I think it's time for me to admit that Junie B Jones just is not for me. I never loved the chapter books growing up, and if Colleen AF Veneble can't make me love a book, it's hopeless.

Junie B Jones has a new baby brother. Her grandparents joke that he's a little monkey. Junie B takes this literally and tells everyone in her class that her brother is a monkey. Things spiral. I taught K for 3 years and cannot imagine any of my students believing something so ridiculous.

I don't understand why this series is so enduring, but I will acknowledge that's a me problem, not a this book problem. 3.5 rounded up

I love that Junie B. Jones is now going the graphic novel route. My kids will love this. I am excited to share with them.

Thank you @NetGalley and @Randomhouse for the ARC. My students love Junie B Jones and all the funny things she says and does. These new graphic novel version is wonderful. The illustrations captured so much of Junie B character and personality. A must for for younger beginning readers.

I'm loving these books being turned into graphic novels. Junie doesnt feel as sassy or read as having a terrible attitude quite as much in these which I know parents will be grateful for.

Junie B. jones and a little Monkey Business is a graphic novel adaptation of the 1993 book of the same name. The story at hand features relatable mix-ups that any kindergartener might experience, and how our main character works through these with the adults in her life. She confuses metaphor for literal fact and her entire class comes together in the end to share metaphors they have heard before. Junie B. begins a playground bartering system only benefiting herself, and her teacher, “Mrs.” has to get to the bottom of why she has everyone’s snack tickets and shiny new things. Junie B. doesn’t mean to take advantage of her classmates, because in a six year old’s brain, the trades only made sense.

Plot aside, I really do not like the illustrative style that they went for in terms of the actual character Junie B. For me, it views a little lifeless and doesn’t portray her characteristic larger than life personality and sass. It’s a bit too basic for me, especially side by side with the incredible original cover illustrations. For me, she doesn’t even look identifiable in any way as a kindergartener. That could be a much older child if seen out of the context of the story. Additionally, the story of Junie B. stands so tall on its own, the graphic novel adaptation really needed to add something special to justify its existence in my opinion. The color is great, but the character’s certainly could have been better.Ultimately, I don’t know if a new form of Junie B. was needed in 2025. It was a true adaptation of the original content, but I think reading the book together as a family is one thing, I’m not sure it needed this new format adaptation. She has an attitude, puts up a lot of fights, and some not nice behavior is featured throughout. The incorrectly spelled words might also not be the vibe in the midst of a literacy crisis. Regardless, this is definitely a read together and discuss as a family or class type of book in my opinion. There’s a lot to be learned for a young reader, or a lot to be misunderstood without adult guidance. I will continue to buy for my public library collection, but don’t see them being a recommendation coming from me.

This big Junie B. fan loved the first graphic novel adaptation in the series, so I was so excited when I got the second one from NetGalley, too! The second installment is just as colorful and whimsical as the first. I love how these are slightly modernized but totally true to the spirit of the originals. Junie B. Jones is second to none, and it is not monkey business to say the second graphic novel is marvelous. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

First I would like to give a huge thank you to @netgalley and @randomhouse in exchange for my honest review of this wonderful e-arc.
As an elementary school teacher I always look for new books to incorporate within my classroom. I know there is a debate over graphic novels but my students love them and if it gets them wanting to read I will gladly incorporate more in my library. Having already have the chapter book this graphic will make the perfect addition.
I loved everything about this story. This will also be perfect to use to show students to show them examples of figurative language.

Another fun and funny Junie B. Jones graphic novel, with illustrations by Colleen AF Venable make this a must-read for young readers. Junie B. Jones doesn't understand her grandma's metaphor that her brother is a cute little monkey, and hilarity ensues. At the end of the book the whole class learns a lesson, and the reader comes away with a better understanding of figurative language.

The graphic novel works well for these books and I hope to read more in the future!

I highly recommend this book for schools and libraries.

I love that these are now Grpahic novels and a modernized but still have Junie B's flare. Thank you to NetGalley for the early copy.