Junie B. has made it to the graphic novel scene. In the adaptation from Colleen AF Venable, Junie B. likes "pasketti and meatballs," "pat and leather" shoes, keys and stickers. She’s not a fan of the big stupid smelly bus that she has to ride on her first day of kindergarten. She doesn’t want to ride the bus home either – since there’s "meanies." She thinks it smells like an egg sandwich and she’s afraid of someone pouring chocolate milk on her head. When Junie B. refuses to get on the bus to go back home – she hides in the art closet – and plays at the teacher’s desk, puts Band-Aids all over in the nurse’s office and causes a mess - until her parents and the ambulance shows up at the school. This is a colorful, fun version of the chapter book series!

Colleen A. F. Venable’s Junie B Jones graphic novel is sure to fly off the shelves in elementary school and public libraries and loved and reread often in libraries at home. Junie tells things like they are and often does and says things we all would like to, but won’t due to consequences that generally rain down on those who are so out-spoken and bold. Junie’s nerves about starting school will be highly relatable to readers and any who have experienced the noise, smell and discomfort of a school bus will absolutely understand her drastic measures to avoid riding one again. (But we probably wouldn’t do the same…just want to.) And isn’t that the appeal of the original, traditional format Junie B Jones? Yes, there was were always parents who protested her disrespect of authority and some of her rude announcements of not liking this person or that event, but most readers were using the series as the humorous relief and escapism it was intended to be and not a roadmap for future behavior. The graphic novel adaptation retains most of Junie’s spunk with a bit less of the mouthiness “those parents” have often opposed. Honie Beam’s illustrations are sure to please readers and lovers of the original series and will note some more modern elements like cell phones added to give a more contemporary feel. Libraries who have weeded the original series may need to purchase at least some of them (in their new and more current-looking covers) for those who want more of the little girl so many of us grew up loving.

Recommended for libraries serving preschool-grade 4.

Other popular series have made the transition over to graphic novel format - Magic Tree House, Bailey School Kids, I Survived - and now Junie B. is on the scene. All the plot essentials of the chapter book are there, as well as Junie B.'s personality in full color. While not directly copying the original illustration style of Denise Brunkus, this updated version is easily recognizable to fans. Favorite scenes such as Junie B. hiding in the classroom supply closet and making herself at home in the clinic are captured with the energy and humor so dear to readers over the years. Facial expressions capture her disgust of the "stupid smelly bus," her delight at finding a stash of bandaids to apply (whether needed or not), and her alarm when she finds herself balanced on top of a pair of crutches with no idea how to get down.

This new approach will be popular with those who were already enjoying the adventures in the traditional chapter books, but will also win over new admirers who prefer the graphic novel presentation. It's a win either way.

Great graphic novel adaptation for young readers who are starting to read and for parents who want to share their favorite books that got them into reading as children themselves.

I never grew up reading Junie B. Jones, but I recently picked up the series to read to my youngest daughter. The books were fun, but the situations/characters were a little dated. I was so excited to see that the new graphic novel adaptation keeps all the fun and silliness of the original character, but brings the setting into a modern environment. I love the increase in diversity and the approachability of a graphic novel format.
I can see fans of Babysitter Club Little Sister Series loving this book.
Thank you to Random House Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with a digital ARC. All thoughts are my own.

Thank yoy Netgalley and publishers for a ARC. All opinions are my own.

Junie B. Jones has been a favorite in my house as all my kids have read her tales! She is a spunky child who isn't always trusting of the adults around her. She prefers to learn things in her own way.

In Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus shares how Junie does not want to ride the bus. It alsi shares how she makes friends at school.

I loved the graphic novel as it explored more of Junie's personality.

Junie B is quite the little character. This is a perfect book for young children, especially those heading to school on the bus for the first time. Not only will it help to address some of their concerns and fears, it will also highlight the things to NOT do. You will enjoy reading this to your child as much as they enjoy hearing it. I guarantee there will be giggles and laughter throughout. The illustrations are beautifully done, and the segmenting of chapters is a great way to begin introducing chapter books. Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher, for the opportunity to review this book.

I read this series with my youngest and this was one of their favorites because they too hated the bus. This has all the fun of the original story. The art really vibes with the story and I loved it so much. It was the perfect nostalgic adaptation.

5 stars

As a big Junie B. fan, I knew I had to snag this graphic novel adaptation from NetGalley! All of the whimsy and high jinks of the original Junie B. live on in this colorful, modernized (as needed) version. This is going to bring Junie B. to a new generation. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

Junie B. Jones is a classic character, and I still have ancient copies in my elementary school library that regularly circulate.

This is a delightful way to bring that classic story into a more modern era. The problem? Junie B. should not be cute as a button. She should be the messy, delightful little troublemaker that she always has been. I want to see hair all over the place, skinned knees, band-aids. This version looks like she hardly moves because she doesn't want to get a hair out of place! Let Junie B. be Junie B.

With that rant over, I did adore this and will add it to my library, but I hope that some of her spirit will shine through in the graphics in the future!

