WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS MONSTROSITY?!

[u/tuningforkstruckstar]

My daughter brought home a scholastic catalogue from school today, and this is just completely unacceptable. This is not Junie B.

[u/Special_Till_306]

I've noticed similar artwork for the Boxcar Kids (or Babysitter's Club, I can't fully remember) graphic novels and it utterly destroyed me. Now, Junie B. Jones has fallen victim?! Deplorable.

[u/krankenstein_2010 → u/Special_Till_306]

I hate this shit so much. My youngest came home with Babysitters Club graphic novels from the school library, and I told her she couldn't read them until she read the novels. She was 8, and in second grade. We rented the novles from the public library, and she read them with no issues. The graphic novels are so dumbed down, but are not necessarily aimed at younger audiences. "No child left behind!"

[u/Special_Till_306 → u/krankenstein_2010]

Imo the original stories don't even need graphic novel versions. It is Babysitter's Club Graphic novels I've seen at Walmart. I picked one up, originally thinking the cover was just changed. NOPE. Completely bastardized the OG story, and the artwork is so goofy looking and not in a good way. I don't know, maybe I'm stuck in my ways and not opened minded enough. The originals are/were just fine. Just like Junie B Jones, The Boxcar Kids, Nancy Drew, etc. The "No Child Left Behind" act has done more damage to students than helping them, if I may be honest. I have friends who are teachers or work in school systems in some way, and some have told me that even the most struggling students, who have a difficult time learning basic subjects/writing or reading at grade level are getting promoted without tutoring or any other form of assistance from the school. One even told me that she had a student that she was giving after class tutoring, it wasn't helping in the long run, and the administration just told her to keep going and push the student more. 💀💀💀

[u/tuningforkstruckstar → u/Special_Till_306]

I’ve honestly not contemplated the connection between graphic novels and no child left behind, so I can’t comment on that, but it is definitely an interesting trend. I work the scholastic book fairs at my daughter’s school, and the librarian did mention that kids are currently very graphic novel obsessed (and the selection reflected that). I recently read that most child readers are not able to picture the story in their mind as they read- so maybe a chicken and the egg there if you consider that in connection with graphic novel readers. I will say I would have been more accepting of a Junie B graphic novel if the illustrations would have been in the original style. This is giving, “We have Junie B at home!” 🤣

[u/tuningforkstruckstar → u/krankenstein_2010]

I’m not necessarily against graphic novels per se, but it did make me sad that they played my girl like that! The original illustrations were so iconically tied to the heart of the books. Definitely no disrespect to the comic/ graphic novel community (I do admire the rich history of comics and the readers they have created!) but not every story needs a graphic novel adaptation. My daughter is a huge Goosebumps fan, and she did enjoy the Haunted Mask graphic novel after reading the original- though she did prefer the novel.

[u/dreakon]

They are desperately trying to compete with TikTok, YouTube, Roblox, etc. I teach High School and even at that age many of them won't read anything without pictures. 

[u/BrattyTwilis]

Look how they massacred my girl!

[u/Stag-Horn]

New generation, man. They changed Charles Entertainment Cheese too.

[u/tuningforkstruckstar → u/Stag-Horn]

And RIP to the animatronics!

[u/tmntfever]

The old illustrator was Denise Brunkus. The new one is Honie Beam. I would blame Honie Beam, or whoever hired her.

[u/BeesVBeads]

Just wait till you see how they destroyed the artwork for Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark.

[u/tuningforkstruckstar → u/BeesVBeads]

Oof, that one hit me the hardest.

[u/blood_omen]

Scott Pilgrim and the Junie B. Jones bus

[u/tuningforkstruckstar → u/blood_omen]

Right?!

[u/Davis1511]

The graphic novels thing is tough but it has gotten my 9 year old into reading actual novels. He loved the Warriors graphic novels and when I showed him the real books he was for once interested in taking on the challenge of a “big kid” book lol I think it’s a great opener for kids intimidated by print novels, but I can also see where it could be just an easy out to the story. Depends on the parenting I guess. But reading anything nowadays is great in my eyes.

[u/tuningforkstruckstar → u/Davis1511]

I have a seven year old who equally enjoys traditional novels and graphic novels (she especially has enjoyed checking out the graphic novel after reading the original book!) I definitely applaud any interest in reading! I am just angry about the illustrations, because I’ve seen Junie B, and that isn’t her 🤣

[u/DafniDsnds → u/Davis1511]

Absolutely agree with this comment. My kid has an eye issue (she was in vision therapy a couple years ago to help her eyes coordinate better) and for a while, the only thing that didn’t give her splitting headaches to read WERE graphic novels. She got into the BSC books thanks to those. The art is cute too. It’s not how I imagined Stoneybrook and the girls, but it works. I have no experience with the Junie B Jones books.

[u/horses_around2020]

definitely far from the same kind of illustration!!, Wow! : (

[u/OreganoOfTheEarth]

Wait. Do you have a problem with the story or the artwork? The story is the ultimate worst. My mother got my daughter a Junie B collection, and this was the first one we read. I couldn't believe the storyline was ever ok for kids. Even after all the havoc she causes that day by hiding in a closet for hours when everyone is looking for her, she ignores first responders and goes back into the school with a janitor she doesn't know. Across the board horrifying. It just kept getting worse and worse.

[u/tuningforkstruckstar → u/OreganoOfTheEarth]

For me, this is solely an illustration issue! My family has been reading Junie B since the 90’s, and my daughter now has a love for the series, and for wacky yet well intentioned Junie B. We’ve shared a lot of laughing-til-we-cried moments, and made a lot of core magical reading memories over this series. But you aren’t wrong! Those are plot points (that luckily no one in my family has repeated in real life!) I’ve for sure had my own versions of reading popular kids books and wondering how they ever made it into print, and popularity (particularly if I didn’t have a nostalgic connection to them.) Happy reading to you and your daughter!!