《Junie B., First Grader: Boss of Lunch》

Book Description A Junie B. Jones Book, No.19 Something very wonderful is happening to Junie B. Jones. And it’s called—hurray, hurray!—she’s getting to be a professional lunch lady! And that means hanging out with Mrs. Gutzman in the cafeteria. And standing behind the counter. And even wearing a real actual hair net! Who knows? Pretty soon she could be the boss of the whole entire lunch operation! Amazon.com The irrepressible Junie B.--room 9's most boisterous first grader nonpareil--has returned for another adventure, this time around as a hair-netted, plastic-mitted "helper" in the school cafeteria. (Her dad wisely guesses where this one's going: "A helper doesn't make things more difficult, Junie B. A helper makes things easier. Okay?") The 19th installment in this spunky series begins with much ado over the cultural implications of bought and brought lunches and the exciting arrival of a shiny new lunch box. ("Come, Herb! Come, Lennie and José! It's time for you to watch me eat out of my new lunch box!") But events quickly eclipse such trifles, as Junie B. runs into good ol' Mrs. Gutzman again, her "snack lady" from way back in kindergarten. ("That woman was a gem, I tell you.") You might start feeling like Junie B.'s getting a little too irrepressible in her old age. But then again, maybe you've just had a long day (like Junie B.'s dad, presumably). Whatever the case, Barbara Park still rules the school with her likeable beginning chapter-book series, and you can bet Junie B. will be back for more, even after her lunch box loses its luster. (Ages 4 to 8) 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 --Paul Hughes From Publishers Weekly Several popular series and protagonists continue in new titles. The titular heroine joins her favorite cafeteria lady, Mrs. Gutzman, by donning apron, mitts and a hair net, but things go a little haywire behind the lunch counter in Junie B., First Grader: Boss of Lunch by Barbara Park, illus. by Denise Brunkus, the latest installment in the bestselling series. From School Library Journal Grade 1-3-Junie B. is excited because she has a brand-new lunch box. She can't resist sneaking peeks in it during class and is caught by her teacher. The child instigates a discussion about why brought lunches are better than bought lunches and sums it all up by saying, "'Cause brought lunches are made special by our very own mothers!" Later that day at lunch, she sees a cafeteria worker who used to bring milk and cookies to Junie B.'s kindergarten class, and asks why her class doesn't get them this year. The woman explains that first graders get cookies when they buy their lunch. Junie B. convinces Mrs. Gutzman to let her be a helper in the cafeteria where she thinks that she'll be the boss and get to eat as many cookies as she wants. This cleverly written beginning chapter book is as funny as ever and young readers will laugh with the child as she learns that working in a cafeteria isn't just about eating cookies. A few black-and-white drawings in each chapter capture the confident little girl and her many adventures. 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Kristin de Lacoste, South Regional Public Library, Pembroke Pines, FL From Booklist Gr. 2-3. Lunchroom trials and tribulations take center stage in the latest Junie B. Jones story. The agony of not being able to explore a new lunchbox during class is followed by the ecstasy of finally getting to the lunchroom. That's followed by the agony of discovering that all her classmates are getting a hot lunch because yummy hoagies are on the menu. Junie B. is still sassy, hilarious, and insightful in an authentically childlike way, and Park obviously understands the passions and fears of first-graders. Her depiction of school dynamics is right on target, even as she keeps the reading level down to an easy chapter-book level. 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Susan Dove Lempke Card catalog description Junie, an outspoken, sometimes exasperating, first grader is thrilled when she is told she can help out in the school cafeteria. Book Dimension length: (cm)19.5 　　　 　　　　　 　　　　　 width:(cm)13.3