This book was so awesome I couldn't put it down. I read it in 2 days and couldn't wait to get Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules. I hope this author writes a lot more books because they are very enjoyable and entertaining.

I have a son that doesn't like to read, and he absolutely loved this book. It's funny and entertaining. Not only has he read the book several times, but he has listened to it on CD. This book has actually increased my sons interest in reading and gotten him reading other books as well. I couldn't be happier. We're anxiously awaiting more books in this great series.

This is a great book all around for kids! My ten year old son loves it and can't put it down.

A mean, lazy kid with a bad attitude makes for a boring read. Don't waste your money.

Fifth-grader Greg Heffley chronicles his life in what he hastily explains is a journal and NOT a diary (his mom bought him a journal titled "diary," to his humiliation). Cartoons on every page enhance his laugh-out-loud quest to become more popular than his current standing, at around 52nd or 53rd. Even though he has always liked girls, his history doesn't seem to help him much. He tries to explain the whole popularity game to his clueless best friend Rowley, who Greg estimates is probably around the 150th most popular kid in their grade, but to no avail.

Greg has other concerns. He wants to avoid the terrible Cheese Touch, which occurs when someone touches the ancient, moldy cheese blob on the basketball court and passes it along to someone else. Since the only way to prevent contamination with the Cheese Touch is to cross your fingers, Greg tapes his fingers crossed --- which results in a D grade in penmanship. ("...but it was totally worth it.") The Cheese Touch plays a part in a heartwarming yet unsentimental thread relating to Greg's friendship with Rowley.

Another big goal for Greg is to become wealthy. To that end, at Halloween Greg and Rowley sell tickets to their own Haunted House. After their pack-o-lies advertising blitz (their posters promise live sharks), kids shell out to enter their Hall of Screams. However, Greg and Rowley unfortunately run out of time to prepare, so the Hall of Screams turns out to be just a bed for the youngsters to crawl under --- and yet, the first kid to enter is so terrified, he can't come out and must be rescued by Rowley's not-exactly-happy father.

When the coach introduces a wrestling unit during physical education class, Greg decides that he's going to bulk up. His parents refuse to buy him expensive weight-lifting equipment until he proves he'll stick with a fitness program, so he fashions a weight set out of milk jugs and broomsticks. However, his bodybuilding routine is disrupted when his mother forces him to try out for the school play, which is "The Wizard of Oz." Although Greg sings very, very quietly during tryouts, the teacher singles him out as "a lovely soprano," causing great hilarity among the girls. The humiliation is almost too much to bear, especially when Greg gets picked to be a tree. His part entails speaking just one word during the entire play, which makes him grumble...until the teacher decides that the trees should sing the lamest song ever written. It does not bode well for the actual performance, to say the least.

Author/illustrator Jeff Kinney perfectly nails the voice of a fifth-grade boy. Greg's (mis)adventures move along rapidly, with one hilarious scene after another, augmented with the equally hysterical comic illustrations. Since its release in April 2007, DIARY OF A WIMPY KID has proven itself to be a winner. This New York Times bestseller has appealed, and will continue to appeal, to middle-grade boys, including reluctant readers --- and is irresistible to adults as well.

--- Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon

If there was an "IT" book of 2008 in the school where I teach 5th grade, forget about Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows; it had to be Jeff Kinney's Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Book orders could not send copies fast enough. Book stores could not restock their shelves quickly enough. Everywhere I turned I was met by a student with his or her nose buried in its pages. So naturally, I had to see what all the fuss was about.

Greg Heffley is your everyday, run-of-the-mill, middle school "wimp". Sure, someday he's going to amount to something big, but for now, he's "stuck in middle school with a bunch of morons." Greg's journal, not "diary", but "journal", takes us through the hilarious events that make up Greg's days in his first year of middle school. Lucky for us, whether it's avoiding his older brother Rodrick, or abusing his best friend Rowley, Greg's days are never short on laughs.

I can't remember the last time I laughed this hard when reading a book. There are laughs on every page, literally. Greg's mudslinging student council posters, Greg and Rowley's failed attempt at a haunted house, the students' wrestling unit in PE ("muscles are gross"), and Christmas time at the Heffley home. Situations like these that Greg finds himself in are comical enough, but it's his voice and commentary that sets this book apart. Jeff Kinney has cleverly captured the inner workings of a middle school student, and because of this book's popularity, it's obvious that students connect with Greg.

