie. Junie B. has two rivals: Jim in kindergarten and May in first grade. In kindergarten, her classroom is Room Nine, and in First Grade, Room One. Junie B.'s favorite foods are spaghetti and meatballs, lemon pie, and ice cream. She has many catchphrases, such as "Wowie wow wow!", "Yeah, only", and "Hello! How are you today?". She is afraid of roosters because she thinks "they can peck your head into a nub", ponies because she thinks "they can stomple you to the ground and kill you", and clowns because she thinks "they are not normal people". She is shown to have reddish-brown hair and blue-green eyes. In the kindergarten series she was shown with short hair and a bow, she wears a pink sweater, purple skirt, white socks and signature black Mary Jane shoes. In the first grade series she had longer, messier hair, wore pants, and the bow was dropped, being replaced by her purple glasses. In Junie B. Jones is A Beauty Shop Guy, she is shown that she wants to be a "beauty shop guy" herself.

It is unknown which state the Jones family is from, but it is possible that they live in a warm area due to there never appearing to be any snow and Junie B. sweating with her jacket on in "Junie B. Jones is Not a Crook." Also, Ollie was born in December (since he was 10 months old in October), but there is a scene in "A Little Monkey Business" where Junie B. and Ricardo are outside, and neither of them are wearing winter clothes. Some fans say that Junie B. is from Arizona like Barbara Park, but this has never been confirmed.

Robert "Bob" Jones: Junie B. and Ollie's loving father, whom Junie B. calls "Daddy." He takes Junie B. to the beauty shop with him in Junie B. Jones is a Beauty Shop Guy, where she causes a disaster. In Junie B., First Grader: One Man Band, he teaches Junie B. to juggle. Robert is said to be playful and silly around his daughter. In Junie B. Jones is a Beauty Shop Guy, Junie B. says "he has other names too. Some people call him Bob, and other people call him Bobby. Plus today Mother called him Ace."

Philip Johnny Bob: Junie B.'s beloved stuffed elephant. She brings him on trips with her, as seen in Junie B. Jones is a Party Animal and Aloha-ha-ha!. Junie B. seems to feel a lot safer when he is around, as shown in Junie B. Jones has a Monster Under her Bed and BOO! And I MEAN It!. In "Aloha-ha-ha!", Junie B.'s mother brings her a new Hawaiian Barbie doll which Junie B. names Delores. Philip Johnny Bob is shown to dislike Delores because of her "pointy, hard hands" poking him in the backpack while on the trip to Hawaii. Delores is only mentioned in this book.

Susan Jones: Junie B.'s and Ollie's protective but caring mother, whom Junie B. calls "Mother." Since Junie B. loves ice cream, Susan made a rule at the grocery store that Junie B. can't shout "I WANT ICE CREAM!" and not to call her a "big meanie" when she won't buy it. It's possible that Susan's maiden name was Susan B. Miller, and that Frank and Helen Miller are Susan's parents. She is shown to have short, blonde hair and wears make-up. In Top Secret Personal Beeswax, Junie B. says "sometimes Daddy calls her Buttercup. That is ridiculous, I think." In Junie B.'s Essential Survival Guide to School she is said to have been at a school called Brainerd Elementary in 1st grade between 1983 and 1984 on her old report card, which she did not do so well on. Junie B. sees the report card and says "Mother was a bad kid."

Oliver "Ollie" Jones: Junie B.'s baby brother. He is born in the book Junie B. Jones and a Little Monkey Business. He is said to be ten months old in the month of October, so he is probably born in December. Junie B. dislikes her brother, and they have somewhat of a sibling rivalry. However, she does show that she cares for him sometimes, like in Junie B., First Grader: Toothless Wonder where Junie B. concludes that Ollie's first tooth was the baby tooth Junie B. lost, and she smiles at him. Ollie's first word was "moo" which was revealed in Junie B., First Grader: BOO...and I MEAN It! which was the reason he was dressed up in a cow suit. In Junie B. Jones and That Meanie Jim's Birthday he is shown to have a hard time to get to sleep .

