[.ca] Junie B. Jones First Boxed Set Ever! (ISBN 0375813616)

From Amazon.com:
Outrageously sassy Junie B. Jones will make young kids crave their daily dose of reading. And with this handy four-volume boxed set, whether they start with Junie B. Jones and Some Sneaky Peeky Spying or Junie B. Jones and Her Big Fat Mouth, readers will laugh out loud at Junie B.'s hilarious mishaps and breathtakingly horrible grammar. Although the books should come with a caveat--Kids, don't try this syntax at home!--alert parents and teachers can use her malapropisms as learning opportunities for their impressionable charges. The set contains the first four titles in Barbara Park's extensive series (energetically illustrated by Denise Brunkus), including Junie B. Jones and a Little Monkey Business and Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus. All are great for reading aloud. (Ages 5 to 8) --Emilie Coulter

What's with the grammar?:
I've read these books many times to my son who just turned six years old, and we're anxiously awaiting Junie B's experience as a first grader. Junie B. is a somewhat sassy, very entertaining little girl who copes with a variety of problems and issues typical Kindergarteners face each day. These are charming little stories, with cute illustrations, and Junie B. is clearly loved by her parents and has plenty of friends. My son pays close attention to these stories, and whenever my wife and I say, "We'll see" to him, he says, "We'll see is another word for no," which is a common Junie B. saying. But I have one concern, and I've docked a star from the rating because of it: Barbara Park's mode of narrating through Junie B. has her using an abundance of incorrect verb tenses (i.e. "we never had much guests" and "so she just holded my hand.") As a result, since our son is just beginning to learn to read and acquire a basic command of the language, we're constantly having to correct the incorrect word usages he's picked up from these books. It's charming in print, but not nearly as much when your youngster starts picking that stuff up.

THe best, most hilarious kids books ever!:
These books are some of the best, most hilarious kids books ever made! If you're looking for a perfect funny series, this is the one! And anyways, this series has a 5 year-old girl named Junie B. Junie B. has a dog named Tickle. She also has a grandpa that likes lemon pie. And her grandma has a bird. Junie B. interesting girl that has two friends named Lucille and Grace. Lucille is a girl that is richest girl in the school (well, she actually is) and she wears velvet and satin dresses. And Grace is the fastest runner in Junie B.'s class. But Grace doesn't wear fancy clothes. Junie B. (main character) has a dog and a fish stick as a pet. But the best thing in Junie B.'s life is her Grandpa Miller because as a babysitter he doesn't follow the rules! And sometimes Junie B. calls him Frank. Anyways the B. in Junie's name stands for Beatrice, but she doesn't like Beatrice, she just likes B and that's all. I think these books are out of this world! Junie B. is a wonderful, unique, creative girl that is truly one of a kind. Junie B. has first-grader books too if your not into kindergarten.

OUTSTANDING Book Series:
Junie B. books have propelled my 6 year old daughter into the wonderful world of reading chapter books on her own. She loves them so much that she can't put them down, and she recently started a Junie B. "library" collection. In her words: "I love Barbara Park (the author). She's SO good at writting the way kids talk and think. Barbara Park and Junie B. rock." As a parent, I was skeptical at first. About a year ago, a neighbor (who is very heavy-hearted and serious about life) said she didn't like the books because she thought Junie B. had too much of an attitude. She loaned us one (The Stinky Smelly Bus) so that I could see for myself. I was hesitent, but read the book to my daughter. In summary, although Junie B. is far from perfect, she is surrounded by very clever, compassionate adults, she always learns from her mistakes, and she has a big heart. Additionally, the interest in my daughter's eyes and the big belly laughs she let out during the reading convinced me to buy a second book in the series. I'm now a full force supporter of Junie B., and I enjoy seeing my daughter trade the various books in the series with her friends at school. Junie B. Jones books are their (and my) FAVORITE BY FAR! Thank you Barbara Park for lighting up my daughter's reading world and keeping it fun and interesting!!! A final note: I do NOT recommend these books for children under six; they may misinterpret the wonderful messages Barbara Park is conveying, and focus only on Junie B.'s "spirited" personality (just as some of the other reviewers here have done!).

Junie B.:
I have all these except book 4. Stupid Smelly Bus: Remember when it was scary to go to school? Cause it was your first day and you didn't know anything. Meet Junie B. Jones, kidnergartner. She's so scared of the school bus, and the meanies on it that when it's time to go home, she doesn't. A Little Monkey Business: It's pooey on B-A-B-I-E-S until... Junie B. finds out that her new dumb old baby brother is a big fat deal. Her two bestest friends are giving her everything they own just to see him. And guess what else? Maybe she can bring him to school on Pet Day. Big Fat Mouth: Sometimes life is P.U. Junie B's having a rough week. First she got punishment for shooting off her mouth in kindergarten. And now she's in big trouble again! Cause Monday is Job Day, and Junie B. told her class she's got the bestest job of all. Only what is it? You also get the book Some Sneaky Peeky Spying.

AN EDUCATION STUDENT FROM INDIANA:
I have read the reviews, and then proceeded to read the numerous books about Junie B. Jones. I have had numerous education classes on teaching reading. I fell in love with Junie B. She is 6 years old. How do 6 years old talk?? They use 100% correct grammar?? I am 22 years old, and even I don't se 100% correct grammar; nor if you anaylsis yourself, I'm sure you may realize, HEY me either. Granted when I read the first book of Junie, I was like HOLD up.. was that a mis-print?? But to be honest, take any 6 year old, that is the way they talk. Lots of schools use these books because it is on the child's ability level in reading. Children enjoy reading, children enjoy humor-- this promotes the love for literacy. Barbara Park, provides a read ablility level for many students in schools today. Some who are in the 6th grade level still only read at a 2nd grade level. Some have had bad experiences with reading-- they hate reading. This is absolutely horrible. Children should love to read; in life, reading is required in practically everything-- and its important to bestill upon all children that reading is FUN-- and they can all be successful too, although behind in reading levels. The worst thing as a "soon to be teacher" is to know that there will be children out there that will have no desire to read. Number one, because they can't; number two, because they find no interest in the materials they are being forced to read. Barbara Park is an excellent author; she really makes the children understand how Junie B. feels-- and as far as the grammar, granted it caught me off guard as well the first time, but you can use this book to kill lots of birds with one stone. The book provides an opportunity for students to be successful readers, become fluent in reading, have fun doing so, and it is important as a parent or teacher to talk with your child about reading. When this communication is used, talk about how when writing or talking, we have better ways of expressing ourselves. Make sure to address that Junie B. is 6 years old, and as she gets older much like the child, her grammar will increase to that of the social norm of "correct grammar." But until she reaches that stage of her educational career, I would suggest that we allow students to read these books, they offer material that the child can relate to and be successful at. You might even learn a thing or two from Junie-- so sit back and read the lesson Junie learns in all her books. Because if you fully read, she may do mischievous acts, however a valuable lesson is gained at the end of every book that talks about why she should not have acted the way she did. With that being said, get to reading, and allow children to grow with Junie B. Jones.