Junie B., First Grader (at Last!) (Junie B. Jones, No. 18)

A Junie B. Jones Book, #18

Hurray, hurray for a brand-new school year!

Only, for Junie B. Jones, things are not actually that pleasant. ’Cause first grade means having to get used to a whole new classroom. And a whole new teacher. And a whole new bunch of strange children. But here’s the worst thing of all: when Junie B. tries to read words on the chalkboard, she can’t seem to see what everyone else is seeing! Is it
possible she might actually end up wearing glasses?

It had to happen. The spunkiest sass mouth in room 9 finally graduated from kindergarten. Now the inimitable, irrepressible Junie B. is a first grader--at last! ("My name is Junie B. I think I have mentioned that to you before... B., B., B., B., B.")

The 18th installment in Barbara Park's popular beginning chapter-book series puts our temperamental heroine into a brand-new class where she has to make brand-new friends. And as if that weren't hard enough, her brand-new teacher, Mr. Scary ("He made that name up, I believe," Junie writes in a journal assignment), figures out that she needs eyeglasses. Will all the other kids laugh at her? Will that obnoxious Excellent-plus-getting May become even more obnoxious?

With Park's solid track record, the appeal of Junie B. just can't be doubted-she can be a good friend to readers her age, which is a difficult grade level to find fun books for. And even kids who don't need glasses will likely still giggle along as Junie B. plays "the E game" (an eye test) with the nurse, and kids who do need glasses will find themselves with a strong (if a little scared at first) ally. (Ages 4 to 8) --Paul Hughes