The Barnes & Noble Review
We all love Miss Junie B. Jones, the wonderfully outrageous and infinitely amusing six-year-old created by author Barbara Park.
In Junie B. Jones Is a Graduation Girl, our little moppet is set to graduate from kindergarten into the mysterious first grade, where she wonders if she'll see her friends, her school, or her principal again. Then she receives her starched white graduation gown -- a garment simply made for twirling about and dancing -- and all such worries go out of her head. In spite of her teacher's warning not to touch the caps and gowns until graduation day, Junie can't resist trying them on for everyone: Mom, Grandpa, even her stuffed animal friends. Before she knows it, there's purple grape juice on her gown. (As Junie puts it, "Grape juice can go wrong.") Devastated, she hides the evidence until the big day, when she dresses at school. When her purple stains are discovered, she bursts into tears -- but in a commendable act of kindness and friendship, her classmates dot their gowns with colored markers so Junie will not stand out.
Barbara Park has created a one-of-a-kind character with Junie B. Jones. With each book in this delightful series, we are invited to enter the mind of a hilarious, quick-witted, and buoyant work of wonder. (Amy Barkat)
