Junie B. Jones and Her Big Fat Mouth

Junie B. Jones #3

by Barbara Park, Denise Brunkus (Illustrator)

Sometimes life is P.U.

Junie B.'s having a rough week. First she got punishment for shooting off her mouth in kindergarten. And now she's in big trouble again! 'Cause Monday is Job Day, and Junie B. told her class that she's got the bestest job of all. Only, what the heck is it?

Genres: Childrens, Fiction, Chapter Books, Humor, Realistic Fiction, Juvenile, Middle Grade

69 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

Barbara Lynne Park was an American author of children's books.

Reviews

[Miriam · Rating 4 out of 5]

People who say that Junie B. isn't a good role model or a good thing for children are very mistaken, misleading, and WRONG. To pick on her spelling/grammar?? She's in KINDERGARTEN. She's mouthy because she's THAT GIRL. She's honest! Junie B is relatable, fun, and REAL. To challenge these books is to challenge the late Barbra Park and I believe that Barbara Park will forever be that girl for creating such a fun, lovable, understandable Junie B. When she stood up and said that 'girls could be anything they wanted to be' in this book I wanted to cheer! I WILL be reading more. Junie B. has CHARACTER, which is what a LOT of characters today are missing!!

[Lisa · Rating 1 out of 5]

These are horrible books for kids. I started reading them to my kindergartner. She loves them, but she has also started acting just like Junie-horrible, bratty and mouthy. All these books do is give kids ideas of how to misbehave. And her grammar is horrible. I would not let your kids read these, nor would I read any to them.

[Librosconkylie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Educational and funny! Having fun with all the nostalgic reads lately

[Ivonne Rovira · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Junie B. Jones and her hilarious hijinks. Why? Because she’s not my student, that’s why! As a teacher, I love to read about the most destructive, self-involved and misbehaving child in literary history — and I’m including the funny papers’ Dennis the Menace! Thank God she is not in my class, though!

In this third chapter book, Junie B. shoots off her mouth, bragging about her cosplay for Job Day at kindergarten. As so often happens with boasting, Junie B. is hit with unintended repercussions. While some complain about Junie B.’s bad grammar and misbehavior, Barbara Park’s books always contain the moral that doing bad things will always boomerang and hit you in the head.

[Joel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was fun to read aloud to my 5-year-old, because Junie B. does a lot of yelling and has bad grammar (significantly worse than my own kid).

But that's also why I probably won't read any more of them to her for a while. I don't need to give her any additional help learning how to act like a brat. And I read books to her partially to teach her good grammar.*

*winner of the 2017 Fun Dad Award

[Norberto Leyva · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book I read was “Junie B. Jones and her Big Fat Mouth.” It was a really funny book and some of the words were a little difficult for me at times. The story is basically about a kindergarten girl whose teacher her she can dress up like her favorite career. Some ideas were painters, superheroes, and police officer. Junie claimed she wanted to be all three, and the other kids made fun of her. She was upset and took it out on her family. Monday morning she returns to school and Junie dressed up as a janitor, because they were the superheros of the school.

Junie is the main character and she is in kindergarten. She is always talking and usually gets herself into trouble. Grace is Junie’s best friend. William is a kindergartner who makes fun of Junie because of her desire to be all three careers. Gus is the janitor and he is important to show that janitors have important jobs just like other careers.

The story takes place at the school in room nine, a bus, and Junie’s house. The story takes place from Friday through Tuesday in modern times.

The main message is not to judge others by a career they want to have when they grow up. A janitor is looked at as a lower job by some people when in reality it is very important.

I would recommend this book to any boy or girl who likes humorous books about a little girl who finds some type of conflict that gets resolved in the end.

[Kira Simion · Rating 4 out of 5]

All jobs are important and Junie B. Jones has got the moxie to do any of them!

[Erika · Rating 5 out of 5]

Relatable!

