Junie B. Jones Collection, Books 17-20

In this fine foursome, Junie B. Jones comes to grips with the end of her kindergarten year, complete with improvised graduation attire and diploma, and moves on to first grade. While originally apprehensive about a new mix of friends and a new teacher, she bounds and rebounds through situations that will reverberate with early readers and listeners--from journal writing and lunch box problems to classroom relationships and her first loose tooth. Just as Barbara Park knows school-age youngsters well, Lana Quintal narrates Junie B. to a T. Junie B.'s straightforwardness and exuberance, her authority and hesitancy, her highs and lows are captured in Quintal's youthful, irrepressible voice. Quintal's pacing mirrors the pace of this youngster's life, and she gives supporting characters just enough distinction. A.R. (c) AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine