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Amanda Kolb's Reviews > Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Diary of a Wimpy Kid (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, #1)
by
Title: Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Author: Jeff Kinney
Illustrator:
Genre: Graphic Novel, grades 3-5
Theme(s): bullying, growing up
Opening line/sentence: Tuesday: First of all, let me get something straight: This is a JOURNAL, not a diary.
Brief Book Summary: This book is about a middle school boy named Greg Heffley. He talks about the bullies in his school, and how much he doesn’t like middle school. He keeps a journal so that he’ll have it when he’s rich and famous some day.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1: Hornbook
Kinney, Jeff Diary of a Wimpy Kid
217 pp. Abrams/Amulet 2007. ISBN 978-0-8109-9313-6
(3) 4-6 "First of all, let me get something straight: This is a JOURNAL, not a diary." Greg Heffley chronicles a year of middle school through hilarious journal entries and accompanying cartoon sketches. His experiences--having to perform in a school play, dealing with bullies and changing friendships--are made fresh by Greg's over-the-top narration. Kinney's writing and illustrations are filled with laugh-out-loud kid humor.
Professional Recommendation/Review #2: School Library Journal
Grade 5–8—Greg Heffley has actually been on the scene for more than two years. Created by an online game developer, he has starred in a Web book of the same name on www.funbrain.com since May 2004. This print version is just as engaging. Kinney does a masterful job of making the mundane life of boys on the brink of adolescence hilarious. Greg is a conflicted soul: he wants to do the right thing, but the constant quest for status and girls seems to undermine his every effort. His attempts to prove his worthiness in the popularity race (he estimates he's currently ranked 52nd or 53rd) are constantly foiled by well-meaning parents, a younger and older brother, and nerdy friends. While Greg is not the most principled protagonist, it is his very obliviousness to his faults that makes him such an appealing hero. Kinney's background as a cartoonist is apparent in this hybrid book that falls somewhere between traditional prose and graphic novel. It offers some of the same adventures as the Web book, but there are enough new subplots to entertain Funbrain followers. This version is more pared down, and the pace moves quickly. The first of three installments, it is an excellent choice for reluctant readers, but more experienced readers will also find much to enjoy and relate to in one seventh grader's view of the everyday trials and tribulations of middle school.—Kim Dare, Fairfax County Public Schools, VA Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Response to Two Professional Reviews: I agree with both of these reviews, because I think this book is excellent. The mention of how Greg Heffley is so oblivious and that’s what makes him so funny is very true, and that part entertains the students who are reading it. I also like how the School Library Journal talked about how younger, less experienced readers would enjoy this just as much as more fluent readers. The book is geared towards kids and what would make them laugh, and it does that.
Evaluation of Literary Elements: This book is perfect for upper elementary/middle school readers. There are a few cartoon illustrations thrown in that do a nice job of breaking up the text, and they’re drawn as if a kid sketched them, which is exactly what they’re supposed to be. The way it’s written like a journal and in first person is also fun, and students can personalize it because it’s written as if the main character is the same age as the student reading the book. The vocab isn’t too complex, and it’s written how a middle school boy would talk.
Consideration of Instructional Application: An instructional idea with this book would be to have students keep a journal while they’re reading it, of their own life. They could take it home with them at night and that could be their homework, and the end of reading workshop could be dedicated to students writing about their day thus far. This can show students how helpful and stress-relieving journaling can be, and they can share it if they’d like but they don’t have to. As a way of assessment, I would say I’m going to flip through to make sure there’s something written, but I won’t read them if students don’t want me to.
by
Title: Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Author: Jeff Kinney
Illustrator:
Genre: Graphic Novel, grades 3-5
Theme(s): bullying, growing up
Opening line/sentence: Tuesday: First of all, let me get something straight: This is a JOURNAL, not a diary.
Brief Book Summary: This book is about a middle school boy named Greg Heffley. He talks about the bullies in his school, and how much he doesn’t like middle school. He keeps a journal so that he’ll have it when he’s rich and famous some day.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1: Hornbook
Kinney, Jeff Diary of a Wimpy Kid
217 pp. Abrams/Amulet 2007. ISBN 978-0-8109-9313-6
(3) 4-6 "First of all, let me get something straight: This is a JOURNAL, not a diary." Greg Heffley chronicles a year of middle school through hilarious journal entries and accompanying cartoon sketches. His experiences--having to perform in a school play, dealing with bullies and changing friendships--are made fresh by Greg's over-the-top narration. Kinney's writing and illustrations are filled with laugh-out-loud kid humor.
Professional Recommendation/Review #2: School Library Journal
Grade 5–8—Greg Heffley has actually been on the scene for more than two years. Created by an online game developer, he has starred in a Web book of the same name on www.funbrain.com since May 2004. This print version is just as engaging. Kinney does a masterful job of making the mundane life of boys on the brink of adolescence hilarious. Greg is a conflicted soul: he wants to do the right thing, but the constant quest for status and girls seems to undermine his every effort. His attempts to prove his worthiness in the popularity race (he estimates he's currently ranked 52nd or 53rd) are constantly foiled by well-meaning parents, a younger and older brother, and nerdy friends. While Greg is not the most principled protagonist, it is his very obliviousness to his faults that makes him such an appealing hero. Kinney's background as a cartoonist is apparent in this hybrid book that falls somewhere between traditional prose and graphic novel. It offers some of the same adventures as the Web book, but there are enough new subplots to entertain Funbrain followers. This version is more pared down, and the pace moves quickly. The first of three installments, it is an excellent choice for reluctant readers, but more experienced readers will also find much to enjoy and relate to in one seventh grader's view of the everyday trials and tribulations of middle school.—Kim Dare, Fairfax County Public Schools, VA Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Response to Two Professional Reviews: I agree with both of these reviews, because I think this book is excellent. The mention of how Greg Heffley is so oblivious and that’s what makes him so funny is very true, and that part entertains the students who are reading it. I also like how the School Library Journal talked about how younger, less experienced readers would enjoy this just as much as more fluent readers. The book is geared towards kids and what would make them laugh, and it does that.
Evaluation of Literary Elements: This book is perfect for upper elementary/middle school readers. There are a few cartoon illustrations thrown in that do a nice job of breaking up the text, and they’re drawn as if a kid sketched them, which is exactly what they’re supposed to be. The way it’s written like a journal and in first person is also fun, and students can personalize it because it’s written as if the main character is the same age as the student reading the book. The vocab isn’t too complex, and it’s written how a middle school boy would talk.
Consideration of Instructional Application: An instructional idea with this book would be to have students keep a journal while they’re reading it, of their own life. They could take it home with them at night and that could be their homework, and the end of reading workshop could be dedicated to students writing about their day thus far. This can show students how helpful and stress-relieving journaling can be, and they can share it if they’d like but they don’t have to. As a way of assessment, I would say I’m going to flip through to make sure there’s something written, but I won’t read them if students don’t want me to.
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Reading Progress
Finished Reading
November 27, 2015
– Shelved
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Amanda, I think the instructional application idea that you have is great! My pen pal this year read some of these books and he loved the journal/comic-book feel that this book had. Because of the way it's written, it is extremely relatable for elementary/middle school readers, especially boys. I think the journal keeping would be a great idea for them because it gives them a chance to express themselves and get all of their feelings out on paper!
I really like your idea of the lesson plan where the children write their own journals of their life while they read this book. Your students would have a lot of fun with this and I know that they would really get into it. Writing in a journal really can relieve stress and get all of your emotions out in a positive way. This would be great to show your students early on.