Module 13: Junie B., First Grader: Toothless Wonder

Junie B., First Grader: Toothless Wonder by Barbara Park

Book Cover Image:

Book Summary:

 In Junie B., First Grader: Toothless Wonder by Barbara Park, Junie B. Jones starts off excited about being the first student in her class to lose a top baby tooth.  Excitement gives way to panic, though, when Junie B. considers that she might end up looking like toothless Uncle Lou.  Then to top things off, there’s that whole tooth fairy issue.  Junie B. knows the truth; there is no tooth fairy.  There’s only a tooth witch who pinches children’s cheeks and eats teeth like they’re apples, so Junie B. is not about to place her tooth under her pillow until someone can provide a good reason why the supposed tooth fairy would want to collect kids’ teeth.                        

          

APA Reference of Book:

Park, B. (2002). Junie B., first grader: Toothless wonder. New York: Random House.

Impressions:

I absolutely loved reading Junie B., First Grader: Toothless Wonder. Junie B. is a hoot and delightfully precocious; readers can’t help but cheer on this pint-size, spunky characters.  I found myself laughing out loud when Junie B. pesters her teacher, Mr. Scary, into giving her a prize for being the first student in the class to lose a top baby tooth and when she runs out of the house screaming that Grandpa Frank knocked her tooth out.  Junie B.’s obsession with finding out the truth about the tooth fairy (a.k.a tooth witch) provides non-stop entertainment, and her creative rationalizations make child-like sense.  When the last page is turned, the reader can’t help but wish that this delightful tale had lasted just a little bit longer.  

Professional Review:

Booklist

“As the story begins, Junie B. struggles with the discomfort of a loose top tooth and the prospect of looking different once it is gone. When the tooth falls out, however, these issues pale beside the question of whether to put it under her pillow, since the story of the tooth fairy just doesn’t make sense to her. After all, what does the tooth fairy do with all those teeth? Armed with a scientist’s drive to know the truth and a six-year-old’s knowledge base and logic, Junie B. finds her own answer to the question. Occasionally the humor seems aimed at adults, but children a little older than Junie B. will definitely find this beginning chapter book amusing and occasionally laugh-out-loud funny. With its vivid portrayal of a first-grade classroom and a child’s point of view, this is a welcome addition to the popular series.”

Phelan, C. (2002, November). [Review of the book Junie B., first grader: Toothless wonder, by B. Park].  Booklist, (99)5, 49. Retrieved from http://www.booklistonline.com/

Library Uses:

Elementary School Library

The school librarian can spotlight the books in the Junie B. Jones series by creating a book display dedicated to some of the favorite books from the series.  Additionally, to promote Junie B., First Grader: Toothless Wonder the librarian can hold a contest to come up with the most creative or silly reason why the tooth fairy might be willing to pay children for their lost teeth.  The prize can be various tooth-shaped supplies, stickers, and a copy of Toothless Wonder.