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Junie B. Jones #2
Junie B. Jones and a Little Monkey Business
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.
From the Trade Paperback edition.
From the Trade Paperback edition.
80 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 1, 1993
856 people are currently reading
4538 people want to read
About the author
Barbara Park
380 books1,085 followersBarbara Lynne Park was an American author of children's books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 939 reviews
January 16, 2008
I got this out of the library for my 4yo on a classmate's mom's recommendation.
My 4yo loved it, I hated it. I expect it would be fine for a slightly older kid who would get the "humor", but for my 4yo it was just exposing her for the first time to a bunch of inappropriate stuff.
Specifically:
The grammar is atrocious. It's supposed to be cute, but it sets my teeth on edge. I wouldn't let my daughter talk like that, so why would I read her a book written that way? I corrected it as I read it.
Junie B. is a brat. My daughter and her friends haven't yet gotten to the "you're not my friend" stage, I certainly don't want her learning it from these books! There is a "teaching moment" at the end, but when you're reading it over the course of several days it takes much too long to get to it for the message to sink in.
The language sucks. ;) Lots of "dumb" and "stupid" which my daughter is horrified by, both being "bad words" at preschool.
We may revisit these books when she's older and can understand it all a little better, but hopefully she'll find better books she likes just as much!
My 4yo loved it, I hated it. I expect it would be fine for a slightly older kid who would get the "humor", but for my 4yo it was just exposing her for the first time to a bunch of inappropriate stuff.
Specifically:
The grammar is atrocious. It's supposed to be cute, but it sets my teeth on edge. I wouldn't let my daughter talk like that, so why would I read her a book written that way? I corrected it as I read it.
Junie B. is a brat. My daughter and her friends haven't yet gotten to the "you're not my friend" stage, I certainly don't want her learning it from these books! There is a "teaching moment" at the end, but when you're reading it over the course of several days it takes much too long to get to it for the message to sink in.
The language sucks. ;) Lots of "dumb" and "stupid" which my daughter is horrified by, both being "bad words" at preschool.
We may revisit these books when she's older and can understand it all a little better, but hopefully she'll find better books she likes just as much!
February 14, 2015
Yikes. This book was on a list of recommended books for kindergarteners and first graders. Because it was a quick read, I sat down and previewed it while we were at the library.
The main character was nasty to her parents and teachers, and socially aggressive towards her "best friends;" basically showing every quality that I'd like to prevent in my child. I would never encourage my child to read this book.
Lets give our children a little more credit and not assume that they are little brats just because they are young.
The main character was nasty to her parents and teachers, and socially aggressive towards her "best friends;" basically showing every quality that I'd like to prevent in my child. I would never encourage my child to read this book.
Lets give our children a little more credit and not assume that they are little brats just because they are young.
October 24, 2014
Junie B. is a very anxious 5 year old. She is in kindergarten and her parents had a baby boy. She was very excited about having a baby brother. One day, she was with her grandma and her grandma told her that her bother was "the cutest little monkey". Just like any other 5 year old would do, Junie believed her. She went to school and told all of her friends that her brother was a monkey. Her friends then started giving her presents and bribing her so they would be the first one to see her brother that is said to be a monkey. Eventually Junie B. was sent to the principal's office. He had to call Junie's grandmother so she could clarify that Junie's brother was a baby but he was just cute.
Junie B. Jones is a 5 year old girl in kindergarten. She was happy to be getting a new brother. Toward the end of the book she was not as excited, because she found out her baby brother wasn't a monkey. She is very gullible just like any other little kid.
I recommend this book, or any Junie B. Jones books, for grades 3-5. These ages would like it the most because, they Junie B. is younger like them. They can relate to the same thing Junie B. went through. Although, any age could read it. If you need a good laugh, you have to read a Junie B. book.
Junie B. Jones is a 5 year old girl in kindergarten. She was happy to be getting a new brother. Toward the end of the book she was not as excited, because she found out her baby brother wasn't a monkey. She is very gullible just like any other little kid.
I recommend this book, or any Junie B. Jones books, for grades 3-5. These ages would like it the most because, they Junie B. is younger like them. They can relate to the same thing Junie B. went through. Although, any age could read it. If you need a good laugh, you have to read a Junie B. book.