Frank Miller: Junie B.'s grandfather, or as she calls him, Grampa Miller. Grampa Miller, along with his wife, Helen Miller, babysits for her and her brother while their parents are at work. Junie B. calls Grampa Miller her "favoritest babysitter 'cause he doesn't even follow the 'structions!" In Junie B. Jones and a Little Monkey Business, he is shown to be a smoker and smokes a cigar indoors. Junie B. enjoys helping him fix the upstairs toilet and "touching the big ball that floats on top."

Helen Miller: Junie B.'s grandmother, Grandma Miller. Grandma Miller also babysits for Junie B. and her brother on occasion. Junie B. often calls her grandmother by her first name, Helen, much to Helen's annoyance. Grandma Miller has a pet canary bird named Twitter.

Tickle: Junie B.'s dog of unknown breed. He has short yellowish fur. He has been around since before Junie B. was born. Junie B. practices hairstyling by cutting his fur in "Junie B. Jones is a Beauty Shop Guy". Also, she once fed him sugary cereal, causing him to throw up on a rug. Susan will not allow him on Junie B.'s bed, as revealed in "Junie B. Jones Has a Monster Under Her Bed." He appears less often in the first grade books, implying that he may have died after Top Secret Personal Beeswax.

Friends

Lucille: Junie B.'s rich, beautiful, but rather spoiled best friend in kindergarten. She has a grandmother who pampers her and always gives her what she wants except dogs, since Nana is allergic to them. Although Lucille is in Junie B.'s first grade class, she and Junie B are still good friends, but she gives 2 twins a turn to be her best friend in the beginning of the first grade and befriends the African-American twins, Camille and Chenille (who both resemble Grace somewhat). Junie B. says that she doesn't like Lucille very much in the first grade series, although they somewhat get along during an egg hunt. She also didn't like her in Junie B. Jones and Her Big Fat Mouth. In the kindergarten books, she is shown to have brown hair, although in the first grade books, she is shown to have blond hair. She likes to wear lacy socks with bows on them. She also has an older brother.

Grace (That Grace): Junie B.'s athletic, African-American best friend in kindergarten. Like Junie B., she has a baby brother. Grace is a very fast runner and wears pink high-top sneakers. In contrast with Junie B., Grace is very well-behaved, and she speaks with proper grammar. She sits with Junie B. every day on the school bus in Kindergarten. In first grade she makes a new friend named Bobbi Jean Piper, whom Junie B. shares a rivalry with. In kindergarten, Junie B. calls Grace "That Grace". Grace is known to be competitive and a bit of a show-off. She sometimes fights with Lucille. She also has a younger brother and an older sister. Warren becomes Grace's boyfriend, Junie B. is not ok with it, showing feelings of jealousy. Her grandmother has a condo in Florida.

Ricardo: Junie B.'s "boyfriend" in kindergarten until Junie B. Jones is (Almost) a Flower Girl where Junie B. confronts him about chasing "New" Thelma during recess and says that only boyfriends and girlfriends should chase each other. In which Ricardo tells her that they should start "chasing other people" and leaves, much to Junie B.'s dismay. He likes monkeys.

Paulie Allen Puffer: A boy in Junie B.'s kindergarten class that often tells her scary or funny stories which she always believes are true. In Junie B. Jones Has a Monster Under Her Bed, he tells her about the monster that lives under the bed which rekindles her fear of monsters. In Junie B. Jones is a Graduation Girl he tells her that being in the first grade is really fun because they are the boss of the kindergarteners. He seems to be one of the oldest students in the class, since he turned six in "Junie B. Jones and that Meanie Jim's Birthday." He is best friends with Jim. In Junie B., First Grader: BOO...and I MEAN It! it is said that he tells Junie B. "five scary secrets" from kindergarten. He also has an older brother in the seventh grade.