However, that's also what scares me about this book. I'm afraid that Kinney is too smart for his own good and without realizing it, has created a lovable character that advocates laziness and using your best friend for his family's money and his video games. Beneath all the laughs, Greg is a deceitful, selfish, jerk of a boy and the fact that students relate to him so easily doesn't sit well with me. I admit, I laughed hysterically at Kinney's tongue-in-cheek irony, but I'm an adult. I can tell the difference between Greg the character being serious and Jeff the author being sarcastic. I'm not so sure all the kids reading this will be able to.

I'm torn though. This book is funny and relevant and I guess if children are excited about reading it, then who am I to complain. Any time children WANT to read, it's a good thing, and I commend Kinney for this. He's discovered a great medium to tell his stories. The pictures only add to the humor and the journal format makes for an easy read. I think most of my students would be able to distinguish between Greg's selfish behavior and acceptable, respectful behavior, and if they don't, eh . . . kids will be kids. Either way, I have a feeling that Kinney is going to be around for a while. I may be better off enjoying the laughs.

My son and I really enjoyed this book. The humor and design of the book were very original!

The Diary of a Wimpy Kid
By Jeff Kinney

Yes, this is a very funny book. Greg is the middle child and in middle school. He is also in the middle of everything. If there is a problem at home or at school, you can bet he has been there. What does it take to be popular with girls? It seems like the rules have changed. Even his dorky friend Rowley is more popular than Greg, and he's not even trying.

When Greg tries to be the class cartoonist, it backfires and all of his cartoons are edited by the teacher. When Rowley becomes the class cartoonist, he has taken the ideas that he worked on with Greg, and won't even give Greg any credit. When Greg decides to be the class clown, he knows he can pull it off on the day when they have a substitute. Wouldn't you know it; the substitute is none other than Greg's mom! Who turns out to be the class clown? Rowley, of course.

On the day he substitutes for Rowley on the safety patrol, he chases the kindergarteners with worms. Can Greg help it if Rowley gets kicked off the safety patrol, just because Greg was wearing Rowley's coat, and the neighbors thought it was Rowley who tormented the kindergarteners?

As the mother of a boy, I enjoyed the Diary of a Wimpy Kid. This book brings back memories of those awkward years of middle school. This book looks like a diary, with simple drawings on every page. It is easy to read. Middle school boys will want to read and laugh along with Greg's antics.

Jill Ammon Vanderwood
author: Through the Rug
Through The Rug: Follow That Dog (Through the Rug)

My 2 sons, ages 8 and 10, LOVED this book. They actually fought over it, since they both wanted to read it at the same time. Fighting over a book? This never happens at my house. Sure, they fight over the computer or Wii, or whose turn it is to feed the dog... but a book? Usually they argue with me why they don't need to read...Anyways, while they were reading the book, both of them shared some highlights with me and they were very funny. Of course, they refused to share any with me for this review, so you will just have to trust my recommendation. This would be a great book for the reluctant reader.

I ordered this book for my son, but its arrival missed his departure on a long summer trip by a few days, so it ended up sitting on his playroom table before mysteriously disappearing a week later. Eventually I found out that the son of a family friend had stopped by and noticed the book. He could not put it down once he started reading, so my wife let him take it home. That sounds like a five-star recommendation to me.

I won't take up a lot of space describing this book since there are already good reviews on here. I bought this book at my school during a book fair. I am so glad I did. Many of the students wanted to read it, but weren't able to purchase it. Instead, I promised to read it to my kids. They loved it! I think that they can relate to Greg's realistic voice. He sounds like any kid you would meet. Not to mention he is very flawed and hysterically funny. I loved the second book as well, and I can't wait until January for the third one. This is perfect for middle schoolers.

This is an excellent story and easy read for preteens and adults alike. The lead character's misadventures are hilarously funny gems with little morals tucked inside. I would recommend this to anyone who has a middle schooler at home. Also, Amazon delivered this item as promised, at a fair price, securely packed and in excellent condition. I will order future books through Amazon due to their superior service.

First book in the Wimpy Kid series.

Greg keeps a journal to record the events of his first year in middle school. He writes about getting put into teh gifted reading group, " I was pretty disappointed to find out I got put in the Gifted group, because that just means a lot of extra work."

Greg wonders about popularity and grades as he tries to figure out who he wants to be. His family doesn't help--his older brother is a creep and his younger brother tattles constantly. His parents, well, they are simply clueless. his best friend, Rowley, is not the sharpest crayon in the box and Greg is always trying, and failing, to explain the complicated rituals of adolescence. For instance, "I have told Rowley at least a billion times that now that we're in middle school, you're supposed to say 'hang out,' not 'play.' But no matter how many noogies I give him, he always forgets the next time.

The book is written on lined paper, with lots of funny little drawings, so it really feels like reading someone's journal. Greg's voice is fresh and funny.

