Junie B. Jones Series

Barbara Park's Junie B. Jones series has been a favorite with young readers since the first volume, Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus, was published in 1992. Junie B. is a kindergartner in Books 1-17, and then a first grader, beginning in No. 18, Junie B., First Grader (At Last!). She is funny, strong-willed, and prone to misunderstandings and mishaps. Junie B. sometimes loses her temper and acts out; she might say she hates another kid, and she and her classmates sometimes push or fight, but there's nothing outside of common childish behavior. One aspect of Junie B. that many parents do find objectionable concerns the character's use of poor grammar; for example, Junie B. will say she "holded it" or something was her "favoritest." A 20th Anniversary edition of the first Junie B. Jones book, published in 2012, includes bonus features from the author and illustrator.