So, once the child in your life has read all of Jeff Kinney’s masterpieces, we can help them find other books that they can genuinely read for pleasure.
We’ve got some suggestions, and we’d love to hear yours too…
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: what to read next
Diary of a Wimpy Kid is still so popular that seven years after we first suggested other books that Greg and Rowley fans would enjoy, we’ve now updated the list.
Funny diaries
Greg Heffley is an ordinary kid who has ordinary disasters – and that’s what hooks children in to these books. Fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid will already know the Tom Gates series by Liz Pichon, no doubt, and Planet Omar by Zanib Mian, illustrated by Nasaya Mafaridik. Both series also star boys who try not to cause chaos, but sometimes chaos finds them… Other popular diary stories are the Lottie Brooks series by Katie Kirby and The Offline Diaries by Yomi Adegoke and Elizabeth Uviebinené, illustrated by Tequitia Andrews and Ruthine Burton, both about navigating friendships and school. Likewise, The Accidental Diary of B.U.G. by Jen Carney and Maddy Yip’s Guide to Life by Sue Cheung are full of everyday drama that children will find funny and familiar. All are highly illustrated, meaning that there’s lots to engage every reader.
Pictures, pictures, pictures
If it’s the illustrations that are the main pull of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, then full graphic novels tend to delight both avid and less confident readers. Bunny vs Monkey by Jamie Smart is brilliant for getting kids reading, and is extremely well-known, so for a similar hit of hilarity, try Toby and the Pixies by James Turner and Andreas Schuster or Kitty Quest by Phil Corbett. For rip-roaring adventure, try Cowgirls and Dinosaurs by Lucie Ebrey and the Hilda series by Luke Pearson (also on TV). And for something slightly older, try The Crossover: graphic novel by Kwame Alexander and Dawud Anyabwile, which includes rap and verse in an accessible way.
Friendship dynamics
The friendship between Greg and the innocent Rowley is at the heart of Kinney’s series so if that’s the appeal, The Council of Good Friends by Nikesh Shukla, illustrated by Rochelle Falconer, is also packed with comedy and recognisable, real-life situations. Freddy vs School by Neill Cameron has a school and friends theme – but with added robots! While the hilarious Mallory Vale and the Curse of Maggoty Skull by Martin Howard, illustrated by Pete Williamson, sees Mallory making friends with a wise-cracking skull. Friends do come in many forms!
More hilarity
Finally, we couldn’t help but recommend more funny books. Nora and the Map of Mayhem by Joseph Elliot, illustrated by Nici Gregory, is a madcap adventure starring a sarcastic gran who’s also a Monster Hunter. Hero Wanted! by Mark Powers, illustrated by Coralie Muce, contains a guard-shark, a sensitive spider and venom goblins. Laugh your socks off with The Underpants of Chaos by Jenny Person and Sam Copeland, illustrated by Robin Boyden and Katie Kear. The pants can cause uncontrollable ballroom dancing and attacks from military chickens. And enjoy Hi from Outer Space by Fiona Katauskas, where Hi the alien and Alex, who wants to be a cartoonist, team up in a very funny adventure involving prime ministers and Earth footwear.
Join in!
Those are some of our ideas – but what about you? What funny stories do you love reading?