[anjali · Rating 3 out of 5]

Title: Junie B. Jones and Her Big Fat Mouth

Author: Barbara Park

Series: Junie B. Jones #3

Rating: ★★★

Summary: Sometimes life is P.U. Junie B.’s having a rough week. First she got punishment for shooting her mouth off in kindergarten. And now she’s in big trouble again! ’Cause Monday is Job Day, and Junie B. told her class that she’s got the bestest job of all. Only, what the heck is it?

Review: Like any Junie B. Jones book: it's hard to even say.

Things I Loved: N/A

Things I Hated: Grammar. Every time.

[melhara · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5/5

As with the first two books, Junie B. Jones is an extremely unlikeable child. I did feel like this book was marginally better than the first two as Junie B. seems to be somewhat aware that she should think before she speaks. I also like that the Janitor got some recognition in this book - caretakers don't usually get the thanks and appreciation that they deserve.

Despite the few positives that this book offers, Junie B. is still an annoying brat and probably a terrible influence on young readers.

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Part of a personal challenge to read all of my boyfriend's and his sister's childhood books before we donate and give them away.

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My average rating for this series so far: 1.88/5
My reviews for the books I've read in this series:
Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus (1.5/5) | Junie B. Jones and Little Monkey Business (1.5/5) | June B. Jones and Her Big Fat Mouth (1.5/5) | Junie B. Jones and Some Sneaky Peaky Spying (1.5/5) | Junie B. Jones and the Yucky Blucky Fruitcake (2/5) | Junie B. Jones and That Mean Jim's Birthday (1.5/5) | Junie B. Jones Loves Handsome Warren (2.5/5) | Junie B. Jones Has a Monster Under Her Bed (3/5)

[Ally · Rating 3 out of 5]

Junie b really said appreciate minimum wage worker and I respect that.

[Neils Barringer · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

[Savannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

My class read Junie B Jones and Her Big Fat Mouth this week!! Reviews to come…

[Myrah]

Whole series soooo fire you just had to be there

[Erin R · Rating 1 out of 5]

This short chapter book describes Junie B. Jones’ experience with “job day” as a kindergartener. Her flights of fancy, thoughtless outbursts and quick wit give insights into the life of a kindergartener wondering what to be when she grows up. After much deliberation, Junie B. settles on copying one of her school heroes, the janitor, and declares to her class that she will also be janitor one day.

This very humorous book explores deeper issues of self-discovery and growing up, therefore I would classify it as contemporary realistic fiction. The reading level may be appropriate for 2nd-4th grade, however I would personally be extremely wary of incorporating it into my classroom in any formal way. Junie B. and her classmates’ language and attitudes are very inappropriate for the classroom climate I hope to one day foster. The characters are constantly insulting one another, complaining, and generally disrespecting everyone they meet. This is not done in a constructive way either as it is more just to get some laughs out of the reader than anything else. It has the potential to teach kids that inappropriate and unkind humor is acceptable if others find it funny. I would potentially include the Junie B. Jones books in my classroom library for independent reading, but would have no other structured coursework related to it.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

No, I'm not crazy. My girls and I have started the series. We just finished #3 last night. I may have a broken nose because of it. LITERALLY. No joking. We LOVE Junie B. My girls act just like her at home.

[Jill · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wish there were a little more adult addressing of Junie's calling people stupid. Still a cute book, but a little too rude for my taste.

[Sabrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Me and my big fat mouth”

[Charlotte Heijerman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought that the book was really funny and plus Junie b had a lot of sass in her

[Maeve · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m reading my favorite childhood series again because they help me relax and Junie B. Jones is HILARIOUS. Some of the jokes in these books went right over my head when I was kid!

[Victoria Bylin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun as always.

[jessicaaaaaa · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars.

i used to rent these books and my school library all the time. i remember never bringing them back too. 😭

[Libby · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book was good but if it had more chapters and would awesome!!!!! Otherwise the book was great!

