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Quick answer: If your son loves Diary of a Wimpy Kid, try Big Nate, Dog Man, Tom Gates, Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life, The Terrible Two and Timmy Failure. They have the same doodles, jokes and school humor.
Jeff Kinney's 2007 novel kicked off a series about Greg Heffley, whose diary mixes cartoons and cringe-worthy school moments. Boys who love it want more funny, illustrated stories. These 15 books suit ages 7 to 12 and are great for reluctant readers.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big Nate: In a Class by Himself | Lincoln Peirce | 8-12 | comic fans |
| Dog Man | Dav Pilkey | 6-10 | young comic fans |
| Tom Gates: The Brilliant World of Tom Gates | Liz Pichon | 7-11 | doodle lovers |
| Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life | James Patterson and Chris Tebbetts | 8-12 | prank fans |
| The Terrible Two | Mac Barnett and Jory John | 8-12 | prank lovers |
| Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made | Stephan Pastis | 8-12 | readers who like absurd humor |
| Captain Underpants | Dav Pilkey | 6-10 | early readers |
| The Last Kids on Earth | Max Brallier | 8-12 | monster fans |
| Hilo: The Boy Who Crashed to Earth | Judd Winick | 7-11 | graphic novel fans |
| Dragonbreath | Ursula Vernon | 7-10 | reluctant readers |
| Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute | Jarrett J. Krosoczka | 7-10 | superhero fans |
| Origami Yoda: The Strange Case of Origami Yoda | Tom Angleberger | 8-12 | Star Wars fans |
| Wayside School: Sideways Stories | Louis Sachar | 7-10 | readers who like silly humor |
| Goosebumps: Welcome to Dead House | R.L. Stine | 8-12 | readers who like spooky books |
| Holes | Louis Sachar | 10+ | readers ready for a longer book |
1. Big Nate: In a Class by Himself by Lincoln Peirce
Nate Wright believes he is destined for greatness. Comic-style humor and school misadventures.
Best for: comic fans.
2. Dog Man by Dav Pilkey
A half-dog, half-man police officer fights crime in a silly comic. Perfect for reluctant readers.
Best for: young comic fans.
3. Tom Gates: The Brilliant World of Tom Gates by Liz Pichon
Tom writes and doodles about school, friends and bands. A British favorite.
Best for: doodle lovers.
4. Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life by James Patterson and Chris Tebbetts
Rafe Khatchadorian tries to break every rule in his school. Funny and illustrated.
Best for: prank fans.
5. The Terrible Two by Mac Barnett and Jory John
Two pranksters at a school try to outdo each other. Smart and silly.
Best for: prank lovers.
6. Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made by Stephan Pastis
Timmy runs a detective agency with his polar bear. Dry humor and cartoons.
Best for: readers who like absurd humor.
7. Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey
Two pranksters hypnotize their principal into a superhero. Silly and loved.
Best for: early readers.
8. The Last Kids on Earth by Max Brallier
Jack Sullivan and his friends survive a monster apocalypse. Funny, illustrated and action-packed.
Best for: monster fans.
9. Hilo: The Boy Who Crashed to Earth by Judd Winick
A robot boy falls from the sky and befriends two kids. A funny graphic novel series.
Best for: graphic novel fans.
10. Dragonbreath by Ursula Vernon
Danny Dragonbreath cannot breathe fire. Comic panels and humor.
Best for: reluctant readers.
11. Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute by Jarrett J. Krosoczka
A school lunch lady is a secret crime fighter. A fun graphic novel series.
Best for: superhero fans.
12. Origami Yoda: The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger
A paper Yoda gives advice at school. Funny and clever.
Best for: Star Wars fans.
13. Wayside School: Sideways Stories by Louis Sachar
A school built sideways with thirty classrooms stacked in one tower. Absurd and funny.
Best for: readers who like silly humor.
14. Goosebumps: Welcome to Dead House by R.L. Stine
A family moves to a creepy town with secrets. Light scares and cliffhangers.
Best for: readers who like spooky books.
15. Holes by Louis Sachar
Stanley Yelnats digs holes at a camp, and a hidden secret emerges. A funny Newbery winner.
Best for: readers ready for a longer book.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick is a real, widely available book that shares something specific with Diary of a Wimpy Kid: its tone, its themes, its pace or the kind of characters it puts at the center. We mixed well-known favorites with a few less obvious titles, and we noted who each book suits best so you can match it to the reader. Where a book belongs to a series, we list the first volume so you can start at the beginning.
How to Choose
For comics, start with Dog Man, Big Nate or Hilo. For doodle-filled diaries, read Tom Gates or Middle School. For pranks, choose The Terrible Two. A simple plan is to mix a comic, a diary book and a chapter book each month. Most books here are fine for ages 7 and up, and Holes works for older readers. A good approach is to let your son choose a graphic novel and a text-heavy book each month. Draw your own cartoons after reading to turn it into a writing activity.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What age is Diary of a Wimpy Kid for?
It is recommended for ages 8 to 12.
Is Wimpy Kid good for reluctant readers?
Yes. The cartoons, short entries and humor keep boys engaged.
How many Wimpy Kid books are there?
Over 18 in the main series, plus spin-offs.
What should my son read after Wimpy Kid?
Big Nate and Dog Man are the most popular next picks.
Do boys like different books from girls?
Not necessarily. Funny, illustrated books appeal to many kids, regardless of gender.
What if my child finishes the Wimpy Kid series?
Move to Tom Gates, Big Nate and Dog Man, then to Holes.