Thank you to Random House Childrens', Random House Books for Young Readers, and Net Galley for the ARC. All opinions are my own, although this was also a discussion at my recent state librarian conference, and we all agreed that Junie B. is a character that should look chaotic!

A great series for reluctant readers at the elementary and early middle grade levels. This book is humorous and students can relate to the fears faced by Junie B. Jones. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this in exchange for an honest review.

I love seeing Junie B Jones make a comeback! I loved her as a kid, and our girl is still sassy as ever. The graphic novel is a great way to capture the attention of young readers. I wasn’t crazy about the change in art style at first, but I showed both the original cover and the new one to my daughter (5yo) and she said she preferred the new style, so what do I know? I was also a little worried the minor conflicts might be too much for my suuuuper sensitive kid but she proved me wrong yet again. We read the whole story together and she loved it and keeps asking for more Junie B. Keep the graphic novels coming!

The Junie B. Jones Graphic Novel has all the antics you know and love from Junie B. and the added bonus of colorful, entertaining illustrations! Those who are new to Junie B. are going to love joining her on her graphic novel adventures. Theres's humor and there's lessons to be learned.
This would be a fun one to read a loud to kids and to pour over the pictures with!

Junie B Jones was a staple in my life as a child, so to see her adapt for the new generations makes me happy. Junie B Jones was a must read when I was a kid and I have a feeling it will become a must read for many kids. I love this new adaption of Junie B Jones and I cannot wait to see the rest of the series as a graphic novel

This book was OK. If I had no knowledge of Junie B I would probably like this book, however I am a Junie B diehard who read every original book. The novels are better. You don’t get the precociousness and the annoyance of Junie B in the graphic novel. You don’t pick up her cadence and you do get that she doesn’t like Jim but not why. The translator did an OK job taking this from novel to graphic novel and while I enjoyed it it’s not a series, I would come back to in graphic novel format. I’m a diehard for the original novels.

Junie B Jones is the definition of a silly, goofy time and now a new generation of kids will enjoy that silly, goofy time with her! Also I feel Junie B. The bus always made me feel sick and overstimulated too.

A new generation of readers will really enjoy this graphic novel adaptation! I know this is nostalgia speaking, but I think I prefer the original novel. Even so, some of the updates (like Junie B. using a tablet and a phone), as well as the overall colors and style of the book, are going to appeal to kids. I think this might be a good graphic novel for the very youngest kids who want to read Babysitters Club but aren't quite there yet.

In the graphic novel adaptation of the classic JUNIE B. JONES AND THE STUPID SMELLY BUS, Junie B. is excited to start kindergarten but nervous about riding the bus. At the end of her first day of school, she takes matters into her own hands, creating a whole lot of chaos in the process. Junie B. retains her spunk and spirit here as she responds in her own authentic way to starting school, which will draw laughs from young readers. With bright, fun artwork that enhances Junie B.’s antics, the graphic novel format sticks to the bones of the original story while adding small touches that modernize the content so it is relevant to today’s readers. This version will be embraced by current Junie B. fans while introducing her to a whole new generation of fans.

Junie B. (aka Beatrice) Jones quickly reminds you (and not using her inside voice) that she likes to be called Junie B., not just Junie. She is a precocious soon-to-be 6-year-old girl who attends her first day of kindergarten. She must ride the yellow school bus to school, which frightens her because it’s smelly and stupid. Junie B. wants to do whatever it takes to NOT ride that bus.

Her first day of school is turning out to be as bad as that smelly stupid school bus. She can’t remember her teacher’s name nor the principal’s name. One of her classmates is pushy and mean. But she finally makes friends with Lucille who stole her coveted red seat. The day goes swimmingly along when the entire kindergarten class visits other parts of the school such as the media center, nurse’s office, cafeteria, etc. As the day comes to a close, Junie B. is terrified to go on that yellow smelly stupid school bus again to go home. She takes it upon herself to not go the bus. But what how will she accomplish that?

I had never read these Junie B. Jones books but knew about them. When they were popular in the 1990s, my elementary-aged son wanted to read books that were male-centric, naturally. Therefore, I never had the opportunity to read these books but am very happy to do so now in graphic novel format. I see there will be another in the graphic novel series and am looking forward to reading more about Junie B.!

Even though I wasn’t particularly fond of the character (she was a bit bratty for my tastes), I did really love the artwork, color, fonts, and overall placement of the panels. It’s surely a winner in my “book”!

I grew up reading the original Junie B Jones books. So there is definitely a lot of nostalgia attached to the series. I loved the graphic novel format. There were a few things in the book that were kind of modernized from the original books. It wasn’t anything that I think made any significant impact on the story but likely does make a difference in children today being able to relate. An example is a reference to ‘no more screen time’. Also, I noticed the way that the adults interact with Junie B had a slightly different feel to it. I remember in the original books that it sometimes felt like her teacher just really didn’t like her and seemed to be annoyed at everything she did. I was happy to see that I didn’t have this same feeling with this book. All in all I think they did a great job adapting a nostalgic series both to graphic novel format and to be more inline with the culture kids are currently living in without taking away any of the original humor and good feelings.

A thousand thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for giving me a chance to read an e-arc of this book.