Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney

 


For this week's graphic novel theme, I could not pass up the opportunity to re-read Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney. When the first book came out, I was in 3rd grade. I remember it very quickly taking over the scholastic book fair, and everyone fighting to get a copy from the library. I think this is the first time I really experienced a cultural obsession with a book, where everyone at school was reading it, knew the inside jokes from it, and just couldn't get enough of it. It really was that important.

That was 2009. I'm 26, and it still holds up as a very funny book. My boyfriend, and all of our friends, know what we're referencing when we say "they have the cheese touch". Like I said- this book was a cultural phenomenon. Not because it was romantic or life changing literature, but because we could all laugh and relate to it. What's not to like?

The story is told from the perspective of a middle school student, Greg Heffley. Greg decides to start writing in his JOURNAL (!!!) about his life and drawing pictures to go with it. He believes he will be rich and famous one day, so he needs to have his story written down for the future fans. Greg Heffley is the son of two loving, but sometimes over-bearing parents. He has an older brother, Rodrick, who is in a band called "Loded Diaper". He also has a baby brother, Manny, who struggles to say his name. His best friend is Rowley, who lives next door to him. Throughout the novels, the reader learns about Greg's life on a day-to-day basis, since he is writing in his journal about it. The things a child often worries about in middle school are hilarious to look back on as an adult, which makes it enjoyable for the teacher as well.

I can see many different children enjoying this book. There is a website for this series that I will link at the bottom of the page. It includes different reading, writing, and drawing activities for elementary students. Additionally, I think this would be a great way for students to be introduced to the concept of "journaling". While students are reading the book, they could be encouraged to write down some of their own daily mishaps in a journal. 


 Diary of a Wimpy Kid Teacher’s Guide · For Teachers · Wimpy Kid

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