What's the bestest job ever? A beauty shop guy, that's what! And Junie B. Jones is going to be one when she grows up. But first she needs a little practice. And a few volunteers. Like her bunny slippers. And her dog. And maybe even...herself? Is Junie B. on her way to a great new career? Or is she about to have the worst hair day ever?

Barbara Park is one of today's funniest, most popular writers for middle grade readers. Her novels, which include Skinnybones,  Mick Harte was Here, Maxie, Rosie, and Earl-Partners in Grime, Rosie Swanson: Fourth-Grade Geek for President, <b>and The Graduation of Jake Moon </b>have won just about every award given by children. She <b>is also the author of the hilarious and bestselling Junie B. Jones chapter books</b>. Recent books about Junie include <b>Junie B., First Grader (at last!)  </b>and <b>Junie B., First Grader: Boss of Lunch.<br></b><br>Ms. Park earned a B.S. degree in education at the University of Alabama. She lives in Arizona with her husband<b> and has two grown sons.</b>

Chapter 4: Snipping, Snipping, Snipping

I opened and closed my shiny scissors real fast.

"Now I can start my years and years of practice!" I whispered very thrilled.

I skipped to my bed where my stuffed animals sit. 'Cause I needed volunteers, of course.

"Who wants to go first?" I asked my animals. "Who wants to get their fur trimmed at my beauty shop?"

My bestest elephant named Philip Johnny Bob raised his foot.

"I do! I do!" he said.

I hugged him very tight. 'Cause that guy is always a good sport, that's why.

I picked him up and put him in my beauty chair.

I sat him on lots of pillows so he would be tall.

Then I kept on looking and looking at his fur.

"Yeah, only here's the problem," I said. "Your fur is made out of softie gray velvet. And softie gray velvet is short and smoothie. And so I can't even trim you."

Philip Johnny Bob did a sad sigh.

I patted his head and put him back on the bed.

Just then, I accidentally stepped on something.

I looked on the floor.

And guess what?

It was my slippers that look like bunnies!

"Us! Us! Trim us!" they said real squealy.

"Hey, yeah! 'Cause you have the beautifulest long white fur I ever even saw! And so you guys will be perfect, probably!"

I quick picked them up and put them in my beauty chair.

After that, I skipped all around them. And I snipped their long white fur.

I singed a lovely song.

It is called "Snipping, Snipping, Snipping Their Long White Fur."

It was the funnest fun I ever even had.

After I got done, I holded them up to the mirror so they could see theirselves.

They did not smile.

I>We're baldies," they said real soft.

I did a big breath at those guys.

"Yeah, only I already know you are baldies. But that is not my fault. 'Cause you kept on wiggling while I was trimming you," I said.

I petted their heads very nice.

"Don't worry," I whispered. "'Cause bunny fur probably grows back, probably. I'm almost positive, sort of."

Then I hugged them real gentle. And I throwed them under my bed.

'Cause I didn't want Mother and Daddy might see them, that's why.

After that, I got in bed and did a sigh.

This job was going to take more practice than I thought.

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Excerpted from Junie B. Jones Is a Beauty Shop Guy by Barbara Park
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