Jeff Kinney’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid books connect with so many readers. Greg Heffley’s journal entries, complete with cartoons, show the ups and downs of middle school life. The mix of text and drawings makes these books quick and entertaining reads.
If you enjoy that style, here are some other authors whose books share a similar blend of cartoons, humor, and everyday kid experiences.
Dav Pilkey is the creator of the “Captain Underpants” series. These books feature George and Harold, two fourth-grade friends who spend their time making comics. In a moment of mischief, they hypnotize their principal, Mr. Krupp.
This causes him to turn into Captain Underpants, a superhero clad only in his underwear and a cape. The stories include comic book sections drawn by George and Harold, detailing Captain Underpants’s battles against silly villains.
Rachel Renée Russell writes the “Dork Diaries” series. The main character, Nikki Maxwell, documents her life in a diary format after she transfers to a new, expensive private school.
She fills her journal with doodles and observations about dealing with a popular mean girl, MacKenzie Hollister, navigating friendships, and handling embarrassing middle school moments.
One story follows Nikki’s efforts to keep MacKenzie from discovering a secret about her dad’s job.
Lincoln Peirce is the author and illustrator of the “Big Nate” series. Nate Wright is a sixth-grader convinced he is destined for greatness. In “Big Nate: In a Class by Himself,” Nate gets a fortune cookie that reads, “Today you will surpass all others.”
This message fuels his attempts to be exceptional throughout a single school day, which involves detention, confrontations with teachers, and various schemes. The books heavily feature Nate’s own comic strips and doodles.
Liz Pichon writes and illustrates the “Tom Gates” series. Tom Gates keeps a journal filled with his drawings, doodles, and thoughts about school, his annoying older sister Delia, and his band, DogZombies.
In “The Brilliant World of Tom Gates,” Tom focuses on avoiding homework, trying to get tickets to see his favorite band, and dealing with classroom antics like trying to eat snacks without getting caught.
His observations about family and school life are presented through his handwritten notes and illustrations.
Gordon Korman writes humorous stories often centered around school situations. His book “Ungifted” tells the story of Donovan Curtis, a prankster who accidentally gets sent to the Academy for Scholastic Distinction—a school for highly gifted students.
Donovan tries to blend in among geniuses. His unique approach to problem-solving leads to chaos, unexpected friendships, and events like accidentally breaking a multi-million dollar robot.
Aaron Blabey is the creator of “The Bad Guys” series. These illustrated chapter books follow classic villains—Mr. Wolf, Mr. Piranha, Mr. Snake, and Mr. Shark—who decide they want to become heroes.
Their first mission involves trying to rescue 200 dogs from a maximum-security dog pound. Their attempts at good deeds often go wrong in spectacular ways, shown through the action-packed illustrations and dialogue.
Megan McDonald writes the “Judy Moody” series, featuring a third-grader known for her many moods. In the first book, “Judy Moody Was in a Mood,” Judy starts third grade feeling unenthusiastic.
A class project about creating a “Me” collage helps her find something interesting to focus on. The books include simple illustrations and capture Judy’s dramatic reactions to everyday events, sibling squabbles with her brother Stink, and her unique way of seeing the world.
Andy Griffiths, often collaborating with illustrator Terry Denton, creates wildly imaginative books.
“The 13-Storey Treehouse” introduces Andy and Terry, who live in an amazing treehouse featuring a bowling alley, a see-through swimming pool, a tank full of man-eating sharks, and a marshmallow machine that shoots marshmallows into your mouth.
They are supposed to be writing a book, but they get sidetracked by flying cats, a giant banana, and sea monkeys. The books are full of illustrations detailing their chaotic adventures.
Rene Goscinny, famous for “Asterix,” also wrote the “Nicholas” series (Le Petit Nicolas), illustrated by Jean-Jacques Sempé. These stories are narrated by a young French schoolboy named Nicholas.
He describes his life with his friends, such as Alceste, who is always eating, and Rufus, whose father is a policeman. The stories detail playground games, classroom troubles, and the simple misunderstandings of childhood in a humorous, observational style.
Terri Libenson writes and draws graphic novels about middle school life. “Invisible Emmie” tells the story of shy, artistic Emmie and popular, outgoing Katie. Their lives are separate until an embarrassing note written by Emmie accidentally falls into the wrong hands.
The book alternates between Emmie’s illustrated diary entries and Katie’s perspective, shown in a more traditional comic panel format, revealing how their paths unexpectedly cross.
Barbara Park created the “Junie B. Jones” series. These books chronicle the experiences of a very outspoken and funny kindergartener (and later first grader).
In “Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus,” Junie B. is scared to ride the school bus home and decides to hide in the school instead. This leads to her exploring the empty school after hours and encountering the janitor.
Her unique way of talking and seeing the world drives the humor.
Jonathan Meres writes “The World of Norm” series. Norm is a boy who feels life is constantly unfair. In “May Contain Nuts,” Norm is grounded and banned from TV.
He navigates the frustrations of family life, including his embarrassing dad and annoying brothers, while trying to figure out how to make things go his way. The books use humor to show the difficulties and absurdities Norm encounters daily.
Louis Sachar writes stories that often mix humor with deeper themes. His book “Holes” follows Stanley Yelnats, a boy wrongly sent to Camp Green Lake, a juvenile detention center in the middle of a desert.
There is no lake, only a dried-up lakebed where the boys must dig one large hole each day. Stanley slowly uncovers the history of the camp, the warden, and how his own family’s past connects to his present situation.
Nathan Hale (the author, not the historical figure) created the graphic novel series “Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales.” These books use a comic format to tell true stories from American history with humor.
In “One Dead Spy,” the historical Nathan Hale, captured by the British, narrates his own story and other Revolutionary War events to his captors just before his execution.
The books present historical facts through lively illustrations, maps, and witty dialogue between historical figures.
Matt Stanton writes and illustrates the “Funny Kid” series. Max is a boy who aims to be the funniest kid in his class. In “Funny Kid for President,” after being embarrassed by his teacher, Max decides to run for class president against the popular and seemingly perfect Abby.
His campaign involves various stunts and jokes, detailed through the text and cartoons, as he tries to win votes and prove he has what it takes.