Junie B. Jones and a Little Monkey Business (Junie B. Jones 2, Library Binding)
#2 of 28 in Junie B. Jones Series
What’s inside...
Meet the World's Funniest Kindergartner-Junie B. Jones! With over 50 million books in print, Barbara Park's New York Times bestselling chapter book series, Junie B. Jones, is a classroom favorite and has been keeping kids laughing-and reading-for over 20 years! In the 2nd Junie B. Jones book, it's pooey on B-A-B-I-E-S until Junie B. finds out that her new dumb old baby brother is a big fat deal. Her two bestest friends are giving her everything they own just to see him. And guess what else? Maybe she can bring him to school on Pet Day. USA TODAY: 'Junie B. is the darling of the young-reader set.' Publisher's Weekly: 'Park convinces beginning readers that Junie B.-and reading-are lots of fun.' Kirkus Reviews: 'Junie's swarms of young fans will continue to delight in her unique take on the world….A hilarious, first-rate read-aloud.' Time Magazine: 'Junie B. Jones is a feisty six-year-old with an endearing penchant for honesty.'
Discussion points
Why do you think Junie B. reacted the way she did when she thought her baby brother was a real monkey?
How did Junie B.'s feelings change throughout the story and why?
What are some ways Junie B. shows her feelings about her new baby brother?
Can you think of a time when something didn't turn out the way you expected, like Junie B.'s experience?
What would you have done if you were in Junie B.’s shoes?
Tip: Role play these questions
Prompt your child to relate personal experiences to Junie B.'s situation, which can boost empathy and understanding.
Discuss Junie B.’s behavior and decisions to help your child analyze characters and improve critical thinking.
Encourage your child to predict what might happen next at various points, which stimulates creativity and reasoning.
Ask your child how they feel about Junie B.’s actions and the outcome, fostering emotional intelligence.
Use differences in characters’ viewpoints to discuss perspective-taking with your child.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Understanding family relationships
Explanation: In the story, Junie B. Jones navigates her relationship with her new baby brother, shedding light on feelings of jealousy and love within a family setting.
Real-World Application: Children are encouraged to explore and express their feelings regarding new family members, helping them manage emotions and strengthen family bonds in real life.
Example Lesson: Importance of honesty
Explanation: Junie B. learns the value of telling the truth after initially exaggerating about her baby brother being a monkey, which leads to misunderstandings.
Real-World Application: This teaches children the consequences of exaggeration and the significance of honesty in fostering trust and clarity in communication.
Example Lesson: Creative thinking and expression
Explanation: Junie B.’s imaginative description of her brother as a 'monkey' highlights her creative thinking, though it leads to confusion.
Real-World Application: It encourages children to engage in creative play and storytelling, while also learning where to draw the line between fantasy and reality.
Example Lesson: Coping with disappointment
Explanation: Junie B. faces disappointment when her classmates laugh at her misunderstanding about her brother. She learns to cope and correct her mistake.
Real-World Application: This encourages resilience and problem-solving in children when faced with teasing or embarrassment, teaching them how to recover and learn from such experiences.