I know there have to be some members of this group who've read this book. (I'm looking at you, mothers of young boys!) I only read the first 40 pages or so, but it's quite a popular series, and has funny illustrations to supplement the text. I think it's a great book for a reluctant reader, which is why I bought it for a cousin of mine. I've been told by many middle school boys that they love it.

The first is Diary of a Wimpy Kid. After that is Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules and then Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw. The author is Jeff Kinney.

Has anyone else read these, or know a young boy who has?

I read Rodrick Rules and thought it was a good middle-grade read, especially a reluctant reader. Easy to read and understand, funny and cute graphics.

Gave it to my daughter's 4th grade class library - she teaches an 'at risk' class and tells me they really enjoy the Wimpy Kid books.

I know these are aimed at boys but I think girls would get a kick out of them, too. I know my 7 yr old daughter loves them. She has all of them. I have only seen bits and pieces but they are cute!

Have you noticed that girls are willing to read so-called "boy books" (books with a male protagonist) but a lot of boys won't read "girl books?" Just something I noticed working at the bookstore. But you're totally right, these are great for girls, too. Your comment made me think of this other series, Dear Dumb Diary by Jim Benton. The first is called Let's Pretend This Never Happened. I read the first half or so (they're short) and it's a similar format. (First published in 2004.) They have a really cranky girl character and funny pictures.

Alexis wrote: "Have you noticed that girls are willing to read so-called "boy books" (books with a male protagonist) but a lot of boys won't read "girl books?" Just something I noticed working at the bookstore. B..."

That's true. My son typically reads "boy books." The only "girly" book he's ever brought home was a Junie B. Jones one, and he got teased by a few boys in his class for checking it out. Luckily, that didn't bother him, but it kind of bugged me!

But Junie B. Jones is really popular with boys, too! Wow, I guess his friends started "girls are icky" pretty early. Good for him for not caring what his friends thought.

I do have a complaint about those books, though. Junie does not speak correctly and I don't think that's what should be shown to young readers in text they will be reading themselves. How is that going to help their reading and writing skills?

Oh, I agree with you about the Junie B. books, Alexis. My kids haven't read many of them, and we do discuss the poor language in them. I appreciate when they read books of better quality, but they sometimes choose those books just because they're funny.

My 8 year old son is reading the first Diary of a Wimpy Kid and he loves it. He also has the "Do-It-yourself" book (a journal type thing) and he had a great time writing in it. My 8 year old is definitely a reluctant reader (he's improved greatly, though) so books like this (books with some drawings and those that are broken up into diary-like sections) seem to be attractive to him because I think he gets overwhelmed by large pages filled with nothing but words. He can read the words but I think he needs to build his stamina.

All three of my children, 2 boys and a girl, read all these books. I think they are really entertaining, and although the boys have outgrown them, my daughter recently ordered the "Do it yourself" from Scholastic and had a blast with it.

I think these are terrific for reluctant readers. I suspect the author knows the illustrations will help draw in children adverse to reading. I know teachers that suggest these books because of that.

This is THE series in my library. I have boys and girls alike who are absolutely crazy for this series. When the third book came out, I had a one-book book fair with just this book so that some students would have their own copies. After that I still had a hold list of 68 students waiting for our 6 library copies. And to put that in perspective, my school only has 250 students total.

I read the first one just to see what all the fuss was about. I thought it was funny and a clever idea, but didn't plan to read any others. I "accidently" read the third one, though, when it came out. I thought I would read just the first few pages to check it out and before I knew it I was more than half way through. So I just went ahead and finished it. While they aren't books I'm crazy over like the kids at my school, they aren't a chore to read, either.