My 10-year old daughter says " I loved this book because it was funny. I could not put it down. I can't wait to read the next one!"

WITH 4 CHILDREN, AGES 7 TO 13, A COUPLE HUNDRED MILES WERE SPENT IN NEAR SILENCE. ALL ENJOYED ESPECIALLY THE 12 AND 13 YEAR OLD BOYS. THE VOICE OF THE READER IS OBVIOUSLY A GROWN MAN (wish it was a youthful voice) BUT THE KIDS DIDN'T SEEM TO MIND.

Jeff Kinney took a simple idea and turned it into a hilarious book that kids and adults will find funny. Short passages are accompanied by stick people drawings that add a double punch of humor. Sometimes you'll laugh at the writing, sometimes at the hidden jokes, and many times at the choice of pictures. Diary of a Wimpy Kid will take you through one year in the life of well...a wimpy kid...his bully brother...and his semi-"special" friend Rowley.

As a 38-year old I found myself fondly remembering my own days of "wimpy kid-dom" and some of the similar situations that our hero ends up in. It's a fast read and you'll read this book with a smile on your face. Then do yourself a favor and pass it along to a child from 10-15 and have them read it.

My 9 year old son absolutely loves this book. He read it so quickly we bought the next book Roderick Rules. Can't go wrong with this book. My son was actually excited by reading and laughed through the whold thing. Very positve reading experience for a child who absolutley hated reading.

my 12 year old daughter chose this as a gift for a friend's birthday. She began to read it at the bookstore. I told her it was ok to finish it before giving it as a gift. We ended up keeping it and getting friend another copy!. She's now reading the second book and she's reading on a Saturday morning just for fun!! She said she wants to find other books by this author and is anxiously awaiting the next book in the series. may wonders never cease!

...like my son, let him/her try this book. My son loved it and actually looked forward to "read aloud" time instead of procrastinating. He found it quite funny, which helped, I'm sure. I'm still amazed.

Our son really likes this book. He has already read it three times in the last two weeks.

My fifth grader loves the Wimpy Kid series and until recently it was hard to get him to read anything but sports books and fact books. I appreciate any book that goes above and beyond to appeal to active boys who wouldn't ordinarily sit down and read independently.

My 12 year old son can't even be bribed to read. However, he chanced upon this book while visiting a friend over Christmas. He read the whole thing in a few days. I decided I had to check it out. I read it and I understood its appeal. It is funny, easy-to-read and fully-illustrated. I would actually read it again. But first I have to get my hands on my son's second Wimpy Kid book (which he received for his birthday)! Jeff Kinney certainly knows how to keep pre-teen boys reading!

This series is just plain funny! For anyone who has been through junior high, is in junior high, or is going to be in junior high - this is a fun, clean, dry look at the wacky things that can happen. My husband laughs out loud when he reads it and my 8 year-old nephew can't put it down.

I teach 3rd Grade. I noticed my kids were reading this book and decided to pick it up for myself. Wow, this book is just plain funny! Even kids who don't enjoy reading will enjoy this book.

The humor is a bit edgy for my 3rd Graders and would probably be a little more appropriate for 4th and above. There is a lot of sarcasm that would be missed by a struggling reader, but I am sure they would still enjoy the loose story.

My 8 year old son wanted this book. Good story, kids seem to love it! In an age where video games are taking over it's nice to have a book kids will read and enjoy!

This was a really good book. It is more for younger kids but even for the older ones (like me, a teen) it gives a lot of laughs. It portrays things that you would think would happen in grade school and puts them in perspective. It does not have a real plot, its just a book for laughs. I love the characters and the illustration. You can tell its from an elemantary school point of view. This book is great so buy it so you can laugh and maybe relive some of your own elementary memories.

Great book. Kept my kids quiet for three days. They read one, traded and read the other. Get both books, your kids will thank you for it! :)

I got this book for my 8 year old daughter. She enjoyed it so much that she had it read in 3 days. In her own words this book was "awesome, hysterical, and attention grabbing". If you have a child that isn't as interested in reading as you would like, I highly recommend this series of books. There are enough illustrations to keep their attention, and I haven't met a child yet who could put this book down once they started it.

Younger kids will love this, and anything that will get kids to read is great.

As an adult who loves children's and YA lit, I found the book to be intermittently amusing but -pictures aside- don't think it breaks any new ground, either in storytelling or originality. Not that every book has to be a groundbreaker but for me, the story lacked a certain spark. I found the situations like the school play and the difficulty with the parents a bit hackneyed and rote. But other parts of the book, like the giant snowball that tore up the sod in the lawn are perfect in capturing the trouble kids cause when they really don't mean it.

