Junie B. Jones and That Meanie Jim’s Birthday

Junie B. Jones and That Meanie Jim’s Birthday
Written by Barbara Park
Illustrated by Denise Brukus
Random House $5.99
Recommended for ages 6 – 9

You know it’s a good sign when our four children are sitting around the dinner table listening raptly as I bring our old friend Junie B. to life with her unique vocabulary and foolish antics.  Even Jamie was laughing out loud and claimed listening to the story was his “apple of the day”.
Junie B. Jones is feeling left out when “that Jim” invites all of Room Nine to his birthday party except her.  In true Junie B. fashion, she tries all different angles to get herself invited.  She decides she will move away from her neighbourhood in an effort to avoid the planning for the festivities.  When her mother insists that she go to school she preys on the weak and snatches Shy William’s invitation and claims it as her own.  That decision lands her in the Principal’s office, a place she knows well.
Grampa Frank Miller comes to the rescue with a request for Junie B.’s help in fixing his toilet. Coincidentally, he will be fixing it at the very time that the party is taking place.  Fixing the toilet is one of Junie’s favourite things to do with Grampa so she is thrilled to oblige until she realizes she will be missing the party!
Things turn around for Junie when Principal intercepts and insists that Jim give her the invitation that was meant for her.  Hmmmm – this is good news.  Or is it?  As Junie finds out, going to a party means a bath and washing her hair and giving up time with Grampa Miller.  Oh, the pressure!
Junie B. learns a valuable lesson here:  Be careful what you wish for!
This is only one of many Junie B. stories and as long as your listeners know that Junie B. may be a little saucy and her actions may not always be the right, there are a lot of laughs to be had in reading them.