Why is Junie B. Jones so Popular?

Going to elementary school, I remember that many of my classmates obsessed over the Junie B. Jones series.

For some odd reason, I never got on that bandwagon.  I always had such a long list of books to read (I still do) that it never managed to make it to the top of the list or even on the list.

However, when I saw it at the library, I thought I might as well try it.  After all, it is so very popular.

This book is the first in the series.  Junie B. Jones is just entering kindergarten.

When she goes to visit before school starts, the teacher asks her if she will be riding the bus.

Since Junie B. had no idea about the bus, her fear of the bus and a dislike for practically all the people on the bus quickly begins.

The book goes through the first day of kindergarten, and then Junie B. faces the epitome of her fear of the school bus.  That is when her adventure truly begins.

I can certainly see why children like this book.  Junie B. is a loud and vociferous young girl speaking like any young child with words like besets.

She has no inhibitions about stating her opinion.  Even her grand adventure leaves the reader vicariously experiencing an event that ultimately gets Junie B.  into very deep trouble.

While a child might know better than Junie B., he or she can certainly see what it might be like to run through the school when everybody has left.

However, I really did not like Junie B.  I thought she was annoying and obnoxious.  The story was almost too simply written even for a children's book.

As I read the first few pages, I contemplated if perhaps I had picked up this book before as a child, but because I really disliked the main character, I could not swallow more than a few pages.

However, I do understand why children might enjoy reading this series.  So for this I will say, that this book is neither good nor bad.  Judge for yourself if you will be a Junie B. fan.