Realistic Fiction- Junie B. Jones

Title- junie b. jones Toothless Wonder

Author- Barbara Park

Illustrator-  Denise Brunkus

Publisher- Random House

Copyright Date- 2002

Number of Pages- 80

Awards- None (The series is a New York Times Bestseller)

Reading Level- Ages 6-9

Genre- Realistic Fiction

Summary

Junie B. Jones experiences another major milestone in her life. She is losing a top front tooth, and she is the first in her first grade class.  At first she is excited, and then May makes her worry about it.  After that, her friend Herb tells her about his Uncle Lou who only has one tooth.  What if she looks weird like Uncle Lou?  She cannot let that happen.  So Junie B. decides that she will stop wiggling her tooth, and it will just tighten back up. Unfortunately for her, just like all loose teeth, it falls out, and Junie B. has to deal with it.  Junie B. faces a second dilemma- what good is the tooth fairy?  Is she really a fairy, or is she a witch?  And what does she do with all those teeth?  Join Junie B. Jones and read the book to find out.

Teaching Idea

Junie B. has some self-esteem issues in this this book. She starts off confident and excited.  However, May and Herb make her feel less confident, and really start to feel bad about herself.  She feels like she will look horrible when she loses her front tooth.  Junie B. and her friends say things like dumb, weirdo, all alone, freako, and I hate.  These are very hurtful words and children need to understand how much words really do hurt.  The lesson I would create would revolve around self-esteem and helping your classmates boost up their self-esteems, not break them down.  I would give the children 2 strips of paper, each with a name of one of their peers.  On the strip of paper, they would write down a complement.   They would then put them in the Feelings Bucket.  After checking to make sure they were all appropriate I would read them aloud to the class.  I would leave up the Feelings Bucket so that students could randomly write positive notes to their classmates, and take time each day to grab a note out of the bucket and share it with the class.

Rating

Element of Literature	Excellent	Average	Inadequate	Not Addressed	Rating
Plot	The plot is engaging; the reader is invested in the outcome.  Contains conflict, a climax and a resolution.    The reader buys into the story line; it is believable to the reader.	The plot is average it contains some of the essential elements such as conflict, climax and resolution.  One element is either missing or poorly developed.  The reader may or may not buy into the storyline, it is just not that believable.	Multiple essential elements, conflict, climax and/or resolution are missing or poorly developed.  It is not believable and overall a bad plot.		The plot is great for young readers.  The reader wants and almost needs to know what happens to Junie B. and her tooth.  There is a clear conflict, climax, and resolution.  In fact, there is more than one.
Characters	Characters are unique and believable.  The characters come to life when the reader is engaged in the story.  When the book is done, the reader still connects with the characters of the book.  Characters have personalities, flaws, and feelings. There is a protagonist, possibly an antagonist and some supporting characters.	Characters are similar to other books, have little to no uniqueness.  When the reader is done with the book, they are also done with the characters, there is no lasting connection.  Characters display little in terms of personality.  There are no supporting characters, or no clear protagonist.	Characters are dull and lifeless, there is no connection to the characters.  There is no clear protagonist and no supporting characters.  The characters are too farfetched.		Junie B. is unique to herself, yet children relate to her so much they could almost take her place in the book.  She comes to life complete with flaws.  There is a clear protagonist, antagonist and a strong supporting cast of characters.  The reader wants to know what happens to Junie B. as she continues through first grade.
Illustrations	The illustrations share in the story telling. The pictures help to develop the characters, establish the mood, and setting.  They contain some of the following elements, hidden details, facial expressions, different viewpoints, interesting asides, action depiction, or supporting details.  The pictures themselves may be created out of different mediums in order to support the plot.  Visual elements are used effectively (line, shape, color, texture and composition).	The illustrations support the story telling.  The pictures help with some but not all of the following, establish mood and setting, and developing characters.  They contain few if any of the following elements, hidden details, facial expressions, different viewpoints, interesting asides, action depiction, or supporting details.  The pictures are basic and do not use visual elements effectively.	The illustrations are in conflict with the story.  The pictures do not develop or establish anything in relation to the book.  There are no additional elements in the illustrations.  Visual elements detract from the plot.		The illustrations support the story; they are helpful but not necessary.  They do have some facial expressions and supporting details.
Word Choice	There are a more than two of the following elements used effectively, precise vocabulary, figurative language, dialogue, and music in language.	There are one or two of the following elements used effectively, precise vocabulary, figurative language, dialogue, and music in language.	There are none of the following elements or they are not used effectively, precise vocabulary, figurative language, dialogue, and music in language.		The vocabulary is precise, it mimics the voice of a first grade students, grammatical errors and all.  There is dialogue and figurative langue.