July 22, 2017
I was entering junior high school in the 90s when the Junie B. Jones series was new, so I was oblivious to them until now, when I am beginning to rotate some short chapter books into my almost 5-year-old's bedtime story routine. On the one hand, I share the other reviewers' concerns about the book's language. As an adult, I appreciate the comedy in Junie B.'s juvenile diction, but as a parent, I want to encourage my son to speak, well, better. On the other hand, I don't think the author of these books expects the kindergarten diva to be a model for readers so much as a point of conversation for kids, their parents, and their teachers. Do I want my son to call his friends stupid and guilt them into giving him their snack tickets and high tops? No, but I am glad these things come up in books so that I can talk with him about them before he faces them in real life. Anyway, whether I love the series or not is beside the point -- I already can tell I will be reading them all, probably multiple times.
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December 20, 2024First/second grade book club! Junie B uses some controversial language (she says dumb)
January 25, 2018
My 4.5 year old loves the Junie B. books so far. I replace some words here or there so that she doesn't go around calling others stupid or dumb...just as I do for some of the language in the beloved Roald Dahl books. Or we pause in the moment and talk about what Junie B. should or shouldn't have said or did and she learns from it. These books have her even more excited for Kindergarten than she already is.
November 10, 2025
4 ★
⋆°.☾⋆.ೃ࿔*:⋆
she’s just a girl
⋆°.☾⋆.ೃ࿔*:⋆
she’s just a girl
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March 2, 2023This is my new podcast
October 11, 2021
That irrepressible kindergartener, Junie B. Jones, is back, this time with a soon-to-be-born little brother. I do not know who I pity more: her mother or her teacher. But their bad luck is our good luck, as this book is sure to delight young kids everywhere.
March 31, 2025
Never gets old lol
March 20, 2013
Summary:
In this book, Junie B. Jones, a kindergartener, is getting a surprise from her mom and dad. When she hears "surprise" she thinks that must mean there is a wrapped present hiding somewhere in the house that she must go find. She searches all over, but is not finding anything. Then her parents inform her that there is not actually a present, but that the surprise is a new baby brother or sister! As exciting as the news may sound, Junie B. is not thrilled. From what she knows about babies is that they are P.U. She certainly doesn't want that in her house.
Unfortunately, she has no choice because the baby is coming very soon. In fact, a few nights later her mom and dad go to the hospital and Junie B. is left with her Grandma and Grandpa Miller, who she refers to as Frank and Helen. That evening Grandma Miller goes to the hospital and leaves Junie B. with her grandpa. This means pie and just pie for dinner along with five waffles and endless syrup the next morning! Before leaving for school, Grandma Miller comes with great news. Junie B. Jones has a new little brother who is just the "cutest little monkey". She's told he has long fingers and toes and a head full of black hair. Junie B. is so excited! She loves monkeys! When she gets to school she tells her whole class during show and tell that her new baby brother is a monkey! Many kids don't believe her which gets her into a fight and sent to the principal’s office.
After Junie B. and Principal talk it out a make a phone call to Grandma Miller, it is cleared up the her brother is certainly not a monkey. It was only a figure of speech. The class then goes on to make up examples like, busy bee, eats like a pig, and couch potato. After school that day, Junie B.'s mom and dad are waiting for her, and in her dad's arms is a little yellow bundle with a full head of black hair. He may not be a monkey, but Junie B. loves him!
Response:
I have always enjoyed the Junie B. Jones series of books. She has such a quirky personality that makes it fun to read. My favorite part of these books is just her style. Barbara Parks (the author) really captures the voice of curious little children. Working with small kids proves that kids say the funniest things without even trying. Reading about the silly life of Junie B. Jones reminds me of kids that I work with so it's always a joy to read them.
I think that this book in particular sends a message of welcoming new experiences and overcoming challenges. Junie B. did not want a baby in the house. Not only do they smell, but they get all the new stuff while Junie B. is stuck with her old stuff. This event is common in the lives of many young children. I think that this book is a great way for children to find out that they are not the only one's going through that type of situation.
Classroom Connection:
The Junie B. Jones books seem to me, to be a good book to do as a class read aloud. It does not focus on a real subject that the kids can learn knowledge from, but it develops their literature and expands their thinking. I would read this book to my class if we were discussing family dynamics or there were a few children that were all expecting new siblings. I would also keep this book in my classroom library for children to borrow if they are in a similar situation. Also, an activity to go along with this would be for children to draw a picture of what it was like when they got a new sibling or what they would want their sibling to look like. Then they could write a description to go along with it.
