If You Like Diary of a Wimpy Kid…

Since every time I mention Diary of a Wimpy Kid on this blog my blog hits go way up, I decided to post my Diary of a Wimpy Kid Readalikes list here.  These books all share some aspect with the Wimpy Kid books, irreverent humor, illustrations, or the trials of middle school.  There is sure to be something here for every Wimpy Kid fan.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid Readalikes

Adventures in Cartooning: How to Turn Your Doodles Into Comics by James Sturm

Dork Diaries : Tales From a Not-So-Fabulous Life by Rachel Renee Russell

Dragonbreath by Ursula Vernon

Knights of the Lunch Table by Frank Cammuso

Lawn Boy by Gary Paulsen

Max Quigley, Technically Not a Bully by James Roy

Raymond and Graham Rule the School by Mike Knudson

True Meaning of Smekday by Adam Rex

Series:

Amelia’s Notebook series by Marissa Moss

Candy Apple series by Erin Downing

Dear Dumb Diary series by Jim Benton

Time Warp Trio series by Jon Scieszka

Underwhere series by Bruce Hale

Wayside School series by Louis Sachar

 

Authors:

Andrew Clements

Jack Gantos

Andy Griffiths

Dan Gutman

 

Scary Books

Check out the new Kids Page Feature on scary books.

Just the Good Stuff

The new Just the Good Stuff booklist is on its way out to the  branches.  I’m really excited about how great it looks, (thanks, graphics!).  It’s full color on both sides and is a sturdy bookmark.  This is a TEEN booklist, but I see now that I left the word teen off of the bookmark.  I’ll fix that in future printings.  Expect a new Teen Reads bookmark (same format,) arriving at your branch soon, too!

Diary of a Wimpy Kid Readalikes

The September Kids Page feature is Diary of a Wimpy Kid Readalikes, or what to read while you’re waiting for the next Wimpy Kid book.  Check it out!

Fresh Booklists Coming Soon!

The graphics department is currently working on two new booklists I created:  Tween Reads and Middle School Reads.  These follow the new booklist guidelines limiting total number of items to 20 per list and emphasizing authors and series over specific titles.  They will replace the graded booklists, which will no longer be updated.  In order to account for the wide range of reading abilities and interests at each grade level, I’m including multiple grade levels in these lists to avoid a child having to choose off the “2nd grade list” when they’re in 3rd grade.   I’ve also tried to include a variety of genres and perspectives.  Please let me know if you have feedback on these lists.

Next Step Booklist

Copies of the Next Step Booklist will be arriving in branches soon.  This booklist follows the new format that you should expect to see in our children’s booklists.  It is a short list highlighting authors and series instead of specific titles, making it easier for branches around the district to help patrons find items from the lists on the shelves at their branch.  The Next Step booklist is suggestions for books to read once the patron is ready to move on from the Easy Reader section.  Please let me know any feedback you have on the list!

Next Step Booklist

Expect to see a new printed booklist this summer, Next Step: Chapter Books.  It’s a short list of recommended series and authors to try when new readers are ready to move on from the Readers to beginning chapter books.  If you have room, a good place to display the booklists might be next to the black Readers.

Just the Good Stuff Booklist for Teens

Due to branch requests, I’ve created a “clean reads” or “gentle reads” booklist for teens called “Just the Good Stuff.”  This was a tricky list to create because I really had to carefully read the books paying particular attention to “bad” words, drinking, and sex.  I wasn’t just reading for enjoyment or looking at writing quality.  I picked up many books that were recommended for the list only to find some unacceptable language or behavior 1/2 way through.  Even books that I had already read I had to skim in order to assure myself that I was remembering them correctly as “clean” reads.  So that said, if you come across a title on this list that you don’t think fits the definition of the list, then please let me know.  This list will eventually live on the teens web page, but in the meantime, I am pasting it below for you to start using.

Just the Good Stuff

Great books without the sex, drugs, and swearing you’re not interested in reading about!

Avalon High by Meg Cabot

Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale*

Ever by Gail Carson Levine*

Fever, 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson

Jason’s Gold by Will Hobbs*

Keturah and Lord Death by Martine Leavitt

Monkey Town: The Summer of the Scopes Trial by Ronald Kidd

My Fair Godmother by Janette Rallison*

Outside Beauty by Cynthia Kadohata

Peak by Roland Smith*

Peeled by Joan Bauer*

Possibilities of Sainthood by Donna Freitas

Princess Ben by Catherine Gilbert Murdock*

Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George*

Rapunzel’s Revenge by Shannon Hale

Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie by David Lubar*

Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld*

Uprising by Margaret Peterson Haddix*

Please note: These are books that we recommend for those teens looking for a gentle read. They generally have no swearing, sex, drug use or drunkenness. If these don’t fit your definition of a “gentle read,” please talk to library staff.

Check out more “Just the Good Stuff” books by authors with the * after their names.

Earth Day booklist and websites

Check out the Kids Page for a list of Earth Day books (Es and Js/fiction and nonfiction,) and websites.

Clean Reads for Teens Booklist

So I’ve been asked to compile a clean reads for teens booklist for the district. I’m working on it and scouring the internet for other’s lists and now I’m taking suggestions from you! If you have any “clean” YA books to suggest, please pass them my way! I’m looking for YA books without swearing, drinking, drugs, and sex. It’s actually an incredibly hard list to create without reading (or re-reading) every title, and I don’t have time for that. I’m not concerning myself with topics that some might disapprove of…witches, sci fi, homosexuality, etc, just trying to avoid the stuff mentioned above. Even swearing is difficult to define, is damn a bad word? It’s all so subjective!

Oh, and do you have a suggestion for a snappy title??