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F&P level: T
Once he conceived the concept for Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Kinney devoted nearly six years to developing the storyline and artwork. Fashioned as a journal with appealing, expressive stick figure drawings on every page, Diary is narrated in the pitch-perfect (and hilariously deadpan) voice of a not-always-likeable but totally believable tweener named Greg Heffley. Poised to make the painful transition from elementary to middle school, Greg struggles with the usual preteen angst: bullies and cliques, annoying siblings and clueless parents, faithful friends and cute, unattainable girls.
Although Kinney never intended to publish his book online, when the opportunity arose to serialize Greg's adventures on Funbrain.com, he knew he'd found the perfect way to reach his target audience. In 2004, the comic strip began appearing in daily installments on the website. The feature was a huge hit, attracting thousands of hits a day. Moreover, the online version paved the way to Kinney's five-book deal with the publisher Harry N. Abrams.
Armed with fresh, new story lines, Kinney launched the print sequence in 2007. From the very first installment, entitled simply Diary of a Wimpy Kid, the series was a success -- especially with reluctant readers who found the diary-with-doodles format far more accessible than conventional books. Greg, with his hilarious antics, backfiring schemes, and totally unfiltered thoughts (his mom has agreed not to read what he writes!), has struck a responsive chord -- both with kids who identify with his growing pains and with grownups who vividly recall their own.
JeremiahL49
Posted November 17, 2009
I thought the book was very funny. I have read all of them and it was different than the others, it was funnier. I read it in 2 days. Can't wait for the next one. I likd the part where his uncles dog ate Gregs birthday cake, I wonder if that has happened to anyone in real life? Greg goes camping in this book with Rowley, and they get in a fight. To find out what happens ands much more about Gregs adventures read this book. I really liked it. I thought it was hystarical,I think you will too.
37 out of 42 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Diary of a Wimpy Kid Dog Days was read by my 10 year old son this week. He read it in two days and loved it. The book was ordered online and he was so excited he went back and read all the past books again. According to my son this was the best book so far. These books are under his reading level but having my son excited about books is wonderful. He would recomend this book to all fourth graders.
30 out of 39 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Finally!! My little brother ( 9 yrs. old) Never really liked to read....but i bought the 1st book for him, and he fell in love! I mean he has read every book over 3 times and he is anxiously awaiting the 4th....I am truly thankful that there is an author that can without a doubt capture young readers and keep them going....!
--- A 13 year old big sis!
22 out of 29 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted September 9, 2009
LOOOOOOOOOOVEEEEEEEE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SOOOOOOOOOOOO FUUNNNYYYY!!!!!!! Can't wait for fifth to come out!!! :):):):):)
17 out of 31 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.These books are hilarious. I am a parent of 2 boys. When we purchase a new DOAWK, my kids sit with one another and read the book together. They howl. These books bring them together in such a great, sharing way.
I too, will sit and read with them, and I love the humor. I saw Jeff Kinney's video on this site and I think it's wonderful that he did not get chosen to do comic strips. Keep up the good work with your books. We will buy every one of them. Nobody is too old to laugh and enjoy these books!
17 out of 23 people found this review helpful.
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Posted September 6, 2009
I bought every single diary of a whimpy kid book there is out right now and there all great books to read throughout middle school. It is a book that you can enjoy reading throughout the school year. It's funny, well writen,and a book that i will read throughout middle school maybe even longer.
16 out of 23 people found this review helpful.
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Posted July 16, 2009
DIARY of a Wimpy Kid is an Amazing book. I recommend it to anyone who likes comics or is just bored all the time. Also if you like to read funny things (comics, jokes etc.) I trecommend this book for you. Before you read the 2nd or 3rd, you should read the 1st book before the others. Just like the Harry Potter story. You won't really get it unless you read them in order.
13 out of 16 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted December 8, 2009
I Also Recommend:
Diary of a Wimpy Kid Dog Days
By: Jeff Kinney
Greg Heffley has a boring, terrible life. He doesn't do well in school, and has no friends, except Rowley. Greg also tries to hit on all the girls in school, and fails to get them. He is also obsessed with video games. One bad thing leads to another in Greg Heffley's life. This summer isn't really going so bad for him though. His family hardly ever goes on trips or vacations, because of the shortage of money. This summer will be quite boring for Greg's family. Although Greg is happy to be inside playing video games. Sadly for Greg it is unhealthy for his mind to play video games all day. She decides to start a book club to make him read books he thinks are ridiculous, so now his summer isn't going so well. At least he still has his best friend Rowley, well he is only uses him to get access to his Rowley's dad's relaxing country club. They spend $83 in smoothies, which they could not afford, so Greg has to use the money he is was saving for a dog to pay the smoothie bill. Later Greg's dad buys a dog that Greg does not like. Rowley's family invites him to go on a trip with him. Then he has a bad time, and gets in a fight with Rowley, so he gets sent home early. So all in all Greg did not have a very good summer. The setting is not said, but the time is present. The theme of this book is that things don't go Greg's way. I liked this book because it is funny and you can easily visualize the characters. This book reminded me of the time that I use to have a crush on a lifeguard when I was 8. This book also reminds me of when things don't go my way. This book is like "Diary of a wimpy kid" The first one and, "Diary of a wimpy kid Rodrick Rules".
