Blog of a Wimpy Reader

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Published by Amulet Books

A novel in cartoons by Jeff Kinney

You know something big is happening in the literary world when you start typing “Diary of…” into your Google search bar and the first two suggestions that pop up are “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” and “Diary of Anne Frank,” in that order.  Isn’t that interesting, especially since Diary of a Wimpy Kid, “is a JOURNAL, not a diary” according to the novel’s protagonist, Greg Heffley.  Greg, a loveable but sometimes annoying sixth grader, shares his journey through middle school (and soon, high school!) with countless readers around the world.  Luckily for us, Greg is an avid writer who captures the emotions of every almost-middle-schooler in his witty prose and to the point illustrations.  While browsing the Internet for some fun facts about this series, I discovered that Jeff Kinney started out as a cartoonist and worked on the idea of Wimpy Kid for over six years before, wait for it, he began publishing what would eventually become a book in daily, blog-like installments!!!  Just think!  All of these blog posts we are writing could one day, maybe, lead to one of the most successful young adult series in recent times!

book #2

Too bad we’re not writing fiction in any of our classes….just kidding!   According to http://www.wimpykid.com/, “the online version of Diary of a Wimpy Kid has had more than 80 million visits, and is typically read by more than 70,000 kids a day.”  That’s something to talk about!  That also might explain why my “Diary of…” search prompted me with “a Wimpy Kid.”  This graphic novel is a trailblazer in the realm of blogging and online literature.  Kinney started publishing the online version of Wimpy Kid on http://www.funbrain.com/ and, after the success of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, he was asked to create another remarkable website, http://www.poptropica.com/.  While both of these websites are wonderful for children (and adults…I just spent a half hour exploring them), funbrain.com is an awesome tool for the classroom (poptropica.com is more of a continuous online video game where kids can create avatars and explore places, some educational, some not, all fun).   Funbrain.com has flash arcades for reading, math, and other subject matter.  You can play math baseball, create your own Mad Libs, Jr., Grammar Gorillas, or just read a Web Book (like Wimpy Kid).  

book #3

“Diary of a Wimpy Kid movie” was fourth on my original Google search suggestions, so that also speaks volumes.  This series, like many now a days, has been made into a major motion film; I bring this up now, on my children’s literature blog, because in a rare twist of fate, this movie inspired by a book inspired another book: Diary of a Wimpy Kid Movie Diary.  This movie book is actually very interesting, and tracks Greg Heffley and Zachary Gordon, the young actor that plays Greg, through the entire creative process.  Jeff Kinney shows his readers behind the scene of the original Diary, its sequels and, eventually, its big screen adaptation came to be.  Kinney also has a Diary of a Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself Book that helps inspire young comics and authors to take Greg Heffley on his next adventure.  

book #4

While I would love to incorporate these books into my classroom if I had a third, fourth, or fifth grade class, many teachers and parents do not feel the same unconditional love towards Greg Heffley’s journal.  This book talks about real things, from the viewpoint of a very realistic character and sometimes, real life is less than ideal.  Greg does face bullies, social ostracisms, and worst of all, the Cheese Touch, over the course of the first novel.  Some critics believe that these topics are not appropriate for classroom instruction, others believe that by introducing such controversial topics and exposing kids/tweens to journaling, these books are the best tools a classroom can have.  It should be pretty obvious by now which side I am on, but that doesn’t mean that I do not see any flaws in Greg Heffley’s lifestyle: although Greg is bullied, he is sometimes a bully himself; Greg is picked on by his older brother, Rodrick, but Greg picks on his younger brother, Manny.  Good or bad, this series is definitely worth the read and book five comes out in thirteen days so hurry up and get started!

Coming Soon!

Awful Teacher's Awful Poetry

Awful Ogre’s Awful Day

published by HarperCollins

written by Jack Prelutsky

illustrations by Paul O. Zelinsky

It is not every day you see a giant ogre running through a field, ripping the cover of a book to pieces, but would it surprise you to hear that Jack Prelutsky was behind it?  I didn’t think so.  Even the title of this book has a poetic ring to it, drawing even the most fearful readers in a little bit closer.  This book does not scream, “POETRY!!!” instead, it breaks through barriers (literally—take a closer look at the cover art) and fully consumes even the most wary poets with an unusual kind of whimsy.  Worried about poetry being too frilly or old fashioned?  Then this is the book for you.  There are eighteen poems spread out over forty pages of captivating snapshots of a day in the life of the one and only, Awful Ogre.

While Prelutsky first introduces Awful Ogre to his audience in the poem, “Awful Ogre Rises,” readers start learning all about his destructive frolics through the mountains on the front cover and the townspeople’s feeble attempts to repair the damage on the title page. I was a little surprised, however, to learn that Prelutsky’s sometimes friend, Lane Smith, was not behind Awful Ogre’s dark and whimsical illustrations.  That being said, I had to look into Paul O. Zelinsky’s illustrated past to see for myself what other crazy images he created for the world of children’s literature.  Interestingly enough, it seems that Zelinsky has a number of styles and has illustrated everything from Beverly Cleary chapter books (Strider) to a popular mechanical book version of The Wheels on the Bus.  His style is constantly evolving in order to best suit the text it is bringing to life, and Awful Ogre is no exception.  I would be very interested in finding out how Prelutsky and Zelinsky came to be partners.

While this book has not yet been honored with any awards for its poetry, Awful Ogre’s Awful Day was voted New York Times Best Illustrated Book in 2001.  While that in it self is a great honor, I do not feel like that award alone does this poetry collection justice.  This book actually makes you laugh out loud.  Then, after you catch your breath, you take a better look at the pictures and you lose your breath laughing again.  The only person that I have seen keep a straight face while reading these poems is Paul O. Zelinsky himself reading “Awful Ogre’s Hot Dog Lunch” (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ToXyZd5s1vw).   This particular poem was not my favorite, but you can see a piece of my favorite poem, “Awful Ogre Dances,” on the HarperCollins website: http://www.harpercollinschildrens.com/books/Awful-Ogres-Day/?isbn13=9780060774592&tctid=100 (click the “Brose Inside” button).  I don’t want to give away too much, but see the first four and a half poems illustrations for yourself!

 

P.S. There is a sequel to this poetry collection!  Awful Ogre Running Wild is another whimsical collaboration between Prelutsky and Zelinsky about the same Awful Ogre.  It does not have quite as strong a voice or a visual presence as Awful Ogre’s Awful Day but it is another great way to get even the wariest of readers interested in poetry.