Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Book 1

Author and illustrator Jeff Kinney recalls the growing pains of school life and introduces a new kind of hero who epitomizes the challenges of being a kid. Luckily for us, what Greg Heffley says he won't do and what he actually does are two very different things. This exciting and innovatively illustrated series is narrated by an unforgettable kid every family can relate to. His mother forces him to keep a diary and in it, he loosely recounts each day's events. Greg Heffley finds himself thrust into middle school, where undersized weaklings share the hallways with kids who are taller, meaner, and already shaving. The hazards of growing up before you're ready are uniquely revealed through words and drawings as Greg records them in his diary.

In book one of this series, Greg is happy to have Rowley, his sidekick, along for the ride. But when Rowley's star starts to rise, Greg tries to use his best friend's newfound popularity to his own advantage, kicking off a chain of events that will test their friendship in hilarious fashion. Comic illustrations, preteen dialogue and narration, serve as a hilarious counterpoint to Greg's often deadpan voice. The hero's utter obliviousness to his friends and family becomes a running joke.