Text Complexity:
This book has an interest level of grades 3-5, however I see that more as a range of when it can be read independently. I know that children in grades 1 and 2 would get a kick out of the humorous style of Junie B. Jones. The book has a grade equivalent of 2 and a lexile of 410.
In this book, Junie B. Jones, a kindergartener, is getting a surprise from her mom and dad. When she hears "surprise" she thinks that must mean there is a wrapped present hiding somewhere in the house that she must go find. She searches all over, but is not finding anything. Then her parents inform her that there is not actually a present, but that the surprise is a new baby brother or sister! As exciting as the news may sound, Junie B. is not thrilled. From what she knows about babies is that they are P.U. She certainly doesn't want that in her house.
Unfortunately, she has no choice because the baby is coming very soon. In fact, a few nights later her mom and dad go to the hospital and Junie B. is left with her Grandma and Grandpa Miller, who she refers to as Frank and Helen. That evening Grandma Miller goes to the hospital and leaves Junie B. with her grandpa. This means pie and just pie for dinner along with five waffles and endless syrup the next morning! Before leaving for school, Grandma Miller comes with great news. Junie B. Jones has a new little brother who is just the "cutest little monkey". She's told he has long fingers and toes and a head full of black hair. Junie B. is so excited! She loves monkeys! When she gets to school she tells her whole class during show and tell that her new baby brother is a monkey! Many kids don't believe her which gets her into a fight and sent to the principal’s office.
After Junie B. and Principal talk it out a make a phone call to Grandma Miller, it is cleared up the her brother is certainly not a monkey. It was only a figure of speech. The class then goes on to make up examples like, busy bee, eats like a pig, and couch potato. After school that day, Junie B.'s mom and dad are waiting for her, and in her dad's arms is a little yellow bundle with a full head of black hair. He may not be a monkey, but Junie B. loves him!
Response:
I have always enjoyed the Junie B. Jones series of books. She has such a quirky personality that makes it fun to read. My favorite part of these books is just her style. Barbara Parks (the author) really captures the voice of curious little children. Working with small kids proves that kids say the funniest things without even trying. Reading about the silly life of Junie B. Jones reminds me of kids that I work with so it's always a joy to read them.
I think that this book in particular sends a message of welcoming new experiences and overcoming challenges. Junie B. did not want a baby in the house. Not only do they smell, but they get all the new stuff while Junie B. is stuck with her old stuff. This event is common in the lives of many young children. I think that this book is a great way for children to find out that they are not the only one's going through that type of situation.
Classroom Connection:
The Junie B. Jones books seem to me, to be a good book to do as a class read aloud. It does not focus on a real subject that the kids can learn knowledge from, but it develops their literature and expands their thinking. I would read this book to my class if we were discussing family dynamics or there were a few children that were all expecting new siblings. I would also keep this book in my classroom library for children to borrow if they are in a similar situation. Also, an activity to go along with this would be for children to draw a picture of what it was like when they got a new sibling or what they would want their sibling to look like. Then they could write a description to go along with it.
Text Complexity:
This book has an interest level of grades 3-5, however I see that more as a range of when it can be read independently. I know that children in grades 1 and 2 would get a kick out of the humorous style of Junie B. Jones. The book has a grade equivalent of 2 and a lexile of 410.
August 4, 2016
The writing is terrible and anti-productive for teaching kids learning to read,
The main character is a hateful, disrespectful, socially aggressive brat.
There's a lot of uses of words many small kids would consider "bad" such as "stupid".
It's a cute story. & the art is nice.
I get that the whole thing is ment to be funny.
But mostly it's painful.
And VERY annoying.
This isn't the sort of behavior & character qualities is want to reinforce in my neice or any child.
Not recommended.
The main character is a hateful, disrespectful, socially aggressive brat.
There's a lot of uses of words many small kids would consider "bad" such as "stupid".
It's a cute story. & the art is nice.
I get that the whole thing is ment to be funny.
But mostly it's painful.
And VERY annoying.
This isn't the sort of behavior & character qualities is want to reinforce in my neice or any child.
Not recommended.