[Anne Wise · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this to my 2nd graders and I’m glad I did. I know, I know, Junie B. says and does absolutely outrageous things but the kids and I thought it was hysterical and we all loved laughing at her antics. But they KNEW Junie B. was not a model of good behavior. Kids are smarter than you think. And this book sparked lots of discussions about better choice she could have made.

[Becky Schroeder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Junie B. Jones and her Big Fat Mouth is a very funny short story. Junie B. Jones is in kindergarten and her teacher announces that her class is going to do job day in a couple days. Everyone has to dress up like what they want to be when they grow up. Except Junie B. has a problem. She has no idea of what she wants to be when she grows up. So when she gets home form school, she runs in the house yelling she needs help. Her mom is in the nursery, however, so she cannot help Junie right away. Junie gets very impatient with her mom. She also gets angry that her mom is spending more time taking care of her little brother, Ollie, than helping her. I can relate to this because I get impatient with my mom a lot. Sometimes I feel left out, too. Then when her dad came home he said he had to help her mom take care of the baby. That made Junie even angrier. The next day when she got to school she started copying other kids' ideas on what to be for job day. Then Jim, her classmate, called her a copy cat. Junie got very embarrassed and said she would make up her own job with all of her favorite things. They included the following: painting, unlocking doors, and saving people. Later she thought about it some more, and realized she would be a janitor! She was so excited about that she would not tell anyone until jobs day. I can relate to this, too, because sometimes when you are so excited about something you want to keep everyone waiting longer so they will be just as surprised as you. But, that is not always the case. For example, when Junie finally told the class what she was, they all just laughed at her. It was actually kind of sad. After she explained it to the class they all agreed with her that the job she chose was a good job. They even clapped for her.

I had a couple reactions to this short story. My first reaction was that I was kind of like Junie B. Jones. I get sassy, impatient, and over react at times. But then again, everyone does. I think this book portrayed a good example as how things can get in your family. I also realized that you shouldn't be afraid to express who you really are. If you really like a certain thing, you shouldn't care what people think of it.

Throughout this book, Junie B. Jones does develop. She starts off as kind of obnoxious and bratty. Then when she first talked to the janitor and he told her not eat the candy on the ground, I think she realized that she doesn't know everything like she thought she did. Then when she got laughed at I think that helped her to be more humble about everything. I think initially this book was written for girls and boys about 4-8 years old. But, this is a really funny book that could be read by all ages. It is easy to understand, very funny, and has good lessons.

[Gwynette Koch · Rating 3 out of 5]

Plot:
Junie B. Jones and her Big Fat Mouth is a picture book about a kindergarten girl. In this book, Junie is trying to decide on what she wants to be when she grows up for Career Day. At the beginning of the book she wants to be someone who carries keys, saves people from danger, and paints. Junie goes home and tries to ask her mom for help with her job. Her mom is too busy though because she cannot find Ollie’s pacifier. Junie decides to ask her dad for help when he comes home from work. Her dad tells her that he needs to help her mom with the baby. Junie hears Ollie screaming so she grabs the flashlight and shines it on his ceiling to try to get him to stop crying. Since he does not stop crying, she shines the light on face right as her mother walks in, and she yells at her. As Junie starts to walk out, the flashlight shines on the ground and lights up something; the pacifier. Her mom is instantly relieved. After that, Junie knew what she wanted to be when she grew up. She wants to be a janitor. At first all of the kids in her class make fun of her for wanting to be janitor, but then the school janitor comes in and shows the class his toolbox. The class thinks that a janitor is the coolest job ever.

Characterization:
Junie B. Jones is an extremely smart kindergarten girl who does not have very much self- control. She loves to go to school. One of her best friends is Grace. Her other best friend is Lucille that she hates. She has a baby brother named Ollie, who she does not like very much. She calls her teacher Mrs. Junie is not very worried about germs, she will eat food from anywhere; like from the ground or in the couch cushions.

Audience:
This book would be appropriate for third graders to sixth graders who like funny picture books. This book is easy to read, and will make you laugh. I think that boys and girls will like this book because it talks about superheroes, and princesses. I think that both girls and boys can relate to this book because, they were in kindergarten once, and they most likely had a Career Day when they were little.

