As a child, I would wake up to the sight of my father coming home from work and often, he would surprise me with a simple present. These constant gifts of affection from my father invigorated me into the love of reading books and for my search of knowledge that I still have to this day. I was so indulged into the book and unlike any child, I read for hours upon hours. The scent of crisp, fresh, and untouched pages allowed my creativity to soar and the suspense of turning the page kept me going. Surprisingly, the book that changed my life is Barbara Park’s Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus. Not only was this the first book of the series but the first book I felt an impact in my young life. While reading the book, I felt a connection with the character and somehow crafted a bond as I followed her into the series as she began kindergarten and all the way to her first day as a first grader. Park’s creation of spunky, energetic, and talkative Junie B. Jones gave me a friend and an insight to a young American perspective to guide me as I was filled with…show more content… Jones is accredited to being one of the aspects that has shaped me to who I am today. Through her drive in wanting to succeed everything in her kindergarten class to accepting her quirky personality and outlandish style, I find all these traits in myself as I aspire to become the best person I can be at school, at home, and in my community. One whimsy habit I remember Junie B. Jones had was the continuous correcting she had to do as many adults called her “Junie” rather than “Junie B.” which she preferred. Like Junie B., I also have to do this continuous correcting as many adults have called me by the name “Mary” or “Mary Jo”, when my name is “Mary Joy”. When I was first introduced to the Junie B. Jones series, I was also entering into my school year as a kindergartener and with the help of Junie B., it was not a fearful stage of my life. I was open to the new experience and change in my
