Category Archives: Barbara Park

Comprehension Questions – #7 Junie B. Jones Loves Handsome Warren

Junie B. Jones Loves Handsome Warren

By Barbara Park

Grades 1-5; Genre – Fiction; GRL M; AR pts: 1.0

There’s a new boy in kindergarten, and guess what? He’s the handsomest guy Junie B. has ever seen! She and Lucille and that Grace all want him for a boyfriend. Only, he thinks Junie B. is a nutball. Just ‘cause she couldn’t stop laughing and rolling. So how is she supposed to get that boy to love her?

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. How did Grace and Junie B. try to help their friend Lucille? Lucille was being chased by a boy they’d never met, and Grace and Junie B. pretended to ride their horses and chased him away p.5
  2. Why was Lucille upset her friends had chased the boy away? She wanted him to chase her; he was a new boy at school and she thought he was handsome p.7
  3. How did Grace and Junie B. feel about the boy after looking at him and hearing a little bit about him? They wanted him for a boyfriend as well p.10

Chapter 2

  1. Why did Junie B. want to convince Lucille she was a pig? So Lucille would introduce her to Warren p.14
  2. Where were Junie B. and Grace when they got to finally meet Warren? At the swing set p.20
  3. Why did Warren call Junie B. a nutball? She made a silly joke then rolled on the ground laughing p.21

Chapter 3

  1. Why were Lucille and Grace mad at each other at the beginning of this chapter? Grace said that Warren loves her and that made Lucille mad p.26
  2. Why is Junie B. upset about being called a nutball? Its not a very nice thing to be called p.29
  3. Who did Grace say was the nutball in her family? Her little brother, Jeffie p.30

Chapter 4

  1. Why did Junie B. pick a grown up’s cereal to eat for breakfast? Because she ate the same kind of cereal Grace’s brother ate when he was being a nutball p.34
  2. Why did Junie B. think Warren would love her now? She ate fiber cereal instead of sugar cereal so she’s calm p.36
  3. How does Warren feel about Junie B. once she told him she was calm? He did the cuckoo sign and walked away; still thinks she’s a nutball p.45

Chapter 5

  1. What did Junie B. want to do to get Warren to like her? Buy a princess dress to be like Lucille and buy shoes with lightning bolts like Grace p.46
  2. What advice did Junie B.’s mom give her? You don’t make friends by buying things, you make them by being fun to be with, by being nice, caring about their feelings, and by being honest and not pretending to be someone you’re not p.51
  3. What did Junie B. find that made her feel like a princess? A red velvet bow on Ollie’s teddy bear p.52

Chapter 6

  1. What did Junie B. wear to school? A crown from Dairy Queen, white long princess gloves, a collar for a necklace, the red bow and her mom drew lightning bolts on her sneakers p.55
  2. Who wasn’t Warren talking to? Grace, Lucille or Junie B. p.57
  3. What does “the cat got your tongue” mean? Its an idiom for when someone is speechless, or without words to say p.57

Chapter 7

  1. What was in Handsome Warren’s hair? A tiny piece of Kleenex p.62
  2. Why was Warren angry? His dad made him move and change schools and he had to leave his friends p.64
  3. What did Junie B. do to make Warren feel better? She told him knock knock jokes p.66

Comprehension Questions – #6 Junie B. Jones and That Meanie Jim’s Birthday

Junie B. Jones and That Meanie Jim’s Birthday

By Barbara Park

Grades 1-5; Genre – Fiction; GRL M; AR pts: 1.0

That meanie Jim has invited everyone in Room Nine to his birthday party on Saturday — except Junie B.! Should she have her own birthday party six months early and not invite Jim? Or should she move to "It's a Small World After All" in Disneyland?

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. What did Junie B. do with the chocolate birthday cakes when she told Lucille she’d throw them in the trash? She snuck behind the trash can and ate them p.2
  2. What made Lucille so angry at Junie B.? Junie B. was showing her how to eat her ice cream and some fell in Lucille’s lap p.5
  3. What does “laying low” mean? It means stay out of the way and to not draw attention to yourself p.7

Chapter 2

  1. What’s the name of Jim’s birthday party for this year? Old MacDonald’s Farm p.11
  2. Who was Jim inviting to his birthday party? Everyone in their class but Junie B. p.13
  3. How did Junie B. feel about being left out of Jim’s party? Very sad p.15

Chapter 3

  1. Why did Junie B. have to wait to rock on her grandma’s lap and when could she get a turn? Her brother was already in her lap and she had to wait for him to go to sleep p.17
  2. Where did Junie B. go to say the things she didn’t like? Under her covers p.19
  3. What did Grandma mean when she told Junie B., “you’ve got to stop worrying about that boy’s party. He’s just trying to get your goat?” Jim’s just trying to make Junie B. sad and mad p.21

