About the Junie B. Jones Book and This Guide

Meet Junie B. Jones, that lovable, mischievous kindergartner, in this hysterical series by Barbara Park. Follow Junie B. from her first day of kindergarten to her last as she gets into one scrape after another. While laughing along with Junie B. and her friends your students will begin to expand their word recognition, develop a sense of story, and begin to read these early chapter books on their own.

In this guide, you can help your class get to know each other and their school by taking part in the "Getting to Know You" and "You Are Here" classroom exercises just as Junie B. and Mrs. do in Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus. Map-making and drawing are two skills explored in these activities.

In Junie B. Jones and Some Sneaky Peeky Spying, Junie B. finds some fun and interesting Band-aids while in the nurse's office. The first student activity (which is easily downloaded from your computer) is another way to help your class learn or practice their shapes and colors.

Junie B. learns how not to be afraid of monsters, while driving her family crazy, in Junie B. Jones Has a Monster Under Her Bed. Your students can use their imaginations and practice their colors by drawing Junie B.'s imaginary monster.

Pre-Reading Activities

In Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus, Junie B. meets new friends on her school bus and in her kindergarten class. Have your students turn to the classmate sitting next to them and describe and or say one nice thing they know about their neighbor.

It is important for children to know what to do in case they find themselves lost. Discuss with your students what they should do if they are in different situations and find themselves separated from an adult. Make a list of what kind of information they should know about themselves ie. their phone number, address etc. and/or who they should call for help.

Junie B. believes there is a monster hiding beneath her bed in Junie B. Jones Has a Monster Under Her Bed. Discuss with your students the different fears that they have and ask for suggestions on how to overcome these fears.

About the Books

#1 Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus
Remember when it was scary to go to school? 'Cause it was your first day and you didn't know anything. Meet Junie B. Jones, kindergartner. She's so scared of the school bus and the meanies on it that when it's time to go home, she doesn't.

Barbara Park says...
"I never missed the bus on purpose," says Barbara Park. But she admits that she did go to the principal's office for talking too much in class. "It's funny," she adds, "because now principals actually want me to come talk in their classrooms!"
©1992 by Barbara Park

#4 Junie B. Jones and Some Sneaky Peeky Spying
Junie B. is the bestest spier in the whole world. That's 'cause she has sneaky feet. And her nose doesn't whistle when she breathes. And real peeky. But when she spies on Mrs., she could get into real trouble!

Barbara Park says...
Has Barbara Park done any sneaky peeky spying of her own? "I used to hide in the hamper a lot when I was little," she admits. "The smell was not good in there!" Now she follows store detectives around, watching them nab shoplifters. "I may look like a regular customer, "she jokes, "but I'm on the case!"
©1994 Barbara Park

#8 Junie B. Jones Has a Monster Under Her Bed
Paulie Allen Puffer said there's a drooling monster under Junie B.'s bed. It creeps onto her pillow at night and practices putting her head in its mouth. Thanks, Paulie! Now poor Junie B. is having her worstest night ever!

Barbara Park says...
"I'm not sure how old I was when I decided that there might be something creepy hiding under my bed. I didn't know what it was, exactly. But I was sure that if I got too close, some sort of hand would reach out and grab my ankle. That's why I taught myself to leap onto my bed from all corners of my room. First, I would get a running start. Then I would spring off the floor, fly through the air, and land safely in the middle of my mattress. Of course, It's embarrassing to even admit such a ridiculous thing now. I mean it. I can't remember the last time I took a running leap like that. No. Honest. I can't. (Okay, fine. It was Saturday night. But if you tell anyone, I'll deny it completely.)"

After a walking tour of her school, Junie B. is more familiar with her school surroundings and the important places to know. Take your students on a walking tour of your school, pointing out such places as: the library/media center, the cafeteria, the nurse's office, the boys'/girls' rooms, the gym, etc. After returning to the classroom, assist students in listing on the blackboard, each location visited along with what each one is for. Then, using their own classroom as a reference point marked You Are Here, assist students in drawing school maps, locating and labeling each place accordingly.

This activity may be tailored for younger students by preparing a map outline for them to fill in. Students may then color in their maps for classroom display. As a follow-up activity, students may write a paragraph describing their walking tour and what they learned along the way.

Printable Activites

For use with #1 Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus
My First Day of School

For use with #4 Junie B. Jones and Some Sneaky Peaking Spying
Junie B.'s Band-Aid Shapes Junie B.'s Silly Dictionary