July 29, 2025
Reread. "I like this book because it's about people getting born, like Junie B. Jones' brother. She wants to bring him to school on Pet Day because her grandma called the baby a monkey. He wasn't a real monkey-just trying to describe he was cute." -age 7
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March 10, 2022okay, i need to stop reading these now.
this kid, junie b, is such a bad influence 💀 jeez. how did my parents ever let me read these books?
i guess they accomplished making a reader out of me, but no. they are just so bad lmao.
this kid, junie b, is such a bad influence 💀 jeez. how did my parents ever let me read these books?
i guess they accomplished making a reader out of me, but no. they are just so bad lmao.
January 31, 2023
“This Book Made me happy. And funny” - Ella
January 2, 2026
Read this when I was a kid....actually my mom did an amazing job of reading this series aloud for my brothers and me, and I am revisiting it and YES it holds up well! Love Junie B
July 21, 2025
This was our last book of the year in year 1! I thought it said too much “dumb” and “stupid” and “hate” and words like that that I don’t use in my classroom. At one point I had a sharpie marker scribbling out entire sentences. Can’t believe I was censoring a book like that! I guess these books didn’t screw me up too much as a kid though. Anyways, here are the reviews…
‘My favourite part was when Junie B. Jones thought her brother was a monkey’
‘My favourite part was when Junie B. thought her brother was a real alive monkey brother’
‘I liked the part when Junie B. Jones was holding Grace’s hand’
‘I liked it when Junie B. Jones went to the principal’s office’
‘I liked the part when Junie B. Jones said she found the snack tickets on the floor’
‘I really liked the part when Grace and Lucille were giving all their stuff to Junie B. Jones’
‘I liked the part when they were giving Junie shoes’
‘I loved the part when Junie B. Jones got told off from the principal because Junie B. Jones told her friends to give all their things to herself’
‘I liked when Junie B. Jones had to sit in the naughty chair’
‘I liked the part when Junie B Jones met her brother and called him Monkey Brother’
‘I liked Junie Jones gets told off by the principals’
‘I like the part when Junie B. Jones says the principal has a rubber head’
‘My favourite part was when her friends gave all her things to Junie B Jones and her mum bought her a locket’
‘I like the part when Junie B Jones’s mum had a baby’
‘I liked the part when Junie B. Jones called her principal’s bald head a rubber’
‘My favourite part was when Junie B. Jones thought her brother was a monkey’
‘My favourite part was when Junie B. thought her brother was a real alive monkey brother’
‘I liked the part when Junie B. Jones was holding Grace’s hand’
‘I liked it when Junie B. Jones went to the principal’s office’
‘I liked the part when Junie B. Jones said she found the snack tickets on the floor’
‘I really liked the part when Grace and Lucille were giving all their stuff to Junie B. Jones’
‘I liked the part when they were giving Junie shoes’
‘I loved the part when Junie B. Jones got told off from the principal because Junie B. Jones told her friends to give all their things to herself’
‘I liked when Junie B. Jones had to sit in the naughty chair’
‘I liked the part when Junie B Jones met her brother and called him Monkey Brother’
‘I liked Junie Jones gets told off by the principals’
‘I like the part when Junie B. Jones says the principal has a rubber head’
‘My favourite part was when her friends gave all her things to Junie B Jones and her mum bought her a locket’
‘I like the part when Junie B Jones’s mum had a baby’
‘I liked the part when Junie B. Jones called her principal’s bald head a rubber’
November 20, 2023
My youngest daughter read this series in the 90s and since she really liked them, I thought I'd read them aloud to my three grandchildren. Yikes! I read the first two, and they will be the last. I understand that Junie B.'s mischievous, naughty antics are supposed to be cute and funny, but I thought they were neither. The books are riddled with the "bad" words that I taught my kids and they teach their kids not to use (stupid, dumb, and fat, for example) and the way she treats her friends is terrible! While my grandkids may have enjoyed the stories, I can surely find more likeable characters for their Grandma story time.
October 28, 2025
My son gets to rate our read alouds. He said 5 stars.
I have introduced him to Junie B Jones because when I was in elementary school, I LOVED when my teachers read them as read alouds. I thought they were so funny and I can remember laughing with my classmates as we sat criss cross applesauce on the ground listening.
It was also the first chapter book I read on my own. I remember reading it to my grandma as she crocheted and cooked and I was shocked that I was able to read it by myself in one day to her!