William: A very shy and soft-spoken boy who Junie B. says would be easy for her to beat up. She refers to him as "Crybaby William". He can be upset very easily as seen in Junie B. Jones and That Meanie Jim's Birthday when she runs past him stealing his invitation. He also has stage fright as seen in Junie B. Jones Smells Something Fishy when he became nervous after the teacher asked him if he'd like to take out his pet bullfrog and also in Junie B. Jones is a Graduation Girl when he tries to run away to the school parking lot during graduation rehearsal. Also in Junie B. Jones Is Captain Field Day when it was almost William's turn to play a game, he told Junie B. Jones he was never good at it, but he came through in the Pull Up game.

Herbert (Herb): Junie B.'s best friend in first grade. He seems to dislike May as much as Junie B. does. In Junie B. Top Secret Personal Beeswax, he and Junie B. seem to have a crush on each other.

José: Another one of Junie B.'s best friends in first grade. He is Hispanic and speaks Spanish. He plays soccer. Sometimes, he greets Junie B. in Spanish. He won the bouquet of flowers for his mom in Junie B., First Grader: Dumb Bunny. He has a sister. José has his own remote control.

Leonard aka Lennie: Another one of Junie B.'s best friends in first grade. He is quiet and almost always agrees with Junie B.. Lennie has spiky hair. He has a washcloth puppet. In Dumb Bunny, he and Shirley mention that they are Jewish.

Sheldon Potts: A good friend of Junie B. in first grade. He is one of a handful of characters whose first and last names are known. Sheldon is known for showing his bare feet in class when taking off his shoes and socks. He can be awfully shy in front of a crowd as revealed in Junie B., First Grader: One Man Band. In Junie B., First Grader: Dumb Bunny, he and Lucille are shown to have a crush on each other. He is shown to have blonde hair. Sheldon takes multi-vitamins due to his many food allergies.

Shirley: another good friend of Junie B. in first grade. Although there is not much is known about her, she sometimes chats with Junie B. She is shown to have short black hair. She has a dog named Stinky. In Dumb Bunny, she mentions that she and Lennie are Jewish.

Roger: a boy with freckles who was in both the kindergarten and first grade classes. Not much is known about him. A boy named Jeff Hooks stole his money once, as revealed in the Christmas book.

Jamal Hall: a boy in the kindergarten class. His mother is the art teacher.

Charlotte: a girl in the kindergarten class. She doesn't always get along with Junie B. In the book Junie B. Jones Has a Peep in Her Pocket, Charlotte sees Junie B.'s drawing of a rooster stuck under a tree and says that she hates it, to which Junie B. replies "You wouldn't say that if your head was a nub, sister." She somewhat resembles May except she doesn't have freckles and wears glasses.

Rivals

May Flower(hahaha): a girl who sits next to Junie B in the first grade part of the series. Junie B.does not like her because she won't say her B in her name and just calls her Junie Jones. She tattletales to Mr. Scary about Junie B. They get into arguments a lot and May gets annoyed with Junie B. when she does something Mr. Scary had told her not to do. Junie B. refers to her as blabber-mouth May. They are never shown to like each other at all. Her last name is Murkee, as revealed in Turkeys We Have Loved And Eaten (And Other Thankful Stuff).

Jim: Junie B. and Jim are said to hate each other until Junie B. Jones and the Mushy Gushy Valentine when he gives a nice valentine to her. He tries to keep it a secret but he accidentally gives the game away when she catches him looking at the card while the rest of the children are on the playground. He tries to cover it up but he realizes that it is too late when she says his words are "sputtery." He then admits that he's always liked her and that she makes Room Nine "sparky." Although the reason is unknown it seems that not a hint of friendship it is shown throughout the rest of the series. Jim as well as most of the kindergarten children are never shown again and calls her "Goony Bird Jones."

