Barbara Park

Through a misunderstanding, Junie B. thinks that her new baby brother is really a baby monkey, and her report of this news creates excitement and trouble in her kindergarten class.

Junie B. Jones and a Little Monkey Business

Briar's Reviews

I used to have almost every book in this series as a kid. I was completely obsessed with this series. I read it over and over and over and over... Probably a bit too much? I ended up donating all of my books to a local charity almost a decade ago, but I still wanted to pick these books up and do some reviews for them. Why not? Jumping back into my youth and staring nostalgia in the face sounded like a fun idea!

As an adult, I can see why kids love this book. Also, as an adult, I can see why this series can be hated by adults.

Junie B. Jones is a troublesome kid who has a big mouth and says rude things. We all know those kids, and Junie B. is one of them. Some of the comedy in this book is amusing - little monkey taken as a real monkey. Picking this book up and being able to smile and roll my eyes at some of the goofy things I realize kids absolutely don't know is fun! I enjoyed jumping back into it.

This book is for kids though. As an adult, it's not my thing! I wouldn't pick this book up for fun. I pick this book up to look back at my youth and see where I'm at now. I can see why I liked it - it's funny, it's brash, we all feel like Junie B. sometimes when we get in trouble for just doing our honest best. We think we're saying the right things and don't realize that we weren't right the whole time as a kid. I can relate.

I do suggest not taking your time with this book. There are some good lessons to come out of them, but you don't want to leave off at a chapter where Junie B. Jones is telling everyone they are dumb bunnies or fat. Junie B. is very aggressive and rude to her friends in this book, so you also might want to give a lesson about bullying! If you can get past that... you're gold! 

Overall, this is a great series for young readers. It's goofy, fun and silly! 

Three out of five stars.