I’ve read a lot of books over the years, but nothing will ever beat Dork Diaries and Diary of a Wimpy
Kid. Those books were a huge part of my childhood, and honestly, I think they’re way better than a lot
of the new books kids are reading now, like Dog Man or The Bad Guys.
According to Publishers Weekly, Jeff Kinney’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid series has sold more than 275 million copies worldwide, and Rachel Renée Russell’s Dork Diaries has sold over 55 million. Those are massive numbers that show just how much these books connected with readers.
Here’s why I love them so much
They Felt Real
What made me fall in love with Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Dork Diaries was how real they felt. Greg Heffley was awkward, funny, and always getting himself into ridiculous situations, but at the same time, he felt like a real kid I could have gone to school with. Nikki Maxwell was dramatic and over the top, but in the funniest way — and honestly, I related to her struggles with friends and fitting in. Reading those books felt like reading about my own life, just with more doodles and laughs. The newer books, like Dog Man, are entertaining, but I can’t really connect to a superhero dog cop. It’s silly fun, but it doesn’t feel personal the way Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Dork Diaries did. Research even shows that kids are more likely to enjoy reading when they see themselves reflected in the characters. A survey by Scholastic found that 77% of children want books that are “funny,” but also ones that let them “see themselves.” That’s exactly what Dork Diaries and Diary of a Wimpy Kid gave us.
The Humor Never Gets Old
Another reason I’ll always love these books is the humor. Greg’s attempts to be cool or Nikki’s embarrassing diary entries never fail to make me laugh. Even if I reread them now, I still find myself cracking up because the humor is based on real-life awkwardness we’ve all experienced. With a lot of newer books, the jokes are all slapstick or random silliness. It’s funny for a quick laugh, but it doesn’t stick with me the way Greg’s sarcastic comments or Nikki’s dramatic meltdowns do.
The Characters Meant Something
I cared about the characters in these books. Greg was flawed, Nikki was dramatic, but they felt real. I wanted to know what happened to them next, and I couldn’t wait for the next book to come out. It felt like following the lives of people I actually knew.
With the newer series, the characters don’t really change much. They’re funny in the moment, but Idon’t feel attached to them. When I finished a Diary of a Wimpy Kid or Dork Diaries book, I wasalways thinking about the characters long after I closed it.
A 2020 article in The Guardian called Diary of a Wimpy Kid “the book that made reluctant readers fall in love with reading.” Teachers have praised the series for pulling in kids who normally wouldn’t pick up a book, which shows just how powerful those characters really were.
They Were More Than Just Books
These series weren’t just something to read — they were part of growing up. I remember book fairs,n movie releases, and even drawing my own little doodles in the margins of my notebooks because In was inspired by them. They were everywhere, and everyone was talking about them. That kind ofn excitement is something newer books just don’t have.
Why They’ll Always Be My Favorites
At the end of the day, I love Dork Diaries and Diary of a Wimpy Kid because they made reading fun, real, and unforgettable. They weren’t just stories — they were an experience. Newer books might be silly and entertaining, but nothing compares to the laughs, the relatability, and the memories these old books gave me.