Teachers

Mrs.: Junie B.'s kindergarten teacher and in charge of Room Nine. In all of the Kindergarten adventures, Junie B. says: "Her name is Mrs. She has another name too but I just like Mrs. and that's all." In the first book, Junie B. says that she does not remember the teacher's last name. In Junie B. Jones and Some Sneaky Peeky Spying, Junie B. catches Mrs. stealing grapes while at a grocery store and kissing her husband.

Mr. Scary: Junie B.'s kind, warm, first grade teacher at this time. She believes that he made up his name because he is actually very nice and "doesn't even scare her, hardly." He makes his class keep journals, where they write about whatever subjects they want. Mr. Scary often has to break up Junie B. and May's arguments. He can also be very firm when Junie B. and May tattle on each other.

Principal: the principal at Junie B.'s school, whom she believes lives in his office and is "the king of the school, only he doesn't actually wear a crown." She refers to him only as "Principal." They get to know each other pretty well during the kindergarten series since Junie B's antics often wind up getting her sent to the office. Junie B. does not like to go to his office because there is a "grouchy typing lady" in there that is somewhat mean, never smiles, and always "forces" her to sit in a blue chair which she says is "where bad kids have to sit." Her mom eventually made a rule at home that getting herself sent to the office would get her "grounded, young lady."

Gus Vallony: the janitor. He helps Junie B. when she is accidentally locked in the school in Stupid, Smelly Bus, where he was originally known as the "man with the can". She dresses up as a janitor for career day in Big Fat Mouth. He was born in an unknown foreign country. He cleans up "splat-o" (vomit) in Shipwrecked.

Mrs. Gladys Gutzman: the school cafeteria lady. She brings cookies to the kindergarten students. In Boss of Lunch, Junie B. helps her out in the cafeteria after she complains about how the first graders don't get cookies.

Mrs. Weller: the school nurse. In Junie B. Jones and Some Sneaky Peeky Spying she puts a band-aid on Junie B.'s head after Lucille tells her "it's not a good idea to keep secrets inside your head", after which Junie B. runs into the office yelling "my head's gonna blow!" In First Grader At Last! she tells Junie B. that she needs glasses after Mr. Scary finds out she has issues reading from the boards.

Mr. Toot: the music teacher, who is also in charge of the annual Holiday Sing-Along.

Mrs. Hall: the art teacher. She was mentioned in Junie B. Jones and the Yucky Blucky Fruitcake. She has a son named Jamal.

Books

Since the original book was published by Random House in 1992, twenty-eight other Junie B. Jones books have been published. Twenty-seven books belong to the Junie B. Jones Series and there is also a Junie B. Jones Journal. The Junie B. Jones series has also been translated into Spanish and French.

1. Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus (#1) (1992) (ISBN 0-679-82642-4) It's Junie B.'s first school day, and she hates the bus because her new friend Lucille tells her "she will get chocolate milk poured on her head".
2. Junie B. Jones and a Little Monkey Business (#2) (1993) (ISBN 0-679-83886-4) Through a misunderstanding, Junie B. thinks that her new baby brother is really a baby monkey, and her report of this news creates excitement and trouble in her kindergarten class.
3. Junie B. Jones and Her Big Fat Mouth (#3) (1993) (ISBN 0-679-84407-4) Junie B.'s class is having "Job Day" and everyone is excited, except for Junie B.
4. Junie B. Jones and Some Sneaky Peeky Spying (#4) (1994) (ISBN 0-679-85101-1) Junie B.'s penchant for spying on people and her curiosity about the private life of her teacher get her in trouble at kindergarten.
5. Junie B. Jones and the Yucky Blucky Fruitcake (#5) (1995) (ISBN 0-679-86694-9) Junie B looks forward to winning lots of prizes at the school carnival, but a fruitcake was not exactly what she had in mind.
6. Junie B. Jones and That Meanie Jim's Birthday (#6) (1996) (ISBN 0-679-86695-7) Junie B is very upset when Jim, a boy who bullies her in class, plans to invite everyone except her to his birthday party, but her grandfather helps her deal with the situation.
7. Junie B. Jones Loves Handsome Warren (#7) (1996) (ISBN 0-679-86696-5) Unable to compete with her friends' fancy clothes and running abilities, Junie B. finds her own way to make the new boy at school like her.
8. Junie B. Jones Has a Monster Under Her Bed (#8) (1997) (ISBN 0-679-86697-3) During Picture Day when Junie B. is told by Paulie Allen Puffer that a monster lurks under her bed, she takes desperate actions to make it go away, which also causes her get less sleep.
9. Junie B. Jones Is Not a Crook (#9) (1997) (ISBN 0-679-88342-8) Junie B. experiences glee while showing off her new furry mittens, but disaster strikes when they disappear from the playground, and she must find a way to get them back.
10. Junie B. Jones Is a Party Animal (#10) (1997) (ISBN 0-679-88663-X) Junie B.'s friend Lucille invites Junie B. to spend the night at her Nanna's mansion, which causes problems.
11. Junie B. Jones Is a Beauty Shop Guy (#11) (1998) (ISBN 0-679-88931-0) Junie B. believes she has a calling to become a beauty shop lady, and, after practicing on various stuffed animals, decides to move on to a human subject -- herself. Is Junie B. on her way to a great new career, or is she about to have the worst hair day ever?
12. Junie B. Jones Smells Something Fishy (#12) (1998) (ISBN 0-679-89130-7) Frustrated because the rules for her class's Pet Day will not let her take her dog to school, Junie B. considers taking a raccoon, a worm, a dead fish, and other unusual replacements.
13. Junie B. Jones Is (Almost) a Flower Girl (#13) (1999) (ISBN 0-375-80038-7) Junie B.'s Aunt Flo is having a wedding, but Junie B. is not the flower girl and the groom's sister is chosen instead.
14. Junie B. Jones And The Mushy Gushy Valentine (#14) (1999) (ISBN 0-375-80039-5) When Junie B. receives a special valentine on Valentine's Day, she tries to find out who in her kindergarten class is her secret admirer.
15. Junie B. Jones Has a Peep in Her Pocket (#15) (2000) (ISBN 0-375-80040-9) When Junie B. learns that her kindergarten class is going on a field trip to a farm, she worries about being attacked by a rooster.
16. Junie B. Jones Is Captain Field Day (#16) (2001) (ISBN 0-375-80291-6) As the captain of Room Nine's field day team, Junie B. tries to rally her troops after they lose several events.
17. Junie B. Jones Is a Graduation Girl (#17) (2001) (ISBN 0-375-90292-9) Junie B. has just turned six and is looking forward to her kindergarten graduation, but when she accidentally stains the white gown she could not resist trying on, she is afraid graduation is ruined.
18. Junie B., First Grader (at last!) (#18) (2001) (ISBN 0-375-80293-2) Junie B. becomes a first grader but she has trouble reading the boards which forces her to get glasses.
19. Junie B., First Grader: Boss of Lunch (#19) (2002) (ISBN 0-375-81517-1) Junie B. helps around the cafeteria after complaining to Mrs. Gutzman that the first graders don't get cookies.
20. Junie B., First Grader: Toothless Wonder (#20) (2002) (ISBN 0-375-80295-9) Junie B. Jones learns some interesting things about the Tooth Fairy when she becomes the first student in Room One to lose an upper tooth.
21. Junie B., First Grader: Cheater Pants (#21) (2003) (ISBN 0-375-82301-8) When her father will not let her stay up late to do her homework, Junie B. copies a classmate's paper.
22. Junie B., First Grader: One-Man Band (#22) (2003) (ISBN 0-375-82522-3) After getting injuries resulting from kicking a watering can and having to be in the halftime show with Sheldon at the school's kickball tournament, Sheldon doesn't want to be in the band, so Junie B. does it all herself.
23. Junie B., First Grader: Shipwrecked (#23) (2004) (ISBN 0-375-82804-4) Junie B. plays a ship in a school play about Christopher Columbus.
24. Junie B., First Grader: Boo...and I MEAN IT! (#24) (2004) (ISBN 978-0-375-82806-5) With Halloween approaching, Junie B. needs to find a costume that will scare off monsters that she believes will be out on the holiday.
25. Junie B., First Grader: Jingle Bells, Batman Smells (P.S. So Does May) (#25) (2005) (ISBN 0-375-82808-7) Junie B. wishes that May would stop being such a tattletale, but when she is stuck as May's Secret Santa, it becomes real trouble.
26. Junie B., First Grader: Aloha-ha-ha! (#26) (2006) (ISBN 0-375-83403-6) Junie B. manages to find trouble both before and during a trip to Hawaii and records each incident in a photo journal given to her by her teacher.
27. Junie B., First Grader: Dumb Bunny! (#27) (2007) (ISBN 9780375838095) Junie B. is determined to win the grand prize at Lucille's Easter egg hunt--a playdate in Lucille's heated swimming pool.
28. Junie B., First Grader: Turkeys We Have Loved and Eaten (and Other Thankful Stuff) (#28) (2012) (ISBN 978-0-375-87063-7) To celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday, Mr. Scary's first grade class prepares a Thankful List for the school contest, but Junie B. finds it hard to be grateful for squash or Tattletale May.
29. Top-Secret, Personal Beeswax: A Journal by Junie B. (#29)(and Me!) (2003) (ISBN 9780375823756). A diary where Junie B. talks about her life, and comes with pages the reader can write in.
30. Junie B's Essential Survival Guide To School (#30)(2009) In this Junie B. book, Junie B. teaches you how to survive school and what she would do if she is a teacher.
31. Junie B., First Grader: Turkeys We Have Loved and Eaten (And other thankful stuff) (#31) (2012) The class celebrates Thanksgiving, where the prize for the best Thankful List is a "disgusting" pumpkin pie. This was the 20th anniversary book.
32. Junie B., First Grader: a New Year! Memories of First Grade (# 32) (TBA)
33. These Puzzles Hurt My Brain! (2011) An activity book with puzzles based on each book's theme.

