I remember Junie B. Jones books from when I was a kid! I’m excited to explore a little more about the brains behind the fun character Junie B. and participate in Booking Across the USA!
For Booking Across the USA I chose to highlight an author from Arizona. I was born in Arizona and love the state’s beauty. I wanted to find a good children’s book author and came across Barbara Park. Learning more about her and her naturally humorous whit has brought a smile to my face as I see the love Barbara had for her writing and making others laugh.
Barbara Park
Barbara was born in 1947 in New Jersey, but spent a majority of her life in Arizona. There she raised her sons and activity participated in her grandsons’ lives. In high school she felt she had a calling for humor writing and went on to get a college degree. After submitting several manuscripts to Young Readers, her first books were published in the early 1980’s. Don’t Make Me Smile became the first book Barbara had published over the course of several decades of writing.
Barbara died in 2013 after many years of battling ovarian cancer. While going through chemotherapy with other women, she was one of the founders of Sisters in Survival (“SIS”). This nonprofit organization offers financial assistance to those that are battling ovarian cancer. If you would like to support the mission Barbara started, you can find more information at Sisters in Survival.
Junie B. Jones and Some Sneaky Peeky Spying
Junie B. Jones is Barbara Park’s most popular fictional character. Juniper Beatrice “Junie B.” Jones made her debut in the Junie B. Jones book series in 1992. Since then there have been 27 books published about Junie B. and there are plans for many more.
Junie B. is a kindergartner then a first grader in her series. She is fun and outrageous much like her creator, Barbara. Junie B.’s character was created to put a smile on every child’s face and make reading fun!
The fourth book in the Junie B. Jones series is Junie B. Jones and Some Sneaky Peeky Spying. The kids and I decided to read this book aloud until Samuel finishes his reading program. Such a fun book to read to children that are not reading yet! This books is listed as a beginning reader book for young readers and you can find it in many series packs or on it’s own on Amazon.
In Junie B. Jones and Some Sneaky Peeky Spying, Junie B. decides to spy on her teacher, Grandpa, and little brother. It’s all fun an games until she could get in real trouble! You will laugh the whole way as your children read this hilarious book.
Fun with Junie B.
After reading Junie B. Jones and Some Sneaky Peeky Spying, I decided to find some fun activities for the kids.
First, we played a classic game of hide and seek. Just like Junie B. Jones hid from her Grandpa and teacher, the kids hide from each other. Such a fun hands on game to help the kids understand being sneaky!
Junie B. Jones has her own website with online games, printable work, and lots of fun kindergartner antics. There are several other sites with extension activities for Junie B. Jones. I found a site that has a Junie B. Jones printable pack. The kids and I worked through this pack to have a little more fun with Junie B.
Avalyn really loves paper dolls and had a lot of fun dressing Junie B. in all sorts of funny attire.
Samuel has found a new love for mazes. This Junie B. Jones maze was a great activity for him!
Booking Across the USA
Check in on the other featured authors on bloggers from across the USA!
edSnapshots, Incredibly Confident Kids, Child Led Life, Crayonbox Learning, Enchanted Homeschooling Mom,The Educators’ Spin On It, The Art Curator for Kids, My Little Me ,Kathys Cluttered Mind, Story Time Secrets, True Aim, The Jenny Evolution, Primary Inspired,KC Edventures, Chicken Babies, Mosswood Connections, Country Fun Childcare, Picture Books & Piourettes, Mama Smiles, Buggy and Buddy, Wise Owl Factory, Bambini Travel,Inspiration Laboratories , Kids Yoga Stories, Elementary Matters, Just Another Mom,Teaching With Grace, All Done Monkey, Something 2 Offer, ALLterNATIVE Learning, Cutting Tiny Bites, JDaniels4’s Mom, Living Montessori Now, Pragmatic Mom, Kid World Citizen,Teach Beside Me, Kitchen Floor Crafts, Mama Miss, A Book Long Enough, and Brain Power Boy
My first graders always loved Junie B. Jones stories. They make for great read alouds and fun creative play. Thanks! Pinned!
Carolyn Wilhelm’ last post was: Betsy Bowen Minnesota Author and Illustrator
I agree! My kids loved this book. Can’t wait to get to the rest of the series and then again when the kids are older reading them to me!
Looks like a lot of fun! We are particularly interested in mazes right now so were happy to see this one. So fun to “visit” Arizona through your post 🙂
Sheila @ BrainPowerBoy’ last post was: Lois Ehlert Books and an Activity (Booking Across The USA)
Thank you! We had a good time working through these activities!
The Junie B. Jones books are great books for reluctant readers. Thanks for sharing all the companion activities!
Shelah’ last post was: 2015 BOOKING ACROSS THE USA: LOUISIANA
I think so too! Such fun and silly stories. You can’t help be happy reading through the thoughts and adventures of Junie B. Jones!
The paper dolls look so much fun. Thank you for being part of the Booking Across the USA project!
Jodie @ Growing Book by Book’ last post was: Books for Kids: Chocolate Milk, Por Favor!
Thank you! Can’t wait for next year. 🙂
Oh my I have never heard of this character! I’m hopping over to Amazon to check out her books – and those printables look fab fun!
Clare’ last post was: Art and Craft for Kids: F is for Footprint Craft