Your child finishes the last Wimpy Kid book and looks at you. "What now?"
This happens more often than you'd think. Greg Heffley works because he feels real. The embarrassments, the friendships that shift, the way he documents everything in his diary. Once kids taste that format, they want more of it.
The thing is, diary books aren't all the same. Some are purely funny. Others have adventure woven through. Some are about friendship. Others are about identity and belonging. And many offer something Greg doesn't: perspectives from kids who look different, live differently, or see the world through a completely different lens.
We've spent time with parents asking exactly this question, and we've noticed something. Kids don't just want "another book like Wimpy Kid." They want to feel that same connection to a character's voice, but often they're ready for something that surprises them a little.
Here are 12 diary-format books worth exploring, depending on what your child is actually craving.
For Kids Who Want Pure Humor
Dork Diaries by Rachel Renée Russell sits closest to Wimpy Kid. Nikki Maxwell is navigating seventh grade with the same awkwardness Greg does, but her voice is different. Her humiliations feel specific to her. The doodles are there. The observations about friendship drama are sharp. Kids often devour the entire series once they connect with Nikki.
Worst Week Ever! by Eva Amores takes the same format but zooms in. One week. Everything goes wrong. The illustrations feel fresh, and the pace is faster. If your child likes quick reads that deliver solid laughs, this one works.
Diary of a Nerd by Philip Osbourne is weirder and sillier. If your child gravitates toward absurdist humor, this delivers it.
For Kids Who Want Adventure Mixed In
Diary of a Minecraft Zombie by Zack Zombie works even if your child has never played Minecraft. The diary entries jump between mining, zombie encounters, and school drama. It's fast. It's silly. It works.
The Last Kids on Earth series by Max Brallier adds something Wimpy Kid doesn't: genuine adventure. Kids discover a monster-filled world beyond their town. The diary format gives these adventures personality and humor rather than making them feel like pure action.
For Kids Ready for Something Deeper
Dear Sister by Alison McGhee is tender. It's told through letters and diary entries between two sisters at different life stages. It's quieter, but it lands hard for kids who pay attention to emotion.
Diary of Amos Lee by Adeline Foo is warm and funny. Amos observes his world with genuine kindness. The humor is there, but so is real heart.
The Day My Dog Got Famous by Jen Carney has journal entries woven through. A dog becomes an internet sensation, which sounds silly, but it touches real questions about authenticity and friendship.
For Kids Ready to See Themselves in Books
Planet Omar series by Zanib Mian shows a British-Pakistani kid navigating school, friendship, and identity. The humor is grounded in Omar's specific experience. If your child is ready for diary books that reflect diverse characters and perspectives, this series matters. Books like Planet Omar: Accidental Trouble Magnet feel contemporary and honest.
Loki: A Bad God's Guide series by Louie Stowell is absurdist in the best way. The Norse god Loki gets stuck on Earth and has to pretend to be normal. The frustration, the humor, the mythology mixed with middle school. It's completely different, which is exactly why it works.
World's Worst Children series by David Walliams uses sketch comedy. Each chapter is a different hilariously awful kid. It's sitcom-style humor, perfect for kids who love that format.
How to Actually Choose
Ask what your child loved most about Wimpy Kid. Was it Greg's voice? The friendship mess? The doodles? The small humiliations? Once you know, you narrow down fast.
Loved the relatability and humor? Start with Dork Diaries or Worst Week Ever!
Ready for adventure? Try The Last Kids on Earth or Diary of a Minecraft Zombie.
Craving something with real emotion? Dear Sister or Diary of Amos Lee.
Want something completely different? Planet Omar, Loki, or World's Worst Children.
Why Diary Format Works
Diary books make readers feel like they're inside someone's head. There's intimacy in reading private thoughts. The format also feels less intimidating visually. Shorter entries, doodles, white space. The page looks easier to tackle than a dense chapter book.
Plus, these books capture middle-grade life accurately. The awkwardness is real. The friendship shifts are real. Kids reading them feel understood.
Building a Reading Habit
One thing we've noticed working with parents and kids is this: the goal isn't finding the perfect Wimpy Kid replacement. The goal is keeping your child reading.
When a book resonates, children return to it. They reread scenes. They search for the next book in the series. They talk about characters. That's when reading becomes something they do, not something they're told to do.
Diary-format books build this habit because they feel like conversation, not instruction. Your child is reading a character's private thoughts. That connection keeps pages turning.
Many of these books are available through neOwn's kids library subscription. You can explore different titles, see what sticks, and swap in new books when your child is ready. It takes the guesswork out of finding the next read. Your child discovers what they actually love, not what you think they should love.
Browse our online kids library and find diary-format books that match your child's interests. When you find one that clicks, the reading habit builds itself.
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