This book, which was first published in 2007, started an entire media franchise that consists of a book series, film adaptations, and a musical. Since then, this has become one of the best-selling book series of all time!
Centered around the protagonist Greg Heffley, Diary of a Wimpy Kid is a book about a middle school student’s pursuit to become more popular.
It explores the difficulties surrounding school, family, and friendship that many people experience at this age.
Ideal for children, Diary of a Wimpy Kid is a fun, relatable, and often hilarious book. Accompanied by amusing cartoons, this bildungsroman can help younger readers navigate the complex world of middle school.
There are plenty of books in this popular series. So if you enjoyed Diary of a Wimpy Kid, there is plenty more reading material for you to make your way through.
If you adore Diary of a Wimpy Kid, then you will love The Adventures of Captain Underpants, Roller Girl, Chunky, Max and the Midknights, and Big Nate. Investigate this extensive list of the the best children’s books to read once you’ve finished Diary of a Wimpy Kid.
Themes In Diary Of A Wimpy Kid
Diary of a Wimpy Kid focuses on themes that many kids will find useful. These themes include:
Friendship
Perhaps the biggest theme in this book and the rest of the series is friendship. As a main character, Greg’s primary focus is to become more popular, wanting to become friends with the people who are deemed “cool”.
Unfortunately, this means that Greg often overlooks his current friends in his pursuit of increased social mobility.
This often contrasts with Rowley’s attitude toward friendship. Rowley is Greg’s best friend and is extremely loyal to him. Unlike Greg, Rowley doesn’t care about becoming more popular.
Bullying
As with many schools, bullying is a serious problem in Westmore High School. Anybody who is considered different is often bullied. As a result, students are forced to follow these prescribed social norms.
To avoid being bullied, Greg carefully regulates his behavior. For instance, he wears certain clothes to fit in.
Perhaps the most prominent example of bullying in the book is the legend known as “Cheese Touch”. In this school, there is an old piece of cheese that has become a prominent source of bullying.
Any students who touch this cheese are cruelly mocked as having the “Cheese Touch”.
Growing Up
As mentioned, Diary of a Wimpy Kid is a bildungsroman. Essentially, this means that it is concerned with the formative years of its protagonist. This allows the reader to experience their growth and development.
The book is focused on Greg’s development. Greg can be a rather immature character who tries to avoid responsibilities.
He is constantly frustrated by the level of control that his teachers and parents have over his life. For instance, his parents only allow him to spend a specific amount of time using video games.
Up first, Big Nate by Lincoln Pierce is a fun way to get children reading. These books are packed with amusing comic strips. Big Nate is perhaps one of the most common recommendations for fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid.
Big Nate is a hilarious narrative focused on the titular Nate Wright, a somewhat incompetent sixth-grader. This rebellious student gets into various adventures at school, which always seem to get him into trouble.
This amusing book has a similar energy to Diary of a Wimpy Kid. It has a school setting and characters feel like they could fit into the same world as Kinney’s novel. Most kids will love this book, particularly if they like comedic writing.
Pros
Big Nate is a fun book that will have kids in stitches.
There are lots of different books in the series, just like Diary of a Wimpy Kid.
Written by Dav Pilkey, the Captain Underpants series has become incredibly popular throughout the world. This zany and eccentric book series is about the various misadventures of the titular Captain Underpants and two fourth-graders.
Yehudi Mercado’s Chunky is a fun children’s book that tackles some serious themes. This vibrant graphic memoir is based on Mercado’s real-life experiences.
Chunky tells the tale of Hudi, who has been experiencing a weight problem. Forced to do exercise by his parents, Hudi meets his imaginary friend, named Chunky. Working together, Chunky and Hudi decide to try baseball.
Hudi pursues various sports with the best cheerleader in the world: Chunky. Together, these friends become an inspiring duo.
Having been raised in a working-class Mexican-Jewish family, Hudi has a unique voice. Mercado infuses this colorful comic with a comedic tone and a gripping narrative.
The book teaches people to embrace others, even if they are different. If you’re a parent who wants their children to read books with an important message, Chunky is an excellent choice. This book is best suited for sports fans.
Pros
At its core, Chunky has an important message.
The illustrations are bright and colorful, meaning that they’re bound to appeal to kids.
Mercado is a unique writer with a distinctive narrative voice.
Cons
There is some problematic content, such as conversations about how “cool” certain hostile instruments can be.
Themes: Friendship, Sports, Differences, Acceptance, Body Issues.
Like many kids, Max wants to become a knight. Unfortunately, this seems unlikely. But when his uncle Budrick is kidnapped, Max has the opportunity to be the hero. Max and his Midknights start their journey to save Budrick.
This hilarious children’s book is an ideal read for kids with a strong imagination. Max and the Midknights by Lincoln Pierce infused with fantasy vibes.
Centered around childhood misadventures, this book has a similar tone and feel to Diary of a Wimpy Kid.
Pros
As a mixture of book and graphic novel, Max and the Midknights is ideal for younger readers.
It has a fantasy narrative that many kids will appreciate.
Our final pick is Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson. As a genuine derby girl, Jamieson crafts a fascinating narrative of a young girl who becomes a roller derby skater.
The protagonist, Astrid, is incredibly close to her friend Nicole. After attending a roller derby, Astrid develops an intense passion for roller skating. As Astrid chases this dream, she begins to fall apart from Nicole.
The narrative explores Astrid’s attempts to juggle retaining her old friend and this new passion.
Roller Girl is similar to Diary of a Wimpy Kid in that it prominently focuses on the theme of friendship. As a graphic novel, Roller Girl is filled with illustrations that are comparable to the cartoons in Diary of a Wimpy Kid.
With a sweet story, Roller Girl is an enjoyable read with emotional weight. It’s a particularly great read for young girls, who can learn more about the importance of girl power.
Pros
The illustrations are dynamic and full of energy.
It’s an inspiring read, particularly for girls.
The focus on friendship is fantastic.
Cons
Some parents may not approve of the strong language in this book.
If you enjoyed Diary of a Wimpy Kid, you may be looking for something new to read. You may assume that there are no books that can follow this amazing series. The good news is that there are loads of different brilliant books for you to try.
As this list highlights, there are plenty of books that explore similar themes and are targeted at the same age range.
Like Diary of a Wimpy Kid, many of these narratives are set in schools, allowing them to also cover themes like friendship and popularity.
We recommend giving a few of these books a shot. This way, you could find a page-turning book that hooks you!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Read Diary Of A Wimpy Kid If You’re 14?
Yes, Diary of a Wimpy Kid is suitable for 14-year-olds. Though the book is generally aimed at kids between the ages of 8 and 12, it will still be an entertaining read for people who are younger or older than this range.
Is Diary Of A Wimpy Kid Inappropriate?
No, Diary of a Wimpy Kid is not considered inappropriate. While it contains some insults, such as “moron”, most parents will approve of their kids reading this book.
Hi, my name is Anna Davis and I have been working with books for five years now. I got a job at my local library, so I could be closer to all of the books! I created this website in the hopes of inspiring others to start reading again. Who knows, maybe you’ll find your new favorite book from my site!
