Junie B. Jones
Cover art of the first edition of the first entry, Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus
AuthorBarbara Park
IllustratorDenise Brunkus
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
GenreChildren's literature, comedy, realistic fiction
PublisherRandom House
Published1992
No. of books31
Websitejuniebjones.com

Junie B. Jones is a children's book series written by Barbara Park and illustrated by Denise Brunkus. Published by Random House from 1992 to 2013, the story centers on "almost six-year-old" Junie B. Jones and her adventures in kindergarten and first grade.[1]

Books

Since the original book was published by Random House in 1992, a total of 31 Junie B. Jones books have been published. 28 are stories that take place in the Junie B. Jones series, and three are activity books entitled Junie B.'s Essential Survival Guide, Top-Secret Personal Beeswax: A Journal by Junie B. (and me!), and Junie B.'s These Puzzles Hurt My Brain! Book. Several box sets, multiple book bind-ups, and a Valentine's Day card collection have also been released. The series has been translated into Spanish, Italian and French.

Reception

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 to 2009.[2] 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, bad spelling, and grammar."[3]

While Barbara Park appreciated being on banned lists with writers she respected (including Maya Angelou and Toni Morrison), she stopped reading information about her books because the comments were "too hurtful."[4] She once wrote "Some people believe that the value of a children's book can be measured only in terms of the moral lessons it tries to impose or the perfect role models it offers. Personally, I happen to think that a book is of extraordinary value if it gives the reader nothing more than a smile or two. In fact, I happen to think that's huge."[5]

Adaptations

Theatrical plays

  • Junie B. Jones the Musical, theatrical adaptation by Marcy Heisler and Zina Goldrich, Theatreworks USA[6][7]
  • Junie B. Jones the Musical JR, adaptation of Junie B. Jones the Musical intended to be performed by young actors
  • Junie B. Jones and a Little Monkey Business, theatrical adaptation by Joan Cushing
  • Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus Tour, Random House,[8] 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: Jingle Bells, Batman Smells, theatrical adaptation by Allison Gregory; music composed by Rob Witmer
  • Junie B. Jones: First Grader: Shipwrecked, theatrical adaptation by Allison Gregory
  • Junie B. Jones and a Little Monkey Business, theatrical adaptation performed at B Street Theatre

Video games

  • Junie B. Jones Top-Secret Personal Beeswax educational video game for the LeapFrog Leapster learning system

Film

When asked about the topic of a feature-length film adaptation based on the books, Barbara Park stated in an interview that "Junie B. has been pretty successful already living in the readers' imaginations, so I am happy with that."[9]

Television

On June 14, 2022, it was announced that Nickelodeon is developing an adaptation of the books.[10]

References

  1. ↑ Fox, Margalit (2013-11-18). "Barbara Park, Author of Junie B. Jones Series, Dies at 66". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2017-02-05.
  2. ↑ "Top 100 Banned/Challenged Books: 2000-2009". American Library Association. 2013-03-26. Retrieved 2017-01-24.
  3. ↑ Goodnow, Cecelia (2005). "Junie B. well-loved despite complaints". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2019-06-15.
  4. ↑ Grossman, Anna Jane (July 26, 2007). "Is Junie B. Jones Talking Trash?". The New York Times. Retrieved February 22, 2014.
  5. ↑ Minzesheimer, Bob (November 17, 2013). "'Junie B. Jones' author Barbara Park dies at 66". USA Today. Retrieved 2017-02-05.
  6. ↑ Van Gelder, Lawrence (2005-11-12). Irrepressible, Bespectacled Girl Tackles First Grade. The New York Times.
  7. ↑ Welcome to TheatreworksUSA
  8. ↑ Official Junie B. Jones site.
  9. ↑ "Junie B. Jones".
  10. ↑ Bharanidharan, Sadhana (June 14, 2022). "Shauna Phelan & Zack Olin Upped At Nick". Kidscreen. Retrieved July 23, 2022.
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