Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus

Title: Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus

Author: Barbara Park

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Summary: Junie B. (Beatrice) Jones is almost six years old, which is when you go to kindergarten, where you go to meet new friends and not watch TV). It was the first day of school; Junie B. went in the afternoon. The week before school started, her mother had taken her to go meet her teacher. (Meet the teacher day) She couldn’t remember her teacher’s name, but she told her that she already knew all of the letters in the alphabet. She also told her that she likes to be called Junie B., not Junie! Junie B. walked around the room with her new teacher. Mrs. asked Junie B. if she would be taking the bus to school, but she didn’t know where the bus would even be taking her too. Her mother said “yes.” Mrs. told Junie B.’s mother that the bus driver’s name was Mr. Woo. Junie B. became very frustrated about her lack of knowledge about the bus and threw a fit at school. Her mother sat her down and explained the bus. She told her that it was yellow and that it stops at the end of her street and takes her to school. Then, her teacher would meet her at school in the parking lot. Junie B. faked excitement for this bus. The night before the first day of school, Junie B. began to have thoughts about taking the bus to school. Her mother tucked her into bed and told her it would be fun and not to worry. When Junie B. woke up the next morning, her stomach didn’t feel so great. She didn’t eat breakfast, but she had half of a tuna sandwich for lunch. Junie B. and her mother went outside and waited for the bus to come. There, she saw another little girl with her mother. She didn’t say hello because they lived on different streets. Finally, the bus came and the girls were greeted by Mr. Woo. Junie B. was uneasy about getting on the bus, but with a little push from her mother, she got on. Junie B. Jones didn’t like the bus-not at all. When Junie B. went to sit next to the girl from the bus stop, she was rejected. The girl told Junie B. that she was saving that seat for her best friend, Mary Ruth Marble. At the next bus stop, a boy, who seemed to be very grouchy, came on. His dad sat him right next to Junie B. His name was Jim. Jim had a blue backpack with a lot of zippers. Junie B. touched all of these zippers and tried opening one up. Jim yelled at her and moved his seat. Junie B. doesn’t like Jim. It seemed like forever that Junie B. was on the bus. Finally, they got to kindergarten. Before she knew it, kids were pushing and shoving to get off of the bus. Jim and the girl from her bus stop pushed right in front of her and soon after, Junie B. was on the floor. She was helped up by Mr. Woo and as soon as she got off the bus, she told Mrs. what happened. Mrs. called her Junie. She forgot the B., so now Junie B. was unhappy again. Some of the kids on Junie B.’s bus were in her class, like Jim. When they got to her classroom, called classroom nine, Mrs. had all of the students’ line up. Everyone went inside to find a seat. Junie B. wanted the red chair that she had seen during meet the teacher night, but there was already a girl sitting there who wasn’t willing to give it up. Junie B. was stuck sitting in a yellow chair-the same color as the bus. The first work was to print out their names. Junie B. couldn’t fit the “B” on her circle and became frustrated, but Mrs. gave her a new circle. The girl next to her was named Lucille. Junie B. liked that name because her favorite animal was a seal. The next assignment was to draw a picture of your family. Junie B. got a happy-face sticker on hers. After drawing, Mrs. took the class on a walk around school. Each student had a buddy. Junie B. and Lucille were buddies. The first stop was the media center, or library. Junie B. was excited because books are her favorite thing in the whole world. Next, they went to the cafeteria. While in there, Jim told Junie B. she was smelly. Junie B. made a fist at him and he turned around. Next, they went to the nurse, where Jim made fun of Lucille. He told her that she had smelly feet. She stuck her tongue out at him and he turned around. After the nurse, they went to the main office, which is where the principal (boss) lives. Next, they went to the water fountains and bathrooms. When they got back into the classroom, Lucille told Junie B. that she heard from her brother that they pour chocolate milk on your head on the bus on the ride home. Junie B. felt squeezy once again. Back in the room, the children played a game to learn each other’s names. Junie B. learned Lucille, Charlotte, Grace and Ham. Before she knew it, Mrs. told everyone to gather up their things for the bell. Junie B. was the last in line. Little did Mrs. know, Junie B. ducked behind the teacher’s desk and hid. She then saw a better place to hide-the supply closet in the back of the room. Junie B. heard Mrs. looking for her, so she closed her eyes and stayed quiet. She rested her eyes for a while until she woke up, and went over to the windows to see no cars or buses in the parking lot. In the classroom, Junie B. played with scissors, chalk, clay, pens and other classroom materials. She pretended to have her very own classroom. Junie B. got thirsty, so she looked in the halls to make sure nobody was there. She used smelling techniques that she had learned from her dog, Tickle. After getting a drink, Junie B. went to the media center. She sharpened some new pencils in the electric pencil sharpener, and then heard someone coming. It was a man with a trash can, singing “Somewhere over the Rainbow.” According to Junie B., that song was from “The Wizard of Odds.” Junie B. found a better place to hide-the nurse’s office. She found Band-Aids and put them on. She pretended to be a nurse and call the hospital, as well. Then, Junie B. saw crutches by the door. She put them under her arms, but they were too long so she climbed on the nurse’s chair and put the crutches under her arms again. Junie B. stood at the edge of the chair, but it rolled away from her feet. She got stuck on the crutches high in the arm. She wiggled around and came crashing to the floor, banging her head on the desk. Junie b. decided to leave the nurse’s office because it was dangerous, only to find all of the other doors at school were locked. She had to use the bathroom, and it was an emergency. Junie B. remembered her mother telling her that she should call 911 if there was ever an emergency…so she did. Junie B. went outside and heard sirens coming closer and closer. Then, she saw the man with the trash can from inside school, and a fire truck. Junie B. explained to the man what happened and he took her back inside and opened the girl’s bathroom. Next, Junie B. saw her mother, Mrs. and the principal. Principal explained that, in school, Junie B. needed to follow the rules. Junie B. explained why she didn’t want to go on the bus anymore to her mother, but her mother reassured her that everything would be okay. Mrs. told Junie B.’s mother that Grace would be going on the bus for the first time the next day, so Junie B. was happy she would be able to save a seat for her friend.

Characters: Junie B., mother, Mrs., principal, nurse, Grace, Lucille, Ham, Jim

Plot: Junie B. tried every way to not go on the school bus

Theme: Opposition of going on the bus

Setting: school, Junie B’s house

Opinion: I enjoyed reading this book. It was funny and “life-like.” I know that a lot of children don’t like going on the bus, but this kind of scares them into taking the bus because this could happen if you don’t. Also, children could take out of this book that listening is very important.