Barbara Park-

Last week Barbara Park, a former class clown who channeled her irreverence into the million-selling author of the mishaps of grade schooler Junie B. Jones, died at the age of 66. Starting in 1992, Park wrote more than 30 illustrated chapter books about the smart-mouthed girl with an ungrammatical opinion of everybody - her parents, her teachers, her friends and her classmate and enemy for life, May, who is so mean she won't even acknowledge Junie's middle initial.

The books' titles alone were windows into Junie's slangy mind: "Junie B. Jones and Her Big Fat Mouth," "Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus," "Junie B. Jones and That Meanie Jim's Birthday." Junie was stuck in kindergarten for years before Park advanced her to the next class, starting with Book 18, and titled it "Junie B., First Grader (at last!)."

 Park's books sold more than 55 million copies just in North America, according to Random House, and the series was adapted into a popular musical theater production. Junie B inspired much laughter among families, and a few frowns. Parents and educators occasionally objected to Jones' personalized language and cheeky ways, worrying that she was a bad influence on her fans.