Personal Response:
I give this book a 3 out of 5 star rating because I enjoyed it, but it was not one of my favorite books. I enjoyed it because of Junie B. Jones’ character. This is one of my favorite of the Junie B. Jones’ books. I highly recommend this book to little kids who are looking for a good book to make them laugh.

[Jordan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Barbara Park has written a series of books that are about Junie B. Jones. I recently read the Junie B. Jones and her Big Fat Mouth. This book is about Junie B. Jones speaking her mind on everything. She reminds me of my sister Hailey. Hailey tends to speak her mind as well. When someone tells her she's wrong, she argues back about how she is right. Junie has a little baby brother named Ollie. She tends to think if he never came about, she would get most of the attention in the house. Junie B. Jones goes to elementary school and gets picked on. She gets picked on by her class for her loud mouth. She just speaks what she is thinking in her mind. At school one day, her class was talking about career day. Junie’s teacher told them they need to find a job to dress up as on that day. Junie thought deeply about what she wanted to grow up to be. She went home and talked with her parents, thought of a great idea, and went to school the next day excited. She was one of the last people to go up and say what she wanted to be. Junie finally went up and said she wanted to be a janitor, because they can carry around keys, paint brush and they can save people from dangerous things.

Junie B. Jones is the main character. Junie is a very dramatic, outspoken, and loud character. Finally towards the end of the book, she understands that she needs to watch what she says.

The setting of this book is at the school, in Room Nine, and at the Jones’s home. The book doesn’t specify what time it is written, but I predict that is in modern time.

The theme of this story is to teach children not to be outspoken. Young child tend to think they are always right and it needs to go their way. The Junie B. Jones books teach children that they need to watch what they say and learn from it.

I personally enjoyed this book, because I find these books entertaining and easy to read. I recommend this book to elementary students, approximately Fourth or Fifth grade. It is an easy read and understandable. This book has a good lesson to it.

[Emily Sims · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary: This book is about a little girl named Junie B. Jones. She is in kindergarten and often times speaks out of turn and gets in trouble for her "loud mouth." In this specific book, Junie is consumed with Job Day and what she is going to dress up as for this special day. She tells all her friends she has "the best job in the world!" but will not tell her peers what it is because until the day before she doesn't know!

Evaluation: I love the Junie B. books and always have! I remember reading them when I was in elementary school and love being able to read them again many years later. I would recommend these books for middle aged elementary children as they are longer and do pose some challenging words, but are great transitional books from easy reads to chapter books.

Teaching Point: I could use this book on many occasions within my classroom. One way I could use it is to read it with students prior to having our own career day! This will help students begin to think about different jobs, what people do everyday, and what they too want to do one day! I could also use this book as part of an english lesson. I could read with students the book and stop when Junie uses incorrect grammar, write the sentence on the board and have students correct it with me.

[Michael Hickey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Junie B. Jones and her
Big Fat Mouth
By Barbara Park

The book starts out with Junie B. Jones at school. She is in classroom nine. Their teacher, Mrs, just told them they are going to have a job day. Mrs. has a cop and a dentist come in that day to explain to them what they do in their job. For Job Day, the students have to dress up like the person they want to be when they grow up. All of the kids know what they want to be when they grow up except Junie B. She wants to be somebody who paints, saves people, and uses a lot of keys. She goes home and asks her parents what kind of job uses those things. They are too preoccupied with her brother that they don’t answer. Then it hits Junie B. She is going to be a janitor. She goes to school on Job Day dressed as a janitor. She presents and the whole class is surprised. The janitor visits the class later that day.

I am giving this book the rating of 3 stars because it wasn't how i thought it was going to be. I thought it would involve her getting in trouble a lot. This book is meant for kids in 2nd grade and up because of the easy reading level.

[babyhippoface · Rating 5 out of 5]

This girl is just too much! (And I'm so glad she's not a student in my class!)