For those who did enjoy this book, I recommend they graduate to Sherman Alexie's "Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" that has a similar conceit (a diary with cartoons), but much more depth without sacrificing any of the enjoyment.

I bought it for my 5-year old daughter, it turned out I enjoyed reading it to her more than she enjoyed listening to my reading. I would recommend it to all the boys and their dads.

While I have to say that I heartily enjoyed this book, my only case against it is really in its marketing. I think the people that will get the most out of it are young men who have graduated high school and at the youngest, graduated junior high. While the novel is geared toward the age range of 12-13 year olds, I don't feel that they will benefit from the humor until they are older, solely on the fact that they are still experiencing these things first hand. At that age I think most of the amusing things about the book will soar right over their heads. While older readers who have survived that point in life, and have some sort of perspective on the whole thing will get a huge kick out of the ridiculous-ness of it all. I read it in a day (not that, that's a feat because most of it is illustrations) but I couldn't put it down. I was having a crap-tacular day at that because my car broke down and I wandered into town while I had it fixed. At the local bookshop I saw this collection on the display table and the title caught my eye. While leafing through it I found myself laughing out loud, and I went right up to the counter and bought it. It was hilarious and the artwork only furthered my laughter! It definitely made my situation much more tolerable and I now remember that day as a good one, despite my car trouble. I think any twenty-something will get the most out of this book and will find it really funny. Which reminds me, I have to get a copy of the Roderick Chronicles soon!

Our review is for the book called Diary of a Wimpy Kid. It was written and illustrated by Jeff Kinney. The Genre is a graphic Novel, With comedy
Gregory Heffley is a wimpy kid. He has a little brother Manny and an older brother Rodrick. They both ruin everything for him. Gregory lives at his house and he goes to Middle School with his best friend Rowley. Gregory has a problem. He is a wimpy Kid. His only friend is Rowley. Not one girl likes him. His parents ,mom and dad, Make him watch Manny and do some chores and all that. So read and see if the problem gets solved.
If you are a wimp or nerd you still are important to your friends and family. You could always be cool in your own way. It is on our top 10 list because it is hilarious book. Anybody who reads it would laugh. So read and you will see.

I originally bought this book for a car trip for my 9-year-old son, and it quickly turned into "the book to be fought over" in the household, with my 10-year-old daughter wanting to read it, too!

Every time the book was set down, it quickly ended up with another reader. If you have a child who is a reluctant reader (they would rather be playing video games, but love books when you make them turn off the TV), then this is a perfect choice. My son even skipped dinner to finish the book!

By: Brian K.
Let me got something straight: This book is a JOURNAL, not a diary.
Greg Heffley is a middle school student trying to be popular, rich, stay best friends with Rowley, not get the cheese touch, and have fun.
With Greg and Rowley you learn about what it would be like to be a nothing in middle school even when you try hard. Like one time he thought it would be cool to chase kindergarteners around with a worm on a stick, only to get caught and blame it on Rowley. Now he's kicked off the only cool thing he's in, the safety patrol squad, and he lost his best friend.
This book is so funny and grabbing. It's like being strapped to a T.V. with Americas Home Funniest Videos on. The author made me feel like I was one of Greg's friends, right next to him all the way through this book. When I finished, I felt like it was summer break waiting for the next school year and the next book DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: RODRICK RULES.
This amazing novel is full with friendship, betrayal, and bullying. I would recommend it to people who like visual drawings, hilarious dialog, and a cool journal pace.

Son is 8 yrs old and has even gotten me to read this with him. a++++

How would you feel if your mom handed you a journal and told you to keep a diary, a DIARY all year. Greg Heffley didn't like it much either. But he keeps a journal, a journal not a diary, and best of all he keeps it in drawings. Greg has problems with everything from pickup truck driving teenagers to girls like his geeky friend Rowley over him. Greg doesn't much care for Rowley but still hangs out with him whenever he can only because Greg's Dad wont let him play videogames at his house. But when Greg does something unforgivable to Rowley and Rowley abandons him he realizes just how important having Rowley in his life is. Now he has to do something really important to try and win Rowley back and still find a way to make it into the coveted spot in the yearbook of class clown.

This book is the best book I have ever read. It's like reading somebody's real diary. I think it is a spendid, magnificent, outstanding, extraordinary book. If I could I would give it 100 stars!

My 8 year old son loves this book so much he has barely put it down since he got it yesterday. He chose to read it instead of playing video games (Wii), and even took it to bed with him last night. He can't wait to read the sequel!

