Barbara Park > Quotes

“A little glitter can turn your whole day around.”
― Barbara Park, Junie B., First Grader: Shipwrecked

“I don't even like clowns. Clowns are not normal people.”
― Barbara Park, Junie B. Jones and That Meanie Jim's Birthday

“Our nannas are losers.”
― Barbara Park, Junie B. Jones Is a Party Animal

“And sometimes when you're very mixed-up inside, you do things you know you shouldn't do.”
― Barbara Park, Rosie Swanson: Fourth-Grade Geek for President

“Sometimes grown ups don't act their right old age”
― Barbara Park

“Can't we be friends?'
I hate your guts, Frankovitch'
Can't our guts be friends?”
― Barbara Park

“When you’re in between dreams, you get to lean back and relax and stop trying so hard. Trying to be somebody, I mean. It’s not as exciting as being a television star, but it’s not that bad, either. You just have to learn to be satisfied with the way you are for a while. Not Forever. Just until you’re finished resting.”
― Barbara Park

“The upside to grief is it takes away your appetite. When people say you look good they really mean it. Nature's thoughtful that way.”
― Barbara Park, Mick Harte Was Here

“That Grace looked annoyed at me.

"I didn't say you would go to jail, Junie B.," she said. "I just wish you would say the word correctly, that's all.”
― Barbara Park, Junie B. Jones and the Mushy Gushy Valentime

“Sometimes I think he’s the kind of friend that grownups call a ‘fair-weather friend.’ That means when everything’s going smoothly, he’s the best friend a guy could want. But as soon as something goes wrong…(he) sort of turns on you.”
― Barbara Park, Almost Starring Skinnybones

“Y are you called the cheese man?”
― Barbara Park, Junie B. Jones Has a Monster Under Her Bed

“Okay, here is the problem,” I said. “Assignment means schoolwork, and Hawaii means vacation. And children do not actually like to mix those two items.”
― Barbara Park, Junie B., First Grader: Aloha-ha-ha!

“Then Mrs. confiscated my shiny glitter jar. Confiscate is the school word for yanked it right out of my hand.”
― Barbara Park, Junie B. Jones and a Little Monkey Business

“How many minutes is shortly?” I asked. “Is it one minute or eight minutes or eleven minutes? On account of if it's one minute, I can wait, probably. But eleven minutes would be out of the question.” Mr. Scary walked back to my desk. And he sat me in my chair. I glanced up at him. “All I'm looking for is a rough estimate,” I said.”
― Barbara Park, Junie B., First Grader: Aloha-ha-ha!

“Yeah, but what does that even mean... heaven? Because see, I need to be able to put him somewhere, Zo. In my head, I mean. I need to be able to close my eyes and picture him and know he's okay. And just saying the word heaven doesn't help that much. Because like what is heaven, exactly? And where is it? And what do you do there?”
― Barbara Park, Mick Harte Was Here

“They really liked each other, too. Not like boyfriend and girlfriend, I don't mean. But they both had naturally curly hair, and they both thought professional wrestling was real--which are two pretty strong bonds, when you think about it.”
― Barbara Park, Mick Harte Was Here

“probably.”
― Barbara Park, Junie B. Jones Is Not a Crook

“My name is Junie B. Jones. The B stands for Beatrice. Except I don’t like Beatrice. I just like B and that’s all.”
― Barbara Park, Junie B. Jones and Her Big Fat Mouth

“Sometimes a little pat is all a friend can do.”
― Barbara Park, Junie B., First Grader: Dumb Bunny

“Except for not that Jim.” After a while, I started to get a little bit thirsty. That’s what happens when chalk sprinkles get in your throat.”
― Barbara Park, Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus

“comment.”
― Barbara Park, Junie B., First Grader: Jingle Bells, Batman Smells! (P.S. So Does May.)

“CRANBERRY JELLY IN A CAN 2. EXPLODING BISCUITS 3. NIPSY DOODLES 4. RAINBOW SPRINKLES 5. TOILET PAPER 6. MONEY”
― Barbara Park, Junie B. Jones #28: Turkeys We Have Loved and Eaten

“I still hadn't cried. It wasn't that kind of pain yet. Mostly, it was just this total feeling of emptiness in my gut. Like a cannonball had been shot cleanly through my middle. And I swear to god, I actually remember reaching under my sweatshirt and touching my stomach to see if you could feel the hole from the outside.”
― Barbara Park, Mick Harte Was Here

“After that I behaved myself very good. I sat up real straight. And I did all my work. Work is when you use your brain and a pencil.”
― Barbara Park, Junie B.'s First Ever Ebook Collection!

“Says my brother, that’s who. And he’s in third grade. And he says teachers have to keep their house a secret. Or else kids might go there and throw rotten tomatoes.”
― Barbara Park, Junie B.'s First Ever Ebook Collection!

“Jingle bells, Batman smells, Robin laid an egg. Batmobile Lost its wheel, And Joker got away.”
― Barbara Park, Junie B., First Grader: Jingle Bells, Batman Smells! (P.S. So Does May.)

“I have fur hands, William. See them? See my fur hands?”
― Barbara Park, Junie B. Jones Is Not a Crook

“Cause punishment takes the friendly right out of you.”
― Barbara Park, Junie B.'s First Ever Ebook Collection!

“stomach—which is where the stupid baby is. “I don’t think I’m going to like this dumb baby,” I said. Mother stopped hugging me. “Don’t say that, Junie B. Of course you will,” she said. “Of course I won’t,” I talked back. “Because it won’t even let me hug you very good. And anyway, I don’t even know its stupid dumb name.” Then Mother sat down in the new rocking chair. And she tried to put me on her lap. Only I wouldn’t fit. So she just holded my hand. “That’s because Daddy and I haven’t picked a name for the baby yet,” she explained. “We want a name that’s a little bit different. You know, something cute like Junie B. Jones. A name that people will remember.” And so I thought and thought very hard. And then I clapped my hands together real loud. “Hey! I know one!” I said very excited. “It’s the cafeteria lady at my school. And her name is Mrs. Gutzman!” Mother frowned a little bit. And so maybe she didn’t hear me, I think. “MRS. GUTZMAN!” I hollered. “That’s a cute name, don’t you think? And I remembered it, too! Even after I only heard it one time, Mrs. Gutzman sticked right in my head!” Mother took a big breath. “Yes, honey. But I’m not sure that Mrs. Gutzman is a good name for a tiny baby.” And so then I scrunched my face up. And I thought and thought all over again. “How ’bout Teeny?” I said. “Teeny would be good.” Mother smiled. “Well, Teeny might be cute while the baby was little. But what would we call him when he grows up?” “Big Teeny!” I called out very happy. Then Mother said, “We’ll see.” Which means no Big Teeny. After that, I didn’t feel so happy anymore. “When’s this dumb bunny baby getting here”
― Barbara Park, Junie B. Jones and a Little Monkey Business

“After that, I covered my whole entire self with bubbles.”
― Barbara Park, Junie B. Jones Is (Almost) a Flower Girl