A Junie B. Jones Book, No.18 Hurray, hurray for a brand-new school year! Only, for Junie B. Jones, things are not actually that pleasant. ’Cause first grade means having to get used to a whole new classroom. And a whole new teacher. And a whole new bunch of strange children. But here’s the worst thing of all: when Junie B. tries to read words on the chalkboard, she can’t seem to see what everyone else is seeing! Is it possible she might actually end up wearing glasses? Amazon.com It had to happen. The spunkiest sass mouth in room 9 finally graduated from kindergarten. Now the inimitable, irrepressible Junie B. is a first grader--at last! ("My name is Junie B. I think I have mentioned that to you before... B., B., B., B., B.") The 18th installment in Barbara Park's popular beginning chapter-book series puts our temperamental heroine into a brand-new class where she has to make brand-new friends. And as if that weren't hard enough, her brand-new teacher, Mr. Scary ("He made that name up, I believe," Junie writes in a journal assignment), figures out that she needs eyeglasses. Will all the other kids laugh at her? Will that obnoxious Excellent-plus-getting May become even more obnoxious? With Park's solid track record, the appeal of Junie B. just can't be doubted-she can be a good friend to readers her age, which is a difficult grade level to find fun books for. And even kids who don't need glasses will likely still giggle along as Junie B. plays "the E game" (an eye test) with the nurse, and kids who do need glasses will find themselves with a strong (if a little scared at first) ally. (Ages 4 to 8) 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　--Paul Hughes From School Library Journal Grade 1-3-While first grade offers a whole year of exciting possibilities for Junie B., things get off to a confusing start. Feeling tentative about her new teacher, she renames him Mr. Scary. Her last year's best friend now has two new best friends and her old bus pal has a new buddy. Then, Junie's teacher discovers that she needs glasses. Now that is something to worry about. "What if Room One laughs their head off at me? What if I look like a goonie bird and no one wants to be my friend?" However, her classmates, who already agree that twins with rhyming names, a boy with a spiky gel hairdo, and bilingual Jos are fascinating, determine that Junie B. and her purple glasses are definitely cool. As always, Park is in touch with what the kids know and how they feel. A satisfying read, especially for fans. 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Sharon R. Pearce, Geronimo Public School, OK From Booklist Gr. 2-3. Nervous as she enters her first-grade classroom, Junie B. Jones is overjoyed to see Lucille, her best friend from kindergarten. Lucille soon squashes her exuberance quite flat, declaring, "You and I can still be friends, Junie B. Just not on a regular basis." Soon a new problem arises, when Junie B. gets glasses for the first time but feels reluctant to put them on in class. With unexpected support from new friends, however, she gains acceptance, even with her new purple glasses, and begins to think that she might like school after all. The inclusion of passages from Junie's school journal doesn't quite ring true. She is after all, a beginning first-grader. Still, Junie herself is completely convincing. Just as fresh and funny as the previous books in the series, this one, taking Junie B. into the elementary grades, opens up new possibilities for the popular series. To be illustrated. 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Carolyn Phelan Card catalog description Junie B. thinks first grade is a flop when her kindergarten friend Lucille prefers the company of twins Camille and Chenille and Junie B. needs glasses.