I read this with my little sister, and our 9 yr old neighbor (girl) borrowed it to read. They loved it, I hated it. I couldn't wait to be done with it, was so disappointed to have wasted my money on it, wouldn't recommend it to anyone. (I rraely have a reaction this strongly negative, but I am serious). I think it probably will appeal to boys and reluctant readers. And I am sure young teens will find this much funnier than I did. But as far as I was concerned, the main character was rarely funny (the cheese-touch was the only thing I remember finding funny); he was more malicious and mean-spirited than funny. This may have been acceptable if he had ever learned his lesson or felt bad about the way he treated people, but he didn't. He would do really mean things (sincerely mean-spirited, not just "boys will be boys" pranks), and then he would be flabbergasted when people got upset and didn't want to be his friend. He was the little boy that has been picked on, and so he turns it on someone else and lords any power that comes his way.
I had high hopes for this to be a funny cute little book, and was thoroughly disappointed. But if you enjoy it, and it gets a reluctant reader to read, then great.

Misty wrote: "He would do really mean things (sincerely mean-spirited, not just "boys will be boys" pranks), and then he would be flabbergasted when people got upset and didn't want to be his friend. He was the little boy that has been picked on, and so he turns it on someone else and lords any power that comes his way."

Huh, that sounds just like Nick Twisp from Youth in Revolt. I didn't read far enough to get all of that, but I tend to shy away from the books that revolve around boys doing mean things to each other. (The exception being The Chocolate War. I have no idea why I liked that book.)

I tried to read The Choc War and couldn't get into it because of the writing. And the whole time I was reading it, I kept thinking that it reminded me of something else that I had read and hated, but I couldn't remember what. It wasn't until I had given up and sent it back to the library that I realized that the "other" book it reminded me of was another by Cormier. It was called The Rag and Bone Shop, and I picked it to read for a project in my children's lit class, and couldn't have regretted it more. Sometimes, I just don't know how certain people become authors.

Misty wrote: "Sometimes, I just don't know how certain people become authors."

For reals. I think that OFTEN.

I had to read The Chocolate War during the only summer I ever had required summer reading, when I was 14. (It was also for the only year I was not in a public school.) I put my foot down on The Chosen and Sophie's Choice and refused to read those, but The Chocolate War was short. I think I daydreamed and listened to No Doubt through most of it, so I'm sure my recollection of the book is completely inaccurate.

I bought this book for my 8 year old son the other day after he told me he was wanting to read it. He said that a lot of the kids in his class really like it.

My son is not a reluctant reader. He usually does some reading every day. But he mostly reads non-fiction, usually something pertaining to animals. I'm always trying to get him interested in reading some fiction, because that's what I love :) Well, let me just say that he absolutely devoured this book! I have never seen him so obsessed with reading a book the way he was with this one. It was thrilling for me to see him enjoying the story so much, and laughing out loud and then having to share the funny parts with us. I will definitely be getting him the others in the series!

If he like animals Heather perhaps your son might like Redwall by Brian Jacques, or The Animals of Farthing Wood by Colin Dan (similar-ish to Watership down but more for younger children.)

Thanks for the rec's, Fiona! I actually just bought Redwall a couple weeks ago. It sounds like it's going to be a really good story. I'll have to look for The Animals of Farthing Wood too.

My son is crazy about animals. He is either researching them on the internet, reading about them in books, or watching documentaries about them. He constantly amazes me with all his knowledge about them. He knows WAY more about animals that I ever will!

You're son's very cool then. Better then all the other stuff he could be looking up!

Very true! I'll take the animals any day...

Alexis wrote: "But Junie B. Jones is really popular with boys, too! ..... I do have a complaint about those books, though. Junie does not speak correctly and I don't think that's what should be shown to young readers in text they will be reading themselves. How is that going to help their reading and writing skills?"

I am thinking of removing the Junie B Jones from our English section. About 90% of our readers are EFL so there is little to be gained from reading these books.
Personally I dislike them because I find Junie sooo irritating.

Luann wrote: "This is THE series in my library. I have boys and girls alike who are absolutely crazy for this series. When the third book came out, I had a one-book book fair with just this book so that some s..."

This series is also very popular in our library.
So much so I bought the English edition for the children who want to make a little more effort on their book reports.
Most children choose the EFL readers (40-50 pages) but some children want to read a proper English book and I thought they deserved more than Danielle Steel and Dan Brown.

I read the first one and enjoyed it more than I expected to. I did actually laugh out loud, though I do remember thinking that the main character was mean, as Misty indicated. I have the next two, but haven't got around to reading them yet.