Junie B., First Grader: Jingle Bells, Batman Smells! (P.S. So Does May) (Junie B. Jones Series #25) » (Reprint)

The prolific creator of the Junie B. Jones series, Barbara Park says she wasn't particularly imaginative when she was young. No matter. Park and Junie B. are making up for lost time. In our interview, Park discussed her favorite books and writers, what she's working on next -- and told us a little bit about the antics of her puppy.

It’s holiday time, and Room One is doing lots of fun things to celebrate.
Like making elf costumes! And singing joyful songs! Only, how can Junie B. enjoy the festivities when Tattletale May keeps ruining her holiday glee? And here is the worst part of all! When everyone picks names for Secret Santa, Junie B. gets stuck with Tattletale you-know-who! It’s enough to fizzle your holiday spirit! Hmm . . . or is it? Maybe, just maybe, a Secret Santa gift is the perfect opportunity to give May exactly what she deserves.

Gwynne Spencer - Children's Literature

For those of you who are still stubbornly resisting reading children's books, you must at least give this one to every humbug on your Christmas list, or to the people who kind of make you think about fruitcake. This title by the incomparable Barbara Park is the perfect present for your doctor or the paperboy, or any seven-year-old you know or can borrow. In this laugh-out-loud book, Junie B. and her arch-enemy, May, are battling (as usual) and then along comes the Secret Santa thing in the classroom. Junie B. has her shopping list completed, including tattoos and a fart/burper hand-held device. May, of course, tells Junie B. she is enormously shellfish, and the story (I absolutely cannot give it away) ends up so great, you will cry. So go buy about ten copies of this for Emergency Gifting. It is far better than fruitcake. Junie B. is the "bestest." It even has a ribbon bookmark sewn into the binding. 2005, Random House, Ages 7 to 10.