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Quick answer: If your child loves Diary of a Wimpy Kid, try Big Nate, Dork Diaries, Tom Gates and Timmy Failure. All are funny, illustrated journals or comics about kids who get into trouble and try to survive school.
Jeff Kinney's Diary of a Wimpy Kid began in 2007 and follows Greg Heffley, a middle schooler who writes about his misadventures and his best friend Rowley. The doodles and short entries made it a huge hit with reluctant readers. The books below offer similar funny, illustrated stories for children aged eight and up.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big Nate: In a Class by Himself | Lincoln Peirce | Ages 8-12 | school cartoons |
| Dork Diaries: Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life | Rachel Renee Russell | Ages 9-13 | girls' diary |
| The Brilliant World of Tom Gates | Liz Pichon | Ages 7-11 | doodled diary |
| Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made | Stephan Pastis | Ages 8-12 | self-important detective |
| The Strange Case of Origami Yoda | Tom Angleberger | Ages 8-12 | school mystery |
| Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life | James Patterson and Chris Tebbetts | Ages 9-13 | school comedy |
| The Adventures of Captain Underpants | Dav Pilkey | Ages 7-10 | silly superhero |
| Dog Man | Dav Pilkey | Ages 6-10 | graphic novel |
| The Last Kids on Earth | Max Brallier | Ages 8-12 | zombie apocalypse |
| Stick Dog | Tom Watson | Ages 6-10 | dogs on a mission |
| The Terrible Two | Mac Barnett and Jory John | Ages 8-12 | prank wars |
| Frankie Pickle and the Closet of Doom | Eric Wight | Ages 7-10 | imagination |
| Amulet: The Stonekeeper | Kazu Kibuishi | Ages 8-12 | graphic fantasy |
| Hilo: The Boy Who Crashed to Earth | Judd Winick | Ages 7-11 | graphic adventure |
| Smile | Raina Telgemeier | Ages 8-12 | graphic memoir |
1. Big Nate: In a Class by Himself by Lincoln Peirce
Nate tries to be cool and gets detention. Funny comic format.
Best for: school cartoons.
2. Dork Diaries: Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life by Rachel Renee Russell
Nikki Maxwell navigates a new school. Fun and popular.
Best for: girls' diary.
3. The Brilliant World of Tom Gates by Liz Pichon
Tom Gates tells his school-life stories with doodles. Hugely popular.
Best for: doodled diary.
4. Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made by Stephan Pastis
Timmy runs a detective agency with a polar bear. Dry and funny.
Best for: self-important detective.
5. The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger
A finger puppet seems to give wise advice. Funny and clever.
Best for: school mystery.
6. Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life by James Patterson and Chris Tebbetts
A boy breaks every rule in his school's code of conduct. Silly and quick.
Best for: school comedy.
7. The Adventures of Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey
Two pranksters hypnotise their principal into a superhero. Pure silliness.
Best for: silly superhero.
8. Dog Man by Dav Pilkey
Half dog, half police officer, Dog Man fights crime. Silly and quick.
Best for: graphic novel.
9. The Last Kids on Earth by Max Brallier
A boy and his friends survive monsters. Fun and fast.
Best for: zombie apocalypse.
10. Stick Dog by Tom Watson
A stray dog and his friends plot to get hamburgers. Silly and sweet.
Best for: dogs on a mission.
11. The Terrible Two by Mac Barnett and Jory John
Two pranksters at a new school team up against a strict principal. Smart and funny.
Best for: prank wars.
12. Frankie Pickle and the Closet of Doom by Eric Wight
A boy imagines wild adventures while doing chores. Quick and silly.
Best for: imagination.
13. Amulet: The Stonekeeper by Kazu Kibuishi
Two children discover a magic amulet. Exciting and beautifully drawn.
Best for: graphic fantasy.
14. Hilo: The Boy Who Crashed to Earth by Judd Winick
A boy from another world crashes into the lives of two friends. Funny and warm.
Best for: graphic adventure.
15. Smile by Raina Telgemeier
A girl copes with dental problems and middle school. Funny and relatable.
Best for: graphic memoir.
How to Choose
For funny diaries choose Dork Diaries, Tom Gates or Big Nate. For detective comedy pick Timmy Failure or Origami Yoda. For silly comics read Captain Underpants or Dog Man. For adventure try The Last Kids on Earth, Amulet or Hilo. For gentle realism read Smile. Wimpy Kid is quick to read, so these picks suit children who like jokes and pictures. Kinney's books are among the most popular children's series of the century, and parents often say they helped their reluctant readers catch up. Libraries and book fairs have many similar series on the same shelves. Diary of a Wimpy Kid has inspired a lot of imitators, and libraries now group them together. If your child likes the format, try a mix of diaries and comics to keep it fresh. Reading aloud together makes the jokes work even better. Audiobooks are narrated by Ramon de Ocampo.
Related: Diary of A Wimpy Kid Printable Book List · What Age Is The Diary of a Young Girl (Anne Frank) Appropriate For? A Parent’s Guide
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Diary of a Wimpy Kid about?
A middle schooler records his awkward experiences in a diary with doodles.
Who wrote it?
Jeff Kinney.
When was the first book published?
2007.
How many books are there?
More than a dozen in the main series. Check current listings.
What age is it for?
Roughly ages 8 to 12.
Is it good for reluctant readers?
Yes, the format is quick and funny.
Is Greg a likeable character?
He is selfish, but his scrapes are funny.
What should I read next?
Try Big Nate or Tom Gates.
Are Wimpy Kid books suitable for reluctant readers?
Yes, they are among the best-known books for reluctant readers.
Is there a movie?
Yes, several films and an animated series exist.