Junie B., First Grader: Boo...and I MEAN It!

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In the 24th installment of Barbara Park's Junie B. Jones series of illustrated early chapter books, Boo... And I Mean It!, the precocious first grader is worried about Halloween--with good reason. Paulie Allen Puffer has given her five good reasons, in fact, not least of which is that real witches and monsters go trick-or-treating on Halloween (no costumes necessary); if you carve pumpkins with pointy teeth, they will bite your feet; and...shhh...candy corn isn't really corn. Junie B. goes to great lengths to avoid trick-or-treating altogether, but she finally decides that if she dresses up like Squirty the Clown (a disturbing circus clown who terrified her grandmother by chasing her with a seltzer bottle and making her wear an "unattractive balloon hat"), even the most horrific witches and monsters will be scared off. As ever, her way of expressing herself "I did a groan" and "Chills came on my arms" is grammatically unique, but as you get to know her, more endearing than alarming. Children who have mixed feelings about Halloween festivities will relate to Junie B.'s fears, and they'll be relieved when Halloween passes without a monster attack or pumpkin bite, just a delicious bag of 100% candy. (Ages 4 to 8) --Karin Snelson

Review
“Junie B. is sassy, hilarious, and insightful. . . . Park understands the passions and fears of first-graders.”–Booklist


From the Trade Paperback edition.

From the Inside Flap
Halloween with Junie B. has got to be a scream! Get ready for a “Halloweenie” adventure with the world’s funniest first grader!

“Despite Junie B.’s ascent to the rigors of first grade, Park’s feisty, funny heroine retains her trademark use of language, mirthful malapropisms, and essential larger-than-life personality.”—Kirkus Reviews

“First grade offers a whole year of exciting possibilities for Junie B. . . . As always, Park is in touch with what kids know and how they feel.”—School Library Journal

About the Author
Barbara Park is beloved by millions as the author of the wildly popular Junie B. Jones series. Her Junie B. Jones books are consistently on the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists. Her middle-grade novels, which include Skinnybones, The Kid in the Red Jacket, My Mother Got Married (and Other Disasters), and Mick Harte Was Here, have won over 40 children’s book awards. Ms. Park holds a B.S. in education from the University of Alabama. She has two grown sons and lives with her husband, Richard, in Scottsdale, AZ.


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Halloween becomes a bigger holiday every year, but what if the thought of monsters and witches just makes you scared? Join Junie B., whose hilarious antics and conversation make it okay for any little kid to be scared by a holiday that is supposed to be enchanting. Junie B. solves the problem by talking to her stuffed animals and dressing up as a clown who is supposed to tease the monsters and scare them back. In this case the only one who is scared is Junie B.'s dad, who returns from a business trip to find her asleep in bed wearing all her clown make-up. This chapter book is a perfect read-aloud in families or classrooms both because of the sensitive, realistic way it deals with common childhood fears but also because there are so many lines that will make both adults and children giggle or grin: "Me and Philip Johnny Bob (a stuffed elephant) took a real nap. It was an accident. 'Cause both of us are too old for naps. But sometimes naps just happen." And then there is the etiquette of Halloween: "I got raisins. And a pencil. And a box of trail mix. I said thank you to all of those people. 'This is the fibbingest day of my life,' I told my mother." Junie B.—and Barbara Park—are at their funny best once again. 2004, Random House, Ages 4 to 8.


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