Junie B. Jones and the ­Stupid Smelly Bus: The Graphic Novel

K-Gr 2–The beloved and imperfect Junie B. Jones returns in a dynamic new graphic novel series that stays true to the curious, energetic Junie of years past. It starts readers at the first tale from the original series, in which six-year-old Junie is excited about beginning kindergarten but worries about having to ride the school bus. When Junie’s first bus ride and its accompanying “bus breath” become too much to handle, Junie makes a decision that will take her on an adventure filled with dramatic flair—true to her style. Junie is visually akin to the original, and Beam’s illustrations emphasize her wide range of big emotions. Junie sounds and acts like just as a child would and views the world with wonder, curiosity, fear, and joy. Large, expressive eyes, facial expressions, and body language add to the nervous excitement and are emphasized in wonderful three-panel sets to display the quick changes in Junie’s emotions— like a true kindergartner. The graphic novel elements are geared towards younger ages to show how pictures and words need to be “read” for full understanding in the comic format. Junie’s school world is realistic and modern, and her peers and teachers represent a range of identities and abilities. There is a reason this character has stood the test of time and Venable does a wonderful job reminding readers why.