The title and the cover illustration told me it would be a quick read but I had the feeling I wouldn't enjoy it. This one is a book that Sean picked out at the last BookCrossing meeting by pulling it off the Dublin Friends of the Library shelf. Jones and the Mushy Gushy Valentime by Barbara Park. My most recent read of a book like this is Junie B. It seems that the books that find me end up being the most enjoyable reads. I think it would be a great, funny book to read aloud to a small child, but I would think these intentional errors would make it more difficult for someone who is just getting to the chapter book stage of reading. Not only that, but many of the words are spelled wrong (valentime, nouncement) and the sentence grammar is wrong and the sentences go on and on (like, well, a five-year old). The author tries to write as if Junie is talking/thinking, so it jumps around quite a bit, as an easily distracted five-year-old would. Or either that, the particular 7 year old I am with is a better reader than most. Along the way we get a lot of cute antics from the independent and talkative five year old.īut I must say, I'm surprised/impressed kids can read this and do well with it. Junie gets a fancy mushy valentine from a secret admirer and then sets out to solve the mystery of who sent it.

I of course knew the ending well before the end, but that's probably because I'm 28 and not 7. I eagerly accepted, having heard good things about them and wanting to know what all the fuss was about. Jones books with her, and asked if I'd like to read one. One of the little girls who I brought to the zoo on Saturday had two Junie B.

Junie b jones mushy gushy valentime