Fantastic book. I bought it for my grandson who is in 7th grade and he loved it so much I bought the second book in the series. I read it too and was laughing ot loud. Highly recomended!

My eleven year old son handed me this book. I hugged him afterward. With few modifications I think this book could have been about MY youth. Several times I had to stop reading so I could laugh out loud.

While the story was mildly amusing I took issue with some of the attitudes of the main character. He mistreats his friend, expects him to take it without question, and even gets angry with his friend for not taking the fall for him at one point.

I understand that a lot of people cannot stomach potty humor, but at least the kids in Captain Underpants are not as bad as Greg.

I am considering getting the sequel just to see if Greg redeems himself at all, but I think I will put it lower on my list of books.

I bought this book for my son at Christmas (he's 9) he loved it. I would hear laughter coming out of his room everytime he read this book which is wonderful. It hard finding a book for him that keeps his interest so I'm glad he enjoyed this. I would recommend this book for all elementary aged kids, boys and girls. Most of the 4th graders in his school are reading this book and love it.

This book is the best for boy reluctant readers. My son who is 9 read this book with enthusiasm. It was the first book he read with gusto and enjoyment. He could not put it down. The style of the book with "hand printed type" and cartoon sketches breaks the page, making it easier to read and less overwhelming for slower readers. A definite recommendation for any 4th to 7th grader. It is very funny.

My 7-year-old daughter asked for this book, which has since been hugely enjoyed by my husband, my 10-year-old son, and now myself. Greg is pretty much an average middle-schooler, with a geeky best friend, an older brother who picks on him, and parents who frequently embarrass him. This book is hugely funny, gross enough to appeal to a kid's sense of humor, and wickedly on-target for an adult audience. With its line-drawing cartoons and hand-printed text style, it even looks like the notebook some kid dropped on his way to school (even moreso after it's been read under the covers at night, by flashlight, by all of the kids in my house). But even though it's laugh-out-loud entertainment, the kid in "Wimpy Kid" still seems like a real person, with a real kid's worries and mess-ups. (What if people find out the nickname his little brother calls him? What if his best friend stays mad at him? How can he get out of the school play?) Everybody in our family loved this book. When I brought the second installment home yesterday, it passed hands like a game of Hot Potato because everybody wanted to be the first to read it.

This book is the first book of the Wimpy serie, but I read the second one first and I knew I had to get the first one. This book has pictures, and it's funny. It's a good book for either elementary school (4-5th grades) or middle school or even college students ! It's a must for book worms!

And I haven't even read it yet (but I'll come back and add Mom's thoughts after I do that). But my son, 10 and in 4th Grade is NOT a reader. I've tried it all. Every series, theme, you-name-it it's been put in front of him and he won't read it book. He's an excellent reader, testing way above his grade, but he doesn't like.to.read. He picks Calvin & Hobbes and Garfield comics for his at-home reading time.

He mentioned this book because some boys at school like it. I immediately bought it hoping this would be *the* book.

It was. He came home today, picked it up out of the package, went upstairs and read the ENTIRE book in one sitting. All 217 pages. He then grabbed the second book and attempted to run off and read it (I grabbed it back as we're traveling this weekend and it's for the trip). This book is beating out the NCAA tournament with him.

Again, I'll be back to provide a real review, but if you're a mom like me, desperately searching for ANY book your son will read, buy it. You will not regret it!

The book, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, is a personal favorite. It is a really fun book to read with your parents, friends, or siblings. I thought the book was a really, really funny.

I liked the drawings and the stories made me laugh out loud. I made my Mom read part of the book out loud to my class on guest reader day at school. She got into a little trouble for using the word "moron" in class.

I can't wait to read Diary of a Wimpy Kid 2- Roderick Rules.

- Ryan Goepfrich

When I started reading this book I couldn't put it down it was sooo great!!!

If you are trying to get your child interested in reading, this is a great book for BOYS AND GIRLS.

We first saw this book in the airport. A little boy of about 6 was reading it and would not put it down. He was totally engrossed. His parents started talking about the illustrations and the writing inside. We decided we should let our daughter read the book. Our DAUGHTER picked up the book and read it in a week. We would ask her if she understood it and she would tell us what was happening in detail. There were many times where she would giggle out loud and ENJOY the book. We just ordered the second one for her and she cannot wait to sit down to read it.

It's wonderful to see my 6 year old sit down and read a book and really enjoy the content because she wants to and not because she has to for school homework. Excellent!

Both my daughters (10 and 7) read through and totally enjoyed this book. It's a quick read, with the cartoon images, and captures so many cute moments of childhood.