Chapter 4

  1. What advice did Junie B.’s parents give her deal with not getting invited to Jim’s party? Pretend she doesn’t care that she’s not invited to the party p.29
  2. Where did Junie B. decide to move to? Disneyland’s It’s a Small World After All ride p.29
  3. How is Grampa Frank Miller helping Junie B. deal with her problem? He invited her over to do odd jobs on Saturday p.31

Chapter 5

  1. How did Junie B. react when her mother tried to help her dress for school? She said she was moving and didn’t need to wear school clothes and made her body stiff p.36
  2. How did Junie B. get an invitation to the party when she first got to school? She took it from William p.41
  3. What creature did she act like to get the invitation? A bee p.41
  4. Who made sure William got the invitation back? Mrs. p.45

Chapter 6

  1. Why did Junie B. want to be twins with Lucille? Junie B.’s thinks twins do everything the same and so if Junie B. doesn’t go to the party, Lucille can’t go to the party either p.50
  2. Why was Junie B. sent to the principal’s office? She made Jim turn his head around p.51
  3. Why didn’t Junie B. want to go to the principal’s office? Her mother told her not to be sent there again p.54

Chapter 7

  1. Who did the principal call on the phone? Junie B.’s mom p.58
  2. What did the principal put over Junie B. so others wouldn’t see her on the naughty chair? A big paper bag p.60
  3. Why was Jim in the principal’s office? The principal was talking to him about being mean to Junie B. and made him apologize to her; Jim then gave her an invitation because his mother told him to give one to everyone in his class p.64

Chapter 8

  1. Where did Junie B. go with her mother Saturday morning? To the store to buy Jim a birthday present p.67
  2. What did Junie B. want to buy for Jim? A tool belt p.69
  3. Why was Junie B.’s mother worried to buy the tool belt? Junie B. loved it so much she might want to keep it for herself p.71
  4. Why did Junie B. nail her door shut? So her mom wouldn’t come and get her to take a bath and wrap the tool belt for the party p.75

Chapter 9

  1. How was Jim ruining Junie B.’s Saturday? She had to go shopping; take a bath and get clean and give away the tool belt p.79
  2. How did Junie B.’s parents help her see that being the “only one” is ok? They told her the good ways it is to be the only one p.80
  3. What happened to the tool belt? It got returned to the store p.82

Comprehension Questions – #2 Junie B. Jones and a Little Monkey Business

Junie B. Jones and a Little Monkey Business

By Barbara Park

Grades 1-4; Genre – Fiction; GRL M; AR pts: 1.0

Junie B.'s mom is about to have a baby. Junie B. isn't excited about the new baby until her grandma says he's a little monkey.

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. Why does Junie B. know how to spell baby? Her mom is going to have a baby p.1
  2. How does Junie B. feel about having a little brother or sister? Not very excited p.4
  3. Why was Junie B. upset at the news? She was expecting a present after her parents said they had a surprise; babies stink p.5

Chapter 2

  1. What’s Junie B.’s favorite jungle animal? A monkey p.9
  2. Why did Junie B. think Teeny would be a good name for their baby? Because babies are small p.12
  3. What were Junie B.’s parents pasting on the wall? Jungle decorated wallpaper p.14

Chapter 3

  1. What did Junie B. have for dinner when her parents went to the hospital? Lemon pie p.18
  2. Why was Junie B. afraid while sleeping in her grandpa’s guest bedroom? It was a dark and big room p.19
  3. What did Grandma Miller really mean when she said, “Your new brother is the cutest little monkey I’ve ever seen!”? That her brother was such a little darling and not really a monkey p.21

Chapter 4

  1. Why was Grace made at Junie B.? because Junie B. didn’t ride the bus and save her a seat, so she had to sit next to someone she didn’t want to p.25
  2. Why did Grace and Lucille begin fighting? Grace was jealous of Lucille finding out Junie B.’s secret p.26
  3. What did William bring for show and tell? Two dead crickets in a jar p.30

Chapter 5

  1. What did Junie B. share about her brother during show and tell? That’s he’s a monkey p.33
  2. Why does Junie B. think her brother’s a monkey? Her grandma said so; she also told Junie B. he has long fingers and toes, lots of black fur all over himself; the crib looks like a cage and her parents put jungle wallpaper on the walls of his room p.35
  3. How does Mrs. feel about Junie B.’s news? She’s suspicious and called it monkey business p.37

