Review: Junie B. Jones and The Stupid Smelly Bus - Colleen Venable and Honie Beam

Review: Junie B. Jones and The Stupid Smelly Bus - Adapted by Colleen AF Venable and Illustrated by Honie Beam - April 2025

As someone who devoured Barbara Park’s Junie B. Jones books back in the mid-1990s, I was thrilled when Penguin Random House Kids Graphic offered me the chance to review this fresh adaptation of Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus — now reimagined as a junior graphic novel. I vividly remember reading the original between 1994 and 1995, laughing at Junie B.’s sassy voice and wild adventures, and this graphic adaptation brought all those nostalgic feelings rushing back.

The story follows Junie B. on her very first day of kindergarten, where she faces a massive hurdle: the dreaded school bus. From the title alone, you know exactly how Junie B. feels about the bus — she’s convinced it’s dirty, smelly, and full of mean kids. Her stubbornness, quirky logic, and hilarious antics shine through as she tries to navigate this new experience. Whether it’s deciding she’s simply not going to ride the bus home or getting herself into a bit of trouble by hiding out at school, Junie B.’s larger-than-life personality makes for an engaging read.

What truly delighted me about this version was the art. Honie Beam’s illustrations burst with color and energy, perfectly capturing Junie B.’s dramatic expressions and the chaotic charm of her world. The graphic format makes the story more accessible to today’s young readers, especially those who may be a bit intimidated by chapter books. It also transported me right back to my own first-day jitters — I remembered the nerves I felt when I first caught the school bus after moving to the countryside, which added a personal layer to the reading experience.

Colleen AF Venable has done a fantastic job adapting Barbara Park’s beloved words into a new format while keeping Junie B.’s original voice intact. Longtime fans will appreciate the nostalgia, while a whole new generation of readers can fall in love with this unforgettable character. If you’re looking for a fun, brightly illustrated graphic novel to gift a young reader — or to relive some childhood memories yourself — this one is an absolute delight.

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3YsQ5Y2