12 out of 14 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.This is a good book to get for kids going in to middle school it will help them out a lot.If you get this book get the first book it will make more sence for them.
12 out of 17 people found this review helpful.
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Posted August 7, 2009
I could not stop reading these books. They were FUNNY!!!!!
11 out of 16 people found this review helpful.
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Posted June 7, 2010
Diary of a Wimpy Kid Dog Days
How would it work out if you had a mom that thinks kids should spend their whole summer outside, and you think totally different? Well, that's what happens in Diary of a Wimpy Kid Dog Days. If you haven't read these books, you don't know what you're missing.
Greg thinks the ideal summer is spending the whole time indoors, playing video games. And now that he is kicked out of the Country Club that is all he has to do.
But, his mom has a totally different perspective. She thinks it is wrong for a kid not to spend the whole summer outside.
Greg hates and I mean HATES the town pool. To get in you have to pass through the changing room, where big hairy guys are changing. Greg is mentally scarred for life because of seeing that as a kid. Now he must pass through there again with his little brother. He tries as hard as he can not to look at the men but, his little brother runs through the showers and Greg has to get him out so, that Manny, his little brother, too, is not scarred for life.
That's not the only thing he HAD to do outside with his family. He also has to go to a water park that he used to go to as a kid. After a long ride there, with his singing brother, rain comes as soon as they walk in the water park. Poor Greg.
The author, Jeff Kinney, has written the whole Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. He was born February 19, 1971. Besides writing, he is also attributed to being the creator of Poptropica, a safe and fun website for kids. So, he works full-time as a writer and a designer of online games.
Jeff Kinney grew up in Fort Washington, Maryland. He attended University of Washington at College Park in the early 1990s. In 1998 he started writing his ideas which eventually became, Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Loosely based on his childhood, the series has sold 16 billion as of 2009! That really tells you something about how good the books are!
How the story unfolds is hysterical and amusing. I recommend it for any age. Even though it's based on a boy it is good for boys or girls.
9 out of 10 people found this review helpful.
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Posted December 8, 2009
I Also Recommend:
diary of a wimpy kid 4 hs alot of different funny stories. With.Rodrick at the top funniest. im not gonna tell u everything I want you to read them yourself. Now look up at the detailed ratings.
8 out of 9 people found this review helpful.
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Posted July 31, 2009
i love this book i never really liked reading but i once read it and loved it
8 out of 10 people found this review helpful.
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Posted September 13, 2011
I Also Recommend:
this book is amazing. hard to put down, Can't wait to read the next.
7 out of 7 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.This book is about a boy named Gregory who's mother wants him to go outside and play instead of staying inside all summer playing video games. It is also about Greg and his best friend Rowley going into a business together to make money. Along the way Greg and Rowley get into a huge fight. I liked this book because Gregory and I are alike in so many ways. I also liked the book because Gregory's family is just like my family. One thing Greg and I have in common is we both like playing video games. Another thing Greg and I have in common is we both do not like to go outside. The final way we are alike is we both have a younger brother. One way Greg's family relates to mine is we both have a lot of family members. The final reason is his family and my family had a dog.
6 out of 8 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted August 18, 2010
i read all the diary of a wimpy kids that are already out. This one was my favorite! I read in 2 days! I couldn't put the book down! i highly recomend this book for all 3rd through 6th graders! I cant wait tell the 5th book comes out this fall!
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.I am so glad to have found this series. My son who always complains about reading loves these books and it is such a relief to see him read voluntarily. While he is reading he laughs out loud and wants to talk about what he read afterward. It is so exciting for us!
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful.
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Posted December 26, 2009
Loved all of the books. If you are going to read it, read the other books first, in order.
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful.
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Posted December 23, 2009
My 9 year old son loves this series. His 12 year old brother reads it when no one else is looking.. A fun read.
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful.
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Posted February 6, 2013
This book is so funny it does not have bad words
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
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Overview
Greg, a self-confessed “indoor person,” is living out his ultimate summer fantasy: no responsibilities and no rules. But Greg’s mom has a different vision for an ...