Friday, December 11, 2015

Eight Books to Read After Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Ok, it is time to tackle what your kids should read after Diary of a Wimpy Kid or Big Nate.  I know that many of your children reread these books an unmeasurable number of times and you worry that they aren't getting exposed to anything new.  Don't worry! They see themselves as readers, and that is a very good thing.  They won't be reading these in high school .... I promise!

Today I have a list of books that resemble the Jeff Kinney masterpieces and will get your kids thinking that maybe, just maybe there are other books out there that they should try.  Worth a look, don't you think?

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Planet Tad by Tim Carvell (Author), Doug Holgate (Illustrator)


Kids will love getting to know Tad, a seventh grader who writes a blog about his daily happenings.  The author is a writer for the Daily Show which makes this book so intelligently funny that everyday mishaps will leave kids in stitches.  I have never given this to a child who hasn't wanted more.




My Life as a Book (The My Life series) by Janet Tashjian (Author), Jake Tashjian (Illustrator)


This series written by a mother/son duo has really grown on me.  Jake is a reluctant reader and he uses illustrations to help him remember challenging vocabulary words.  Jake can be a difficult kid, but he is kind and funny and kids will really be able to relate to his antics.  Large type and illustrations throughout the margins make this a hit with Wimpy Kid readers.




Charlie Joe Jackson's Guide to Not Reading (Charlie Joe Jackson Series) by Tommy Greenwald


This series is one of my favorites and is written by the father of three boys, so he gets it!  Charlie Joe has a goal of getting through the school year without reading a book, but don't worry, the moral of the story is of course that simply reading the books would have been easier and more enjoyable in the end.  Kids have to read the book to see how Charlie Joe meets his goal, an irony not lost on parents!




Stick Dog by Tom Watson 


This book is for the younger set, and features a lovable dog who helps lead his pack of hilarious strays that include Mutt, Poo Poo, Karen and Stripes.  They are on the search for the perfect hamburger and their methods occasionally get a little out of hand!




The Tapper Twins Go to War (With Each Other) by Geoff Rodkey


This new series has a lot to love.  First off I really appreciate that the story has both a strong girl and boy character.  The format of the book includes text messages and photographs so it is a wonderful story for kids who are intimidated by more traditional text.  It is also laugh out loud funny, which goes a long way!




The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger 


Since this series has completed it's run I wanted to make sure to include it.  Sometimes when there are no new books to promote, a series stops being top of mind, and this one is too good to be forgotten.  Sixth grade isn't easy, so when a Yoda finger puppet starts dispensing invaluable advice to kids, some want to find out if they are truly magically wise premonitions or just a classmate talking in a funny voice.




Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made by Stephan Pastis 


I had to include this book because it is so reminiscent of Calvin and Hobbs, with a 1500 pound polar bear that is imaginary, or is it?  Timmy Failure is the bumbling fool who misses every clue in this book centered around a detective agency, which will delight older kids.  The humor is a little more sophisticated than Diary of a Wimpy and the story a bit more poignant.



Knucklehead: Tall Tales and Almost True Stories of Growing up Scieszka by Jon Scieszka 


This book is the only one were I almost peed in my pants.  Instead of carefully crafted tales of fiction, this book is based on the author's actual childhood and includes hilarious anecdotes and pictures of growing up  There are times when real life is funny and more touching than anything someone could make up and this book is it.  Give it to your child or read it as a family and laugh your tushy off together!

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