Chapter 6

  1. What were Grace and Lucille doing in this chapter? Fighting over who would see Junie B.’s baby brother first p.39
  2. How did Junie B. respond to their fighting over this privilege? She got gifts from them p.44

Chapter 7

  1. Who helped Grace and Lucille get their things back from Junie B.? Mrs. p.48
  2. How did Grace and Lucille feel about giving their things to Junie B.? sad p.49
  3. Where did Mrs. take Junie B. after finding out what happened on the playground? To the office to see the principal p.52

Chapter 8

  1. Why did Junie B. go to the principal’s office and have to tell him what happened? Because she was in trouble p.55
  2. How did the principal help Junie B.? he understood what her grandma meant and called her grandma to explain it to Junie B. p.58
  3. How did Junie B. respond to learning her baby brother was a real little baby and not a monkey? Sad p.60

Chapter 9

  1. What did the principal explain about the way adults talk sometimes? He gave examples of metaphors/figurative language since adults use that to show expression p.63
  2. Who met Junie B. after school and what did they bring with them? Junie B.’s parents and her baby brother p.65
  3. How does Junie B. feel about her baby brother now that she’s met him? She thought he was the cutest little monkey she’d ever seen p.68

Comprehension Questions – #5 Junie B. Jones and the Yucky Blucky Fruitcake

Junie B. Jones and the Yucky Blucky Fruitcake

By Barbara Park

Grades 1-5; Genre – Fiction; GRL M; AR pts: 1.0

When the teacher announces that there will be a school carnival, Junie B. plans to win hundreds of prizes. The heavy fruitcake she wins at the Cake Walk may be more of a prize than Junie B. can manage!

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. Who came to babysit Junie B.? Grandpa Miller p.2
  2. What does Junie B. use as a booster seat when she eats at the table? A telephone book p.7
  3. Why didn’t Junie B. like the cereal she had made herself? She had poured orange juice on it instead of milk p.8

Chapter 2

  1. Why did the children call Junie B. a cheater? She said she had won tic tac toe, but didn’t realize her X’s weren’t in a row p.13
  2. Who did Junie B. have a hopping content with? Lucille p.17
  3. How did Junie B. feel about losing? Sad p.19
  4. How did Junie B. act that let you know she was sad? Glum; walked to her class slow; put her head on the table p.19

Chapter 3

  1. What’s a school carnival? A fun event held inside or outside of the school that has lots of games with prizes p.23
  2. What game would you want to play at the carnival Mrs. explained in the book? Fishing booth; penny toss; moon walk tent; putting green; clothespins in the bottle; basketball shoot; ring toss; throw the sponges at the principal p.24
  3. Junie B. had a hard time being polite. Give three examples of being polite. Raising hand; speaking softly; using kind words p.25

Chapter 4

  1. What did Junie B. do to prepare for the carnival so she could win the games? Practiced the games at home p.29
  2. What happened when Junie B. flushed the sponge down the toilet? It got stuck and made the toilet overflow p.35
  3. What did Junie B.’s mom try to teach her about winning? We don’t always have to win, but it’s important to realize we have fun while we’re playing the game p.35

Chapter 5

  1. What did Lucille have on her face at the carnival? painted red hearts p.38
  2. What happened when Junie B. played the putting green game and clothespin game? She knocked the golf ball into the air and hit people and she couldn’t drop the clothespins into the carton p.40

Chapter 6

  1. What’s a word that describes Junie B.’s feelings after Grace showed her the prizes she’s won? Jealous; sad; mad p.47
  2. How would you feel if someone made fun of you when it was your turn for the sponge game like Jim did to Junie B.? Have trouble concentrating, feel self-conscious, feel bad with low self-esteem p.50
  3. Why was Junie B. able to do the cake walk after she got in trouble from hitting Jim in the face with a sponge? She’s lost her shoe and her dad said he’d look for it while she went to the cake walk p.55

Chapter 7

  1. What cake did Junie Choose for a prize for winning the cake walk? Fruitcake p.61
  2. When Junie B.’s mother tried to hand her the cake, she dropped it on the ground. Why? It was so heavy p.62
  3. How did Junie B. get the cake out of the room and outside to where her dad was? She dragged it p.63

Chapter 8

  1. Where did Junie B.’s dad find her shoe? Under the jumping tent p.63
  2. How did Junie B. feel about her fruitcake when she unwrapped it and looked at it? Disgusted; thought it had rotted p.65
  3. What uses did Junie B. find for her fruitcake? Booster in the car and at the table p.68
  4. Describe Junie B.’s attitude as she went to bed that night after the carnival? she appreciated her prizes p.71

Comprehension Questions- #1 Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus

Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus

By Barbara Park

Grades 1-3; Genre – Fiction; GRL M; AR pts: 1.0

Remember when it was scary to go to school? 'Cause it was your first day and you didn't know anything. Meet Junie B. Jones, kindergartner. She's so scared of the school bus and the meanies on it that when it's time to go home, she doesn't.

