Junie B. Jones, the precocious, naive, exasperating first grader, has a run-in with the temptation to cheat in Cheater Pants and is the star of halftime when a sore toe keeps her out of the kickball tournament in One-Man Band. The cutesy baby talk grates, but Junie B.'s overwrought feelings will be instantly recognizable. Brunkus's personality-plus drawings are scattered throughout. [Review covers these Stepping Stone titles: Junie B., First Grader: Cheater Pants and Junie B., First Grader: One-Man Band.]

Gr 1-3-In this adventure, Junie B. is sidelined by an injury and cannot participate in the first-grade kickball tournament. When her teacher offers her a chance to be a cheerleader, stage fright almost ruins her halftime performance, but the irrepressible protagonist comes through in the end. Text and illustrations work well together. Junie's distinct and authentic voice speaks to beginning chapter-book readers. Her journal entries (complete with corrected spelling mistakes) are a nice counterpoint to the straightforward plot. Classroom politics, family dynamics, and the frustrations and triumphs of growing up are treated with humor and hope. This will be a hit where the series is popular.-Ellen M. Riordan, Enoch Pratt Free Library, Baltimore, MD Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.