Tie-in products include plush dolls, the First Ever Junie B-Shirt (ISBN 9780375831256).

Adaptations

Plays

• Junie B. Jones, theatrical adaptation by Marcy Heisler and Zina Goldrich, Theatreworks USA^[2][3]
• Junie B. Jones and a Little Monkey Business, theatrical adaptation by Joan Cushing
• Junie B. Jones The Stupid Smelly Bus Tour, Random House,^[4] Tour by Momentum Worldwide
• 2008 Tour - Caitlin Thurnauer as Junie B. Jones, Jay Paranada as Mr. Woo. Tour Managed by Michael Barth
• Junie B. Jones Top-Secret Personal Beeswax educational video game for the LeapFrog Leapster Learning System
• Junie B. Jones: Jingle Bells, Batman Smells, theatrical adaptation by Allison Gregory; Childsplay. Music composed by Rob Witmer
• Junie B. Jones: First Grader: Shipwrecked, theatrical adaptation by Allison Gregory; Childsplay
• Junie B Jones and a Little Monkey Business, theatrical adaptation performed at B Street Theatre.

Film

The only mentioning of a feature-length film based on the books comes from a question and answer thread froms by saying that "Junie B has been pretty successful already living in the readers imagination, so I am happy with that."^[5]

Challenges

The Junie B. Jones series came in at #71 on the American Library Association's list of the Top 100 Banned or Challenged Books from 2000-2009.^[6] Reasons cited are poor social values taught by the books and Junie B. Jones not being considered a good role model due to her mouthiness and bad spelling and grammar.^[7] While Junie B. Jones writer Barbara Park appreciated being on banned lists with writers she respected (like Maya Angelou and Toni Morrison), she stopped reading information about her books because the comments were "too hurtful".^[8]

References

External links

• Junie B Jones - Random House Website
• Author Barbara Park - Random House Website
• Junie B. Jones Holds Questionable Appropriateness