Mary Beth Z. First Book Review

Summary:
Junie B. Jones and a Little Monkey Business is about a misunderstanding that occurs. Junie B. Jones thinks that her new baby brother is really a baby monkey, and when she shares this with her class at show and tell, the news creates excitement and inevitably trouble.

Analysis:
           I find this particular Junie B. Jones novel really informational as well as enjoyable for kids of all ages. Children who read this book can learn about the process of a family having a new baby and how it will affect people who are already in the family, including themselves. As a teacher I would incorporate a fun art project where we draw and color a nursery for a new member of our family. Junie B. Jones and a Little Monkey Business would also be educational for children as well because if their own family is going through the process of having a new brother or sister, the child could relate with Junie B. and understand that everything will be okay in the end because Junie B. was able to conquer this experience in her book while having fun.
           In response to the illustrations (usually one per chapter), the illustrations demonstrate the perspective of Junie B. and also demonstrate the perceptions of the people around her in each particular scene. In a classroom setting if I were reading this book aloud to my kids I could ask them to reflect on how something made them feel and allow them to share with the class either in art form or in an open discussion format.
            Another idea I had is when Junie B. is describing her cute little monkey brother to her class during show and tell, to have the kids draw out how they perceive Junie B's little brother as I am reading the description aloud to the class. This would provide for creativity in the classroom by giving children the opportunity to picture this new baby in their minds and then transfer that image onto paper. Junie B. Jones books are all very comical and relatable for children. Junie B. is a kindergartener exploring her world and reporting back to her readers on it. This provides new readers a way to see themselves in her books and get lost in the world of literature. As a child the only books I truly enjoyed were Junie B. Jones books and I feel strongly about having these books in the classroom.


Works Cited:

Park, B. (1993). Junie B. Jones and a Little Monkey Business. New York: Random House.