Now, as an adult and reading it to my five year old I realize that Junie B Jones talks in a way I wouldn’t want my son to talk and acts in ways that he certainly would be disciplined for. This has not stopped us from reading these books. I sensor some of the words as I read aloud, like changing “stupid” to “silly”. Sometimes I skip some sentences that reflect Junie B’s anger and strong emotions and sometimes I also will stop after reading a sentence like, “I hate her” and we talk about how Junie B is so upset but still shouldn’t talk that way about her best friend. There are teaching moments! Because after all, these books are from the perspective of a 5 year old! Often times I’ll stop reading after Junie B does something crazy and just look up at my son who will say, “she should NOT do that!”. No explanation needed, he already knows.
Overall, I don’t remember getting any wild and crazy ideas after listening to this when I was a child. I feel that the stories always resolve in a way where a lesson is taught and the readers hear the lessons Junie B is learning regarding her actions as well. (Ex: she eats candy off the ground in the next book and thinks it’s fine because she blew on it. The janitor explains that blowing on something does not remove the germs and that she should not touch or eat things off the ground, ha!)
I have introduced him to Junie B Jones because when I was in elementary school, I LOVED when my teachers read them as read alouds. I thought they were so funny and I can remember laughing with my classmates as we sat criss cross applesauce on the ground listening.
It was also the first chapter book I read on my own. I remember reading it to my grandma as she crocheted and cooked and I was shocked that I was able to read it by myself in one day to her!
Now, as an adult and reading it to my five year old I realize that Junie B Jones talks in a way I wouldn’t want my son to talk and acts in ways that he certainly would be disciplined for. This has not stopped us from reading these books. I sensor some of the words as I read aloud, like changing “stupid” to “silly”. Sometimes I skip some sentences that reflect Junie B’s anger and strong emotions and sometimes I also will stop after reading a sentence like, “I hate her” and we talk about how Junie B is so upset but still shouldn’t talk that way about her best friend. There are teaching moments! Because after all, these books are from the perspective of a 5 year old! Often times I’ll stop reading after Junie B does something crazy and just look up at my son who will say, “she should NOT do that!”. No explanation needed, he already knows.
Overall, I don’t remember getting any wild and crazy ideas after listening to this when I was a child. I feel that the stories always resolve in a way where a lesson is taught and the readers hear the lessons Junie B is learning regarding her actions as well. (Ex: she eats candy off the ground in the next book and thinks it’s fine because she blew on it. The janitor explains that blowing on something does not remove the germs and that she should not touch or eat things off the ground, ha!)
October 17, 2021
ElaFaye is eating these books up. Our reading sessions going to bed have seriously increased in length. We went back to the library today and picked up books 3-5. I am loving this bonding time we have together.
February 24, 2024
“Presents are my very favorite things in the whole world”
November 11, 2024
"'We'll see' is another word for no."
These books are HILARIOUS! My mom used to read them to us when we were little. I even had the Junie B. Jones diary, which I desperately wish I could find somewhere...
These books are HILARIOUS! My mom used to read them to us when we were little. I even had the Junie B. Jones diary, which I desperately wish I could find somewhere...
January 13, 2025
I loved this one! It reminded me of my little sister being born and I would call her my little monkey. It was very sweet!
May 20, 2025
so nostalgic!!!
September 14, 2025
This one made not just Annie but me laugh. Annie squealed when we finished and I showed her I’ve already got number 3 ready to go. She’s in it.
July 19, 2022
Wow, what can I say? I guess I just couldn't get enough of Junie B. 💖 And if I'm being honest, I think Lucille is my favorite, she's like the Regina George of kindergarten 🤩
March 31, 2023
SLAYYYY. I LOVE JUNIE B WITH MY WHOLE ENTIRE HEART. I DON'T CARE IF YOU ARE SEVEN OR SEVENTY-SEVEN. YOU ARE NEVER TOO OLD TO READ JUNIE B.
January 16, 2026
Man you gotta hate that big dumb Jim
First time reading my fav childhood series with my daughter!
First time reading my fav childhood series with my daughter!
September 18, 2025
adorable. my 6 year old and I laughed out loud as we read it together.
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April 1, 2025Don’t mind me I’m feeling nostalgic and want to read these
Displaying 1 - 30 of 939 reviews