Junie B. Jones is (almost) a Flower Girl

Title: Junie B. Jones is (almost) a Flower Girl
Author: Barbara Park
Illustrator: Denise Brunkus
Publisher and Date of Publication: Random House, Inc., 1999
Genre: Novel, Realistic Fiction
Age Range: 1st-3rd grade

Summary: Six-year old Junie B. Jones has just broken up with her boyfriend and is devistated. Then she finds out that her aunt Flo is getting married. She tells her friends and they are excited for her and show her how to act like a flower girl but then Junie learns that Aunt Flo has already asked someone else, the groom's little sister, to be the flower girl and Junie is jealous and crushed. At the end, Junie compromises and she holds the train and helps the flower girl get ready.

Response: I liked reading this book and I think that young readers, first-second grade, would enjoy hearing Junie's story. Children this age are usually the right age to be flower girls or ring bearers so they understand how Junie feels. The illustrations are well drawn in the book. They are not in color but they help children to understand the book when they can see a person to put with the story. It could help children that are moving from picture books to chapter books to still a picture every now and then to help catch them up. In the end when the real flower girl and Junie became friends, it shows readers that you can become friends with your enemy.

Teaching Ideas: I think this book would be a good read for young readers transitioning from picture to chapter books. I think girls would enjoy this book becaus a lot of young girls enjoy playing dress-up or being in a wedding. This story could teach kids to find a way to get along with you enemy and be happy for them.