Junie B., First Grader: One-Man Band

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Junie B. Jones is thrilled. "The whole entire first grade" is planning a kickball tournament, and this feisty first grader daydreams about being the star of Room One. Unfortunately, where Junie B. goes, trouble must follow. "And it’s called, I accidentally kicked my ball over the fence. And I didn’t want to go get it. So I had to find something else to kick." That something else turns out to be her mom’s watering can--which happens to be full at the time. Now Junie B. has an owie on her piggy toe and it looks like she won't be able to participate in the tournament. But wait! Her friend Sheldon can't play kickball either, due to a spectacular fall in the classroom. Maybe these two can come up with an alternate plan that will still allow Junie B. to be the star!

FROM OUR EDITORS

The Barnes & Noble Review
On with the show! Everyone's favorite first-grader delivers a hilarious halftime performance in Barbara Park's 22nd entry in the Junie B. Jones series.

When she kicks her mom's cow-painted watering can by "accident," Junie gets an unpleasant toe injury, putting her right out of the first-grade kickball tournament. Classmate Sheldon then bumps his head as she's describing her woes to the class, so instead of sitting on the tournament sidelines, the two volunteer to be the tournament's halftime entertainment. Junie hatches a plan to learn juggling, and Sheldon offers to play the cymbals and sing, but when the time comes for them to perform, her pal gets cold feet and takes off. What will Junie do? Garner her confidence and put on a great show, of course!

With more hilarious antics and that zippy voice that fans have come to adore, Junie will surely charm your socks off yet again. She's one heroine who deserves all the cheers she gets. Matt Warner

ANNOTATION

When Junie B. cannot play in the school kickball tournament because of a sore toe, she brings her unique talents to the halftime show.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Go Room One! It's time for the first-grade kickball tournament! Only, here's the problem. Junie B. has hurt her big piggy toe and she can't play on the team. So, now what? She definitely doesn't want to be a cheerleader. But wait! Maybe she could be in Sheldon's halftime show! Then all eyes would be on her! And she would be the star! Hurray! Hurray! Junie B. . . . in the spotlight. What could possibly go wrong?

FROM THE CRITICS

Children's Literature - Susan Hepler, Ph.D.

Lovers of Junie will welcome this next installment, when the first grade kickball tournament takes place only Junie can't play because of an injured toe. She, a classmate Sheldon, and Mr. Scary, the teacher, fall upon the idea of a halftime show complete with cymbals and juggling. Only Junie can't juggle yet and practices madly but not very confidently. But she manages to pull it off when the fans throw leftover lunch biscuits at her and, in crunch time, Junie delivers. The feisty heroine of her own story manages to have readers laughing at the way she sees things and says them. Brunkus gives an endearing and contemporary look to the characters and in nine short chapters coming in at under 80 pages, newly launched readers will move right through this book in the "Junie B. Jones" series. 2003, Random House, Ages 6 to 9.

School Library Journal