Barbara Park and Cherokee Elementary School, Arizona's First Literary Landmark

On May 5, 2017, students and teachers at Cherokee Elementary School were joined by the late Barbara Park's husband and son to dedicate the school as Arizona's first Literary Landmark. The school was recognized as Park's inspiration for her bestselling children's series, Junie B. Jones. Many students in attendance dressed the part, donning Junie B. costumes and presenting artwork inspired by the series. The commemorative plaque presented reads, “Cherokee Elementary will always consider itself to be Barbara Park’s home school.”

Barbara Park's first novel Don't Make Me Smile was published in 1981. She would go on to publish over fifty books and receive over forty awards, including several Children's Choice Awards. She is considered one of the most popular children's authors of modern times. Park passed in 2013 after a years-long battle with ovarian cancer.

Literary Landmark: Cherokee Elementary School - Barbara Park, United for Libraries. Accessed February 26th 2021. http://www.ala.org/united/products_services/literarylandmarks/landmarksbyyear/2017/park.

First Literary Landmark in Arizona Honors Junie B. Jones Author Barbara Park, Penguin Random House. Accessed February 26th 2021. https://global.penguinrandomhouse.com/announcements/first-literary-landmark-in-arizona-honors-junie-b-jones-author-barbara-park/.

About the Author, Junie B. Jones. Accessed February 26th 2021. http://juniebjones.com/author.