Kinney, Jeff. Diary of a Wimpy Kid Old School.

Kinney, Jeff.  Diary of a Wimpy Kid Old School.  Harry Abrams  2015  217p    

$13.95  ISBN 978-1-4197-1701-7      elem/ms     Realistic fiction  VG

In this new addition to the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, Greg Heffley is once again up to his tricks and will delight young readers as he struggles to relate to the voluntary community effort to go electronics-free for a weekend.  As he tries to capitalize on the initiative he is also faced with the decision that his grandfather will come to live with his family. The action races forward to reveal Greg’s antics and typical adolescent comprehension of these events, and he suddenly changes his mind and decides to go on the school trip to Hardscrabble Farms where the typical Diary of a Wimpy Kid humor and fun abounds.  When the plentiful fiascos of the trip send their cabin chaperone home, Greg’s dad is the replacement, and Greg discovers a whole other side of his dad.

Jeff Kinney has once again created a hilarious novel that will delight young and reluctant readers.  Due to the fast-paced, multifaceted plot, readers will not be able to put this book down.  The fun and simple illustrations break up the text and enhance the story.  This is yet another book in the series that will engage and entertain adolescent readers.

Summary: As Greg Heffley’s community voluntarily goes electronics-free, he can’t quite comprehend the advantages that the adults see, and, facing family changes along with his sudden change of mind about attending the school camping trip to Hardscrabble Farms, Greg learns about a whole other side of his dad.   

Field trips-Fiction, Humor                            --Virginia McGarvey

Kinney, Jeff. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Third Wheel.

Kinney, Jeff.  Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Third Wheel. Amulet see Abrams, Harry  2012  216p      $13.95  978-1-4197-0584-7  elm/ms  Realistic Fiction  VG

0nce again the middle-school gods seem to be aligned against Greg Heffley.  As in all the previous novels, he manages to court havoc and end up without a date for the Valentine’s Day Dance.  When he miraculously finds a date at the last minute, readers know that he will find some way to make the entire situation into a disaster.  The humor will appeal to younger readers, both at the elementary and middle-school levels, especially in the scene where the senior-citizens group takes over the dance.  Kinney’s illustrations are always perfect for the text, and the entire package will appeal to even the most reluctant reader.  This novel is a must-have for elementary and middle-school libraries.

Humor–Fiction, Friendship–Fiction, Diaries-Fiction    --Pat Naismith

Kinney, Jeff. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever.

Kinney, Jeff.  Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever.  Harry Abrams, 2011.  216p. $13.95  ISBN 978-1-41970-223-5  elm/ms    VG-BN    Graphic novel    

     "Greg, stuck indoors with his family over the holiday because of a blizzard, suffers from claustrophobia and worries they will not be able to weather the storm."  Upper-elementary and middle-school students who have read the other five titles in this series will thoroughly enjoy this sixth installment.  Before a huge blizzard hits Greg’s hometown, he and his friend Rowley try to make money through a business they have set up to help pay for Greg’s cyber pet.  As with most of Greg’s interactions, he can’t seem to do anything right.  Greg and Rowley also become involved in accidentally vandalizing school property, and this causes Greg to worry, since he knows Santa is watching his every move.  Readers see Greg Heffley as the same self-centered, computer-game-addicted boy who is struggling to be on his best behavior between Thanksgiving and Christmas.  When a blizzard strands him at home with his two brothers, Rodrick and Manny, and his mother, he feels extra pressure to do his best.  During the storm, the house loses power, and his younger brother Manny adjusts the fuse box to fix the power, while his father is stuck in a hotel and spends the holidays in peace.
     As he has done with the other books in this series, Kinney continues to use black-and-white stick-figure illustrations/drawings, humorous text, jokes, and real-life adventures that could happen to our very own children.  The book is a fun, fast read that would be great for reluctant readers and will make readers out of non-readers.  Most students who have read the others in this series will find this book as entertaining as the other five.  As with many book series, some books begin to lack characteristics that made the first books popular, but Kinney manages to keep this series going strong, and this will help develop readers and win additional fans.  The book can be read and understood without having read the others first.                

Subject:  Diaries -- Fiction.
Charleen Forba-Mayer

 

Kinney, Jeff The Ugly Truth (Diary of a Wimpy Kid)

Kinney, Jeff The Ugly Truth (Diary of a Wimpy Kid)
Amulet see Abrams, Harry 2010 218p 13.95
978-0-8109-8491-2 elm/ms diaries - Friendships - family life E-BN


Greg has had a falling out with his exbest friend Rowley and school is about to begin. How is he ever going to get his friendship with Rowley back on track. Greg is also trying to figure out how growing up will change him especially when you don’t want to change yet.
Even though Greg has been waiting forever to grow up, now that he is almost grown he is not so sure that he wants to get there. It seems that growing up entails doing things he is not ready to do. With Rowely his best friend mad at him and his mom getting an outside job, Greg is beginning to feel overwhelm. The responsibility seems to have all of a sudden piled up on him. His dad does not want to wake him up in the morning, his chores around the house have multiplied and his parents have become more demanding. School is no better it seems that growing is a big event at school. The teachers keep talking about adolescence and puberty. They show films, give talks and even have classes on how to be a parents where everyone gets an egg and has to make believe it is a real baby.

A very hilarious look at Greg’s life as he grows into a young adult, deals with his friendships, girls, brothers and his parents. Like all the other books this is done nicely illustrated. Kids will enjoy this new episode in Greg Heffley’s life. Realistic Fiction Diaz, Magna

The Wimpy Kid Movie Diary.

Kinney, Jeff. The Wimpy Kid Movie Diary.
Amulet see Abrams, Harry 2010 199p 14.95
978-0-8109-9616-8 elm/ms VG-BN
This is an account of the making of the Wimpy Kid movie in 2009, from beginning to end. There are lots of details from the points of view of the actors, and lots of pictures reminiscent of the books themselves. For fans who have seen the movie, only. This book is for the real Wimpy Kid fan, the one who saw the movie the day it came out and who owns all the books. The detail can be a little much for anyone but a diehard fan, but it is meticulously researched, with lots of amusing anecdotes and excellent organization. It also informs youngsters on how movies are made. The full-color stills from the film and the set will be valuable souvenirs of the movie-going experience. Kennedy, Carol
Diary of a Wimpy Kid (Motion picture)