Junie B. Jones

and some Sneaky Peeky Spying

by Barbara Park

This is a really cute book that my first-grader brought home from her school library. I started reading it to her at bedtime, then went back and snuck the book off her bed after she fell asleep, so I could finish it myself! It's pretty funny, I was laughing out loud. Enjoyed it so much that if my daughter doesn't bring more Junie B. Jones home from school, I just might seek them out at our public library for some light reading when I need a laugh.

Junie B. Jones and Some Sneaky Peeky Spying is about a mischievous little kindergartener who likes to spy on people. In her own words, she tells how spying gets her in trouble, but she's dying of curiosity to find out where her teacher lives (because teachers are not regular people, you know). Everyone tells her to leave the issue alone, but when she sees her teacher at the grocery store, June B. Jones just has to find out what she's up to! She follows her around and sees her teacher do something she thinks is wrong. But she doesn't tell because she's worried her teacher will be punished. Next day at school, her friend says if she doesn't tell her secret, her head will blow up. Junie B. runs to the school nurse in a panic, and accidentally blurts out her secret... the fallout, you'll have to read the book to discover!

Part of the humor in this book is from Junie B.'s very kid-specific perspective on things, and part is from her poor grammar and frequent mixing-up of words, which makes it fun to figure out what she really means. She tells things just as they are, as she sees them- nobody can tell if you're really sorry even when you're made to apologize, for example. Some parents might want to make sure their kids understand that Junie B. is really being naughty but I think it comes across pretty clear that this is all in fun, plus various adults' opinions are shared in the book that show she really does need to face consequences. It's refreshing to hear the kid's voice, though, pointing out that even grownups make mistakes, among other things.

rating: 4/5 ........ 66 pages, 1994

more opinions at:
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Nicole's Literature Blog
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