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. Why did Junie B.’s mom take her to visit the school? To meet her teacher; show her the classroom p.1
  2. Explain what Junie B.’s mom told her about the bus. She said it was yellow; called a school bus; stops at the end of their street; get on it, sit down, and takes her to school; then her teacher will meet her in the parking lot p.7

Chapter 2

  1. What did Junie B. feel like when she was worried? She didn’t sleep well; droopy; stomach queasy; she couldn’t eat her cereal p.10
  2. What helped Junie B. get on the bus? Her mom showed Junie B. that she should sit next to a girl on the bus and that it’ll be fun p.12

Chapter 3

  1. Why didn’t the curly haired girl let Junie B. sit next to her? She was saving that seat for her friend p.13
  2. What was Junie B.’s temperature on the bus and why couldn’t she change it? Very hot and she couldn’t roll down the windows p.16
  3. What made the bus experience worse as Junie B. tried to get off? People pushed her; made her fall down in the aisle; stepped on her skirt p.19

Chapter 4

  1. What color chair did Junie B. want to sit in? red p.22
  2. What’s the name of the girl with red fingernails? Lucille p.25
  3. Name three places Junie B.’s class visited? Make sure to list them in the order they visited them. Library; cafeteria; nurse’s office p. 26

Chapter 5

  1. What happened to Lucille’s brother last year when he visited the principal? The principal yelled at him and told him he couldn’t beat kids up at recess anymore p.30
  2. What did Lucille bring up that made Junie B.’s stomach squeezy? She talked about the bus ride home p.34
  3. Why didn’t Junie B. follow her teacher as she led them to the bus? She didn’t want to ride the bus home p.35

Chapter 6

  1. Where did Junie B. hide? In the supply closet p.37
  2. When Junie B. woke from her nap, what did she find? The cars and bus were gone out of the parking lot p.40
  3. What did Junie B. pretend to be at the end of this chapter? The teacher p.42

Chapter 7

  1. What did Junie B. compare the media center to? A fort p.45
  2. Why did Junie B. like the pencil sharpener? It made pencils teeny p.47
  3. Who do you think the man was that was singing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”? the custodian p.48

Chapter 8

  1. When Junie B. was in the nurse’s office, what did she do? Pretend to be the nurse; put band-aids all over her; she played with the crutches p.50
  2. Why did Junie B. feel like the nurse’s office was a dangerous place? She fell off the crutches and banged her head on the desk p.55

Chapter 9

  1. Why were the doors locked in the school? Because no one was there p.58
  2. Who did Junie B. call to get help since she couldn’t open the door to go to the bathroom? 911 p.59
  3. How did the man with the can help Junie B.? unlocked the doors so she could use the restroom p.62

Chapter 10

  1. Why did Junie B.’s mom hug her really tight? Junie B. didn’t come home on the bus and she was concerned about her p.64
  2. What helped Junie B. want to ride the bus the next day? A girl named Grace that’s in Junie B. class p.68

Comprehension Questions – #3 Junie B. Jones and Her Big Fat Mouth

Junie B. Jones and Her Big Fat Mouth

By Barbara Park

Grades K-4; Genre – Fiction; GRL M; AR pts: 1.0

Junie B.'s having a rough week. First she got punishment for shooting off her mouth in kindergarten and now she's in big trouble again because Monday is "Job Day" and Junie B. told her class that she's got the "bestest" job of all, except she has no idea what it is.

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. What’s another word for career? A job p.3
  2. What does Junie B. mean when she says she’s going to flunk kindergarten? She won’t pass p.3
  3. How did Junie B. feel when she had to sit at the big table by herself? Sad; embarrassed p.6

Chapter 2

  1. What school rule is Junie B. struggling to follow so far in this book? Raising her hand p.13
  2. What does a policeman do for a living? Protect the community p.14
  3. Who is Dr. Smiley and what is her job? A children’s dentist; helping children have healthy teeth p.16
  4. What is flossing? When you pull a string in between your teeth to clean them p.17

Chapter 3

  1. Is being Mickey Mouse at Disneyland a real job? Yes p.22
  2. What does it mean to be “bashful”? shy; timid p.25
  3. Why was Junie B. feeling sick at the end of the chapter? Jim had humiliated her p.29

