Diary of a Wimpy Kid #4: Dog Days

Hey, Splotters! Been a while since my last post. . . didja miss me?

If any of you read my review of Jeff Kinney's Diary of a Wimpy Kid, you know I loved it. I thought it was hilarious. I've been keeping up with the series since then, and it hasn't missed a beat so far. When my copy of #4 in the series - Dog Days - arrived in the mail, I was excited (and a little nervous) wondering how long can Mr. Kinney keep his hot streak going?

Here's how I test how funny a book is: I take it onto the subway (or any public place where it would be weird to start laughing by yourself - people give you the evil eye like you wouldn't believe). If I'm reading a book, and it can make me laugh despite knowing that everyone in the subway car is going to think I'm weird, then I know it's funny. Dog Days passed that test about 30 seconds after I sat down. (I then had to endure 30 minutes of glares. Oh well.) It follows the same format as before: Greg Heffley, a ridiculously un-self-aware 8th-grader, narrates his life through a series of written and illustrated journal entries. This time, he covers his summer vacation, which he calls a "three-month guilt trip" because he likes to stay inside all day and play video games while everyone else is running around outside. (Hey, sounds like a perfectly good summer to me. . .) His parents aren't huge fans of the idea, to no one's surprise, and shenanigans ensue as Greg blunders and cringes through three months of enforced fun. It starts with Greg and his buddy Rowley running up a huge tab at the country club and gets better from there.

I'm going to follow my policy of not ruining any of the jokes for you, but some of the highlights include: Fregley; Li'l Cutie; "Hello, You're Dead;" Champions Swim Meet; "Get a load a this!" Dog Days has my wholehearted recommendation. If you liked any of the previous entries in the series, you'll love it. If you've never read any of those entries, you'll love it. Heck, you'll love it no matter what! Just. . . don't read it on a subway.

According to this YouTube video, these kids really loved it. Have you read Dog Days? How do you think it stacks up to the other Wimpy Kid books? Let me know in the comments!

— Jack, STACKS Writer

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BONUS WRITING PROMPT: In the book Frindle, Nick invents a new word for pen, and starts calling it a “frindle.” What everyday item would you rename, and what would you call it? Leave your answer in the Comments.

 

Comments

[Comment #1]

dude you funny!

[Comment #2]

I have this book and i bearly read like 5 pgs.
and I already want to marry it!!:>

[Comment #3]

Hey I just wanted to make a shout out to Jeff Kinney
for writing this excellent
book!!!! THANK YOU

[Comment #4]

that book is awesome during black friday, kids were screaming to convince their parents to buy them th book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Comment #5]

I didn't really like it. I guess I've grewn up. BECAUSE WHEN I WAS IN 5TH GRADE I LOVED IT! I guess it left me when I left elementary.

[Comment #6]

I thought it was hilarious, and really cool. PLEASE WRITE MORE BOOKS!!!!

[Comment #7]

I think that if I could rename a desk I would name it posh.

[Comment #8]

I would rename books to uh-huhs because it sounds cool.

[Comment #9]

Yeah that book makes me LOL. heehee

[Comment #10]

If I could rename a word it would be "cup" to "honder"

[Comment #11]

OMG! I love Diary of a Wimpy Kid! I read the first one a few days ago.

[Comment #12]

I would call a pencil a sketcher. I like the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. It's really funny. :)

[Comment #13]

I would rename a spoon and call it chamach.( Its a word in Indian)

[Comment #14]

I'm confused today................................................................

[Comment #15]

I loved that book! It takes only 30 min. to read, so it won't waste your time!!! READ IT!

[Comment #16]

i love those books i read all of them like 5 times already:)!!!!!!!!

[Comment #17]

:):):0 it is so funny

[Comment #18]

I love the series i own all of the books. I cant wait till the next book.I think all of the books are hilarious!=]

[Comment #19]

I read my freind's copy up to about pg 78

[Comment #20]

I would probably rename an MP3 player or an iPod "a humdoodler".

[Comment #21]

I LUVD it.Ummm...
What else can I say?

[Comment #22]

i could read that whole series in a day! i love it so so so sooooo much!!!!!

[Comment #23]

the dairy of wimpy kid books are cool

[Comment #24]

I really thought that Dog Days was funny! I can`t wait for the next book!

[Comment #25]

dude!! i love that series!!!!