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Quick answer: If your daughter loves Junie B. Jones, try Ivy + Bean, Judy Moody, Clementine, Amber Brown Is Not a Crayon, Pinky and Rex and Ramona the Pest. They have the same funny, honest heroines and are great for early readers.
Barbara Park's Junie B. Jones is a bold kindergartner who says what she thinks, gets into trouble and makes readers laugh. The books are short and funny and perfect for ages 5 to 8. Girls who love them want more spirited heroines in early chapter books. These 15 books fit.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ivy + Bean | Annie Barrows | 6-9 | first chapter-book readers |
| Judy Moody | Megan McDonald | 6-9 | readers who like attitude |
| Clementine | Sara Pennypacker | 6-9 | readers who like quirky heroines |
| Amber Brown Is Not a Crayon | Paula Danziger | 6-9 | readers who face change |
| Ramona the Pest | Beverly Cleary | 6-9 | readers who like classics |
| Beezus and Ramona | Beverly Cleary | 7-10 | readers with siblings |
| Pinky and Rex | James Howe | 5-8 | early readers |
| Mercy Watson to the Rescue | Kate DiCamillo | 5-8 | readers who like humor |
| Fancy Nancy | Jane O'Connor | 4-8 | picture-book fans |
| Princess in Black | Shannon Hale and Dean Hale | 5-8 | readers who like superheroes |
| The Magic Tree House: Dinosaurs Before Dark | Mary Pope Osborne | 6-9 | adventure fans |
| Nate the Great | Marjorie Weinman Sharmat | 5-8 | young detectives |
| Stink: The Incredible Shrinking Kid | Megan McDonald | 6-9 | readers who like sibling stories |
| Lola Levine Is Not Mean | Monica Brown | 6-9 | readers who like sports |
| Dory Fantasmagory | Abby Hanlon | 5-8 | readers who like imagination |
1. Ivy + Bean by Annie Barrows
Two very different neighbors become friends after a prank. Funny and warm.
Best for: first chapter-book readers.
2. Judy Moody by Megan McDonald
Judy Moody is in a mood on her first day of third grade. Funny and quick.
Best for: readers who like attitude.
3. Clementine by Sara Pennypacker
Clementine, a creative third grader, tries to stay out of trouble. Funny and tender.
Best for: readers who like quirky heroines.
4. Amber Brown Is Not a Crayon by Paula Danziger
Amber Brown's best friend moves away. A funny and moving story of friendship.
Best for: readers who face change.
5. Ramona the Pest by Beverly Cleary
Ramona starts kindergarten and gets into funny trouble. Charming and real.
Best for: readers who like classics.
6. Beezus and Ramona by Beverly Cleary
Beezus is annoyed by her little sister Ramona. A classic of sibling life.
Best for: readers with siblings.
7. Pinky and Rex by James Howe
Pinky and Rex are best friends who love animals. Short and sweet.
Best for: early readers.
8. Mercy Watson to the Rescue by Kate DiCamillo
Mercy Watson, a pig who loves toast, saves the day. Funny and fast.
Best for: readers who like humor.
9. Fancy Nancy by Jane O'Connor
Nancy loves everything fancy and teaches new words. Bright and sparkly.
Best for: picture-book fans.
10. Princess in Black by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale
Princess Magnolia is secretly a monster-fighting hero. Fun and action-packed.
Best for: readers who like superheroes.
11. The Magic Tree House: Dinosaurs Before Dark by Mary Pope Osborne
Jack and Annie travel through time. A great series for early readers.
Best for: adventure fans.
12. Nate the Great by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat
Nate solves small mysteries with his dog Sludge. Gentle and funny.
Best for: young detectives.
13. Stink: The Incredible Shrinking Kid by Megan McDonald
Judy's little brother Stink worries about being short. Funny and sweet.
Best for: readers who like sibling stories.
14. Lola Levine Is Not Mean by Monica Brown
Lola, a soccer-loving girl, struggles with a mistake at school. Warm and funny.
Best for: readers who like sports.
15. Dory Fantasmagory by Abby Hanlon
Dory has a wild imagination and needs to be taken seriously. Hilarious and illustrated.
Best for: readers who like imagination.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick is a real, widely available book that shares something specific with Junie B. Jones: its tone, its themes, its pace or the kind of characters it puts at the center. We mixed well-known favorites with a few less obvious titles, and we noted who each book suits best so you can match it to the reader. Where a book belongs to a series, we list the first volume so you can start at the beginning.
How to Choose
For ages 5 to 6, read Pinky and Rex, Fancy Nancy or Mercy Watson. For ages 6 to 8, begin with Ivy + Bean, Judy Moody or Clementine. For ages 7 to 9, move to Ramona or Magic Tree House. A simple plan is to let your child choose a series, then read the first three books before moving on. Short chapters make these ideal for read-alouds. A good routine is to read one chapter before bed and let your child predict what happens next. Many of these series have audiobooks that kids love on car rides.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What age is Junie B. Jones for?
It is recommended for ages 5 to 8.
Is Junie B. Jones controversial?
Some parents dislike Junie's poor grammar and sass, but many teachers use the books to encourage reading.
How many Junie B. Jones books are there?
Over 28 in the main series, plus holiday and first-grader spin-offs.
What should we read after Junie B.?
Ivy + Bean and Judy Moody are popular next series.
Are these good for kids learning to read?
Yes. They use short chapters, big type and lots of pictures.
How do I help a child who wants only Junie B.?
Let them enjoy it, then add a similar series like Ivy + Bean when they are ready.