Chapter 4

  1. What’s a fib? A lie p.31
  2. Define what “tension” means? nervous p.35

Chapter 5

  1. What do you think Junie B. meant when she talked about her mother possibly “losing her grip”? feeling very stressed; getting angry  p.38
  2. How did Junie B. help her mom? She found the pacifier; washed it with soap and water p.42
  3. What do you think Junie B. is going to be for Job Day? Listen to your child’s ideas p.44

Chapter 6

  1. What did some of the kids on the bus dressed up as for Job Day? Minnie Mouse; superhero; karate guy; artist; policeman p.47

Chapter 7

  1. What was Ricardo dressed up as? A construction worker p.54
  2. Why is being a janitor an important and difficult job? He takes care of the students, teachers and the school; needs to be hard working, reliable and trustworthy p.60

Chapter 8

  1. Who was the last guest to visit Junie B.’s class for Job Day? The janitor of the school p.63
  2. What did she learn about the janitor? He’s from a different country; he’s been a janitor for 14 years; his name p.65
  3. How did Room Nine feel about the janitor after he came to visit? They clapped and clapped for him; they loved him; thought he was great p. 68

Comprehension Questions – #4 Junie B. Jones and Some Sneaky Peeky Spying

Junie B. Jones and Some Sneaky Peeky Spying

By Barbara Park

Grades 1-5; Genre – Fiction; GRL M; AR pts: 1.0

Junie B. Jones takes up “sneaky peeky spying” and lands herself in trouble. Hiding in a hamper, she frightens her grandfather and makes him drop his dentures. Barred from further espionage by her mother, Junie continues her secret activities sub rosa, and this time she apparently catches one of her teacher snaffling grapes in the grocery store.

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. Describe Junie B.’s teacher Mrs.  Brown hair; long skirts of wool; smile a lot p.2
  2. What does the word “spying” mean? When you are very quietly watching someone through a hole or crack p.2
  3. Tell me about Junie B. spying on her Grandpa? What happened? She hid in his laundry hamper and when he came into the bathroom, she lifted up the lid and peeked his eyes at him He took out his dentures and she popped out of the hamper and yelled at him.  He screamed and ran out of the bathroom p.3

Chapter 2

  1. How does Junie B. behave when she wants to answer a question from her teacher? She shouts it out and doesn’t raise her hand p.14
  2. How did Junie B.’s teacher get her to sit down? She had to hold her hand and walk her to her table p.18

Chapter 3

  1. Why does Junie B. think Mrs. is a “secret mystery guy”? because she wouldn’t answer any of Junie B.’s questions p.19
  2. Would you call Junie B. a good friend? ask for a couple of examples of why your child thinks she is or isn’t a good friend p.20
  3. What type of figurative language is “curiosity killed the cat”? an idiom p.21   What does it mean? It’s a warning of the dangers of unnecessary investigation

Chapter 4

  1. Tell me three of the rules Junie B. has at the grocery store? No yelling the words “I want ice cream!”; not calling her mom “a big meanie”; not opening food and eating it p.25
  2. When Junie B. was sitting down waiting for her stomach to feel better, who did she see come into the store? Her teacher, Mrs. p.33

Chapter 5

  1. What is the real name of the vegetable Junie B. called Sue Keeny? Zucchini p.36
  2. What did Junie B. see Mrs. and the man do that made her cover her eyes? They kissed p.37
  3. Why was Junie B. so upset when she saw Mrs. eat some grapes in the store? Because she hadn’t paid for them yet; that was stealing p.37

Chapter 6

  1. Tell me another idiom used at the beginning of this chapter? Cat got your tongue p.42  What do you think it means? It’s used to try and get someone to speak when they’ve been very quiet
  2. What did Lucille’s brother say would happen if you kept a secret? Pressure would build in your head and it would blow up p.44
  3. Who did Junie B. finally tell her secret to? The principal p.48

Chapter 7

  1. What was Junie B.’s emotion when she talked to Mrs. about what she saw? She was sad and crying p.53
  2. Why did Mrs. eat the grapes at the store? To see if they were sour. The ones she had purchased the week before were too sour and no one in her family would eat them p.55
  3. Was it ok then for Mrs. to test the grapes? No p.55

Chapter 8

  1. Why didn’t Junie B.’s mother want her spying on other people? It can cause trouble and hurt feelings p.59
  2. What did Junie B.’s class do for Grandparents Day? The kids told the grandparents what they do in class; then they had refreshments p.63
  3. What does “being polite” mean? To have manners; be kind; use words like please and thank you p.66