Author barbara park biography
Home / General Biography Information / Author barbara park biography
She attended Rider College and, after transferring, she graduated from the University of Alabama in 1969. In 2004, Park was designated as one of the American Library Association’s (ALA) Most Frequently Challenged Authors, and, in 2009, the “Junie B. Jones” series came in at #71 on the ALA’s list of the Top 100 Banned or Challenged Books from 2000–2009.
SIS is an all-volunteer organization and all donations go directly to women struggling with ovarian cancer. “For me, that’s a dream job.”
Barbara Park, ‘Junie B. Jones’ Author, Dies at 66
Jones, died on Friday, November 15, after a seven-and-a-half-year battle with ovarian cancer. Park tragically passed away November 15, 2013 after a 7.5 year battle with cancer. She was a longtime resident of Scottsdale, Ariz.
Park has said that her writing career was largely born as a way to express her sense of humor.
Junie B. Jones, who first appeared in 1992, is featured in more than 30 books that have sold more than 55 million copies—making the character as familiar a girl in children’s literature as Ramona, Pippi, or Eloise. “Junie B Jones has remained a favorite with young readers,” says Barbara Moon, youth services consultant at the Suffolk Cooperative Library System on Long Island, NY.
“Filled with humor and heart, this series is an endearing and enduring classic for early readers.” The first book in the series, Junie B Jones and the Super Smelly Bus,introduced Juniper Beatrice "Junie B." Jones, an irreverent kindergartener. Stay ahead. Park also participated in the “Make a Wish Foundation,” visiting patients and inspiring people throughout her entire career.
A 30-minute stage production of Junie B. Jones, for which Park wrote the script, has traveled around the country courtesy of Theatreworks; the show is part of its 2013–2014 repertoire. Log In.
.
She had initially studied to become a high school teacher though she did not pursue the profession.After several rejections, Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers acquired her first manuscript, Operation: Dump the Chump, and two others. In addition to writing her many books, Park also won over 40 awards for her important work in the literary world. She was 66 years old. Most famously known for her Junie B. Jones series, Park is now also known for founding the “Sisters in Survival” foundation, which supports ovarian cancer patients.
Barbara Park left a legacy in the world of children’s literature, as her work continues to impact lives today.
Born in Mount Holly, New Jersey on April 21st, 1947, Barbara Park may have never guessed she would become the author of over 50 books. Early readers relished being just a tad ahead of Junie in knowing the correct grammar and enjoyed Junie's exuberant style.“
The Junie B. Jones bus, circa 2009, that toured around the country.
Susan Polos, school librarian at Mount Kisco Elementary School in New York and a current member of the Newbery Award selection committee, thinks that Junie B.
is “actually an excellent role model for transitional readers. She spent most of her adult life in Arizona.
Don’t Make Me Smile was published first, in 1981, followed by Operation: Dump the Chump and Skinnybones, both published in 1982. The reasons cited for the challenges were poor social values taught by the books and Junie B. not being considered a good role model due to her “mouthiness” and use of bad spelling and grammar. She married Richard A.
Park in 1969 and they had two sons, Steven and David.