This book and the series in general appear to be part of the wave of ignorant-is-good anti-intellectualism drowning our culture. We were given a few books from the Junie B. series to read aloud to our son, who loves Beverly Cleary. Needless to say, the comparison is inapt (and insulting to Ms Cleary). I'm happy this author (?) can crank these out so readily (yet such frenetic production should be a red flag about quality), but reading an ill-written, unrealistic story with an unrepentantly rude antihero to your child squanders the time you spend trying to have a positive influence on him/her.

JUNIE B. JONES AND THE STUPID SMELLY BUS by and illustrated by K.P.


The story is about Junie B. Jones going on the bus and she didn't want to go on the bus. It's about her getting in big, big, huge trouble. She got in trouble because she was hiding from the class and was doing what she was not supposed to do. She even called 911. She did that because she didn't want to go on the stupid, smelly bus. She doesn't like to go on buses. She only likes going in cars to school. At the end she decides to go on the bus because she has a new friend on the bus and in her classroom too.
I feel excited about this book because it is a funny book. I like to read this book a lot of times. My favorite part of this book is when she falls down and hits her head on the table. I think my family should read this book. I think my sister and my three brothers should read Junie B. Jones and The Stupid Smelly Bus. They should read it because the book is really, really funny.

I loved this book series when i was 7 or 8 i could not put it down now that i am older i cant belive i read this! i was telling my young sister about how cool these books are and i read these reviews and they are so true! she is rude to her classmates and adults and the grammer is horrible please do not read these books, there not worth wasteing your childhood on reading such mean books when there are so many other great ones out there.

My daughter has fallen in love with chapter books and its all because of Junie B! She is hilarious! Young kids can identify with her and gasp in shock at just how bossy she can be! This book is great for kids starting kindergarten, but I would recommend it to any child, because its so funny!

Barbara Park has written the perfect series for young readers to make the leap from picture books to chapter books. My daughter is an advanced reader for her age, and these were ideal for her. No other chapter books have been simple enough to read and have held her attention long enough for her to make the transition, but Stupid Smelly Bus fit the bill. The chapters are short, yet each tells its own story and springboards into the next chapter.

I have to echo the sentiments of another reviewer... if you don't want your child reading about a child with poor manners and bad grammar, don't get a book called "Stupid Smelly Bus". Junie's innocence and poor choices are what give the stories the comedic momentum that make them so enjoyable. When one considers the best adult comedy - the funniest characters are nearly always the most flawed. Why should kids' comedy be any different? Young readers find Junie funny because they relate to her emotional reaction to certain situations, but they would never dream of saying the things she says or doing the things she does.

In short, this series is very entertaining and so readable that they make the perfect books for readers ready to read chapter books.