10 Reasons We Can’t Wait for Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Old School

For the Cover
You can’t judge a book by its cover, but every Wimpy fan enjoys guessing what Jeff Kinney’s next masterpiece will look like. He’s hit every color of the rainbow so far, and presented us with plenty of hilarious cover cartoons, so what’s in store this time? Spoiler alert: Greg is back in black, frowning at a cassette tape, and toting a boom box. (Um. What are those?)
For the Disasters
We all love a Wimpy Kid mess, and when the gang can’t rely on technology, our guess is that things will get disorderly—in a big way. Remember in The Long Haul when the Heffleys won a pig at the country fair and had to keep it in the hotel bathtub? That’s the sort of chaos we’re anticipating this time around. Or at the very least, another seagull in the sunroof.
For the Black Sheep
Usually there are a few oddballs who make an unforgettable appearance in a Wimpy kid book. One of our favorites is Uncle Gary. In The Third Wheel, he showed up on the Heffley doorstep after losing a load of money in Boston buying a bunch of t-shirts emblazoned with the misspelling “BOTSON.” His time sleeping on the Heffley sofa made for some knee-slapping reading.

For Rowley
Greg’s best friend is truly a classic addition to the world of comic literary characters. None too sharp, but lovably funny, Rowley always adds an element of dumbed-down delight to every installment. All we can hope is that he’ll show up in Old School bewildered by old-fashioned tech, maybe trying to use a rotary dial phone as a shower brush, or a record player to microwave popcorn.
For the Gross Stuff
Every Wimpy Kid book has its fair share of uproarious yuck, from the hairy public showers of Dog Days and the Cheese Touch of the very first book, to Grandpa’s suspicious “watercress salad” in Rodrick Rules. We feel certain Old School will offer up a few servings of skeeviness.
For the Drawings
Sometimes a picture says it best. Especially if Jeff Kinney is drawing. Remember that great cartoon of Greg wrapped in toilet paper in the boys’ room when he wanted to get out of swim team? Or the one of Fregley stuck inside his long-sleeved shirt? Or the one of Gammie taking off her socks to show off her shingles? You get the picture. (Pun intended.)

For the Random Ridiculousness
Every Wimpy Kid book includes a little something that has not too much to do with plot, but a lot to do with hilarity. Like Rodrick’s science project, “Do Plants Sneeze?” or the words on the factory packaging for the Baby Alfrendo Realistic Doll for Boys, or when Peepaw’s dentures blow out onto the birthday cake. 
For the Commiseration
We love Wimpy Kid books because they make us feel okay. We can relate to life’s unfairness, to things not going our way, to the uphill climb certain days seem to bring. Kids, in particular, love Greg Heffley because he’s real. Well, not really real, but really relatable. We can’t wait to feel his pain one more time; it makes us feel like we’re all in this crazy life thing together.
For the Love of Reading
Thank you, Jeff Kinney! Some of us used to be a little on the fence about the sport of reading, but now? It feels so great to be a bonafide bookworm! Just look at our bookshelves! We have a veritable reading rainbow up there thanks to you. (We’re kinda proud of ourselves, too.) And now? We get to add one more book and HAVE FUN DOING IT!

For the Party That Never Ends
The most exciting thing about book 10? WE BET THERE’S GOING TO BE AN 11! And maybe a 12! And maybe even a 13! This installment isn’t an end to anything. Things don’t get wrapped up in a big messy bow, here. (At least, that’s what we’re hoping.) We can count to 20 and we’re hoping Jeff Kinney can, as well. Bring on 10, so we can bring on 10 more. Because nobody stops at a weird number like 14, right?