In what grade do kids typically read books like Junie B Jones?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Buy anything else. Junie B is a total brat.

I read all 24 Junie B books to my son for bedtime reading in kindergarten. We both loved those books (both of us have a bit of brat in us, I guess.) I felt like I lost a friend when I finished the last one. They’re probably second grade reading level.

She repeatedly calls people “stupid” and “dumb” and says she “hates” things. She’s pretty rude to her teacher. I couldn’t believe how many let their kids read these.

Because no kid ever called anyone "stupid" or "dumb" or says they "hate things." Everyone has different preferences. My kids prefer the stories about kids who push boundaries. And there are moments of those books that are laugh out loud funny.

[Anonymous]

You parents are the reason kids are soft these days.

DD loved Junie B. I asked the teacher for other recommendations bc I thought they might be too easy, but she said if DD likes reading them then it’s great she’s read. It’s not a TV show ffs. It’s reading!

Even our top 3 private school was on board with Junie B

[Anonymous]

I agree that Junie B. Jones is awful. I wouldn't let my kids read it. You might consider some of these as alternatives:

Golly Sisters - K
Nate the Great - K
Amelia Bedelia - L
Cam Jansen - L
Magic Tree House - M
Rainbow Fairies - M
Flat Stanley - M
My Father's Dragon - N
Pippi Longstocking - O
Ramona - O
Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle - O
Secrets of Droon - O (special editions in the series are harder and scarier)

[Anonymous]

Kindergarten and maybe 1st. I think the books are hilarious.

It’s funny how parents here avoid them, but most kids these days truly act like that due to parents being “friendly” with their kids.

The whole point is to read them and realize it is okay (and even funny) to have the thoughts, but never right to say them out loud or do them. It is learning social etiquette thru the books. Julie always gets in trouble for acting on her selfish thoughts. We read her narrative thoughts and agree with some of them, but cringe as she gets in trouble.

You moms are so coddling to never show your kids things like this. Geez.

[Anonymous]

Do you mean your kids are reading these books in K? Or you are reading them to your kids. No way my K can read Magic Tree house or Junie B Jones.

[Anonymous]

My second grader loves Junie and this is one of the chapter books she can read on her own (mostly). And since I started reading the books to her in K, she has known when Junie’s behavior is inappropriate. Junie provides us with many teachable moments, as does My Weird School. I am really not into sensoring the books that my kids read. Instead we talk about why a character acts a certain way and whether that is how my kids should behave.

[Anonymous]

I'm one of the moms who wouldn't let her kids read these books. The brattiness is a significant reason, but not the only one.

I think kids absorb a lot as they read and while the grammar in a book doesn't need to be perfect, I don't want the books to go out of their way to introduce bad habits. It doesn't help that our schools (MCPS) didn't focus on grammar instruction. As it was, I think that one of my kids managed to mangle every irregular verb in the language at some point all on her own.

[Anonymous]

We read Junie B Jones to our son in Kindergarten, he brought them home. He was reading Magic Treehouse with a little help by the end of the summer and now easily in First.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm one of the moms who wouldn't let her kids read these books. The brattiness is a significant reason, but not the only one.

I think kids absorb a lot as they read and while the grammar in a book doesn't need to be perfect, I don't want the books to go out of their way to introduce bad habits. It doesn't help that our schools (MCPS) didn't focus on grammar instruction. As it was, I think that one of my kids managed to mangle every irregular verb in the language at some point all on her own.

The grammar is less of an issue. Her behavior is flat out unacceptable. She doesn't listen to her parents, she doesn't listen other teachers. She treats her classmates poorly. She is not a brat, she is a badly behaved kid that everyone simply rolls their eyes at. We read the Hawaii book and I could feel the pain of the adults sitting in front of her on the plane as she kicked their seats, threw toys around and was loud and poorly behaved. Her parents did little to nothing to correct her behavior but I am suppose to find it funny?

We read the books, my son commented that she was not being nice. He was confused why she was allowed to call people names.

I am fine with books were kids push limits, I love me some Ramona. I am fine where kids act like kids. But I would prefer the parents and teachers not just roll over and let the kids behave like kids. Heck, We really like Captain Awesome. There is some name calling between two of the characters but there are plenty of times where the two begrudgingly admit the other one is ok and helps the other. I am thrilled that my little dude can read Captain Underpants, an entire series based on two kids pranking everyone and a ridiculous "hero" they created.

But Junie and the Weird School books treat the adults as if they are non-entities and simply allow the kids to behave in a way that anyone of us out in public would be pissed if we saw a child behave that way. She is the kid that threads are started about.

[Anonymous]

My third grad has read them all over and over and over again starting the summer after first. I hate them so she is only allowed to get out one at a time from the library. She thinks they are hilarious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mine brought them home in Kindergarten. We told him no more after the second book. She is awful and none of the adults in the book behave responsibly. Just no. At least Ramona gets punished when she messes up. There is another series we said no too, Weird School I think. The kids call each other names, there is bullying and sexist behavior galore. Just uggghhh

Those series made me appreciate Captain Underpants for gods sake.

The Ramona books you read must have been different from the Ramona books I read.

I seriously dislike the Junie B. Jones books, because I find them trite. Fortunately my kids did too. Series books we liked, in ascending order of reading level:

The Golly Sisters
Ivy + Bean
Clementine

And Mr. Putter and Tabby, too -- around the same time as the Golly Sisters.

[Anonymous]

OP here - for the record, I don’t care about the content. I don’t sensor books. I was just trying to get a sense as to age of kid who could read this type of book. Thanks! The things that get DCUM riled up are funny!

[Anonymous]

My kid could read these the summer after first grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - for the record, I don’t care about the content. I don’t sensor books. I was just trying to get a sense as to age of kid who could read this type of book. Thanks! The things that get DCUM riled up are funny!

Censor. Sorry.

[Anonymous]

My first grader read them.

I agree they are awful, but I let him read them. It's a phase. It will pass. Whatever gets them reading is fine in my book.