Fall Reading 2013 Junie B. Jones, First Grader: Turkeys We Have Loved and Eaten (And Other Thankful Stuff)

Junie B. Jones is one of my favorite kid lit characters. She is her own person and views the world in her unique way that always makes me laugh. This time around it is "the month of Thanksgiving" and her class is preparing for the feast. There is a contest to see which room comes up with the best list of things they are thankful for - with a pumpkin pie made by Mrs. Gladys Gutzman, our favorite lunch lady, as the grand prize. But the kids in Junie B.'s class say that pumpkin pie makes them vomit ad they are not thankful for that! What they are thankful for is important things like toilet paper and Nipsy Doodles. Poor Mr. Scary has his hands full trying to convince them to give the pie a chance and to think very hard about what they are going to include in the list. He even has them take a bag home to bring in something they are thankful for and then share it with the class during show & tell. Junie B. brings in something she loves very much. In her journal that morning she writes about the assignment and gives a "helpful hint. It is not my brother Ollie," she writes. Hmmm, what could it be?

It was very sad to hear the news this week that author Barbara Park had passed away. I am thankful for all the wonderful books she wrote and all the fun I have had enjoying them with my students. The publisher has a trailer for the book.