Diary of a Wimpy Kid for 8 year old

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I have an anxious 8 year old boy. He’s a brilliant reader but scared of everything! He’s also very immature in his tastes. Would these be too advanced for him emotionally? Can anyone recommend any other books for him please?

I think they would be fine.

Also try the 13 storey treehouse series

Following for recommendations too.

Also, I second the 13 storey treehouse series. My almost 8 yo DS loves them!

definitely the 13 storey treehouse series, my DS8 also loves the Spy Dog series.

I think the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series would be fine, my two love those and have read some of them myself lol
Definitely nothing scary in and would have thought fine for anyone anxious

I'd say they are mostly fine and they were loved by DD at 8, but avoid 'The Ugly Truth'. This was one sent home in week 1 of yr3 by the school and I did question it with the teacher, who had a better look at it and agreed! The other one to wait until over 9 for would prob be the one about Summer Camp, can't remember the title. Maybe borrow a couple from the library if you can, to see.
The Tashi stories could be good (there's a compilation of them I think).

Thanks everyone. He was terrified of 13 Storey Treehouse to begin with because he flicked through and saw a scary picture (which wasn’t scary in the slightest and clearly jokey). In the end I had to make him listen to me read a chapter and he realised they weren’t scary and now he loves them!

Does anyone have any thought on David Walliams too? These seem more grown up?

Thank you @Ormally. The problem with Tashi are the front covers! Terrifying apparently.

Go for the Tom Gates books by Liz Picheon instead. Tom is a sweet little character.

I'd also recommend the Tom Gates series. My 8yo DD absolutely loves them.

Give them a try on audiobook?! Haven't seen any scary ones but there may be.

Go old-fashioned. ‘Tales from the End Cottage’, ‘The Teddy Robinson stories’, ‘Milly-Molly-Mandy and Billy Blunt’ are all collections of very cosy domestic kindly, old-fashioned stories where nothing much happens, but still absorbing.
Perfect for the risk averse reader.
Also Jill Tomlinson’s ‘The Owl who was afraid of the dark’ Is excellent reading for night time fears.

One of my mine found the cheese very stressful - i think she projected- and it turned her off wimpy kid. It was anxiety inducing!

Bit more peril in David Walliams and some dodgy stereotyping of villains etc. Wimpey kid is Great

Look at the Wrigglesworth primary series too. But the Wimpy Kids are fantastic.

(I hate David Walliams’ books - too many lazy stereotypes...)

The Wimpy Kid series is quite tame. Do you still read to him? Our daughter in particular loved a bedtime story until she was at least 10. Try one out with him first?

Our son loved Just William at that age too.

The Ramona series by Beverly Cleary is quite gentle as well. Apart from the story where the family cat dies.

My 8 year old loves daft stuff like Dogman, easy but fun stuff like The Boy Who Grew Dragons series, Amelia Fang series, Daisy and the Trouble With, Charlie Changes into a Chicken series, Milton The Mighty amongst others.

A bit more mature in taste he has enjoyed things like Frostheart, Dragon Mountain (loved, loved, loved it and keeps going on about it), The Mask of Aribella, The Last Wild trilogy.

Currently reading Philip Pullman The Adventures of the New Cut Gang which is great for young kids with advanced reading skills as it has the complexity of Pullman's writing but is full of silliness.

There is so, so much out there for kids it's an absolute joy. I'd suggest going to a good book shop. Independent if you have one or a Waterstones as they do tend to employ very knowledgeable and enthusiastic staff and just explore away from the well known and well advertised stuff.

Id agree with poster above who said if you have a very good reader but not emotionally mature go for classic books that will stretch his vocabulary but with little to no risk in the stories.

David Walliams isn't scary as such but they aren't that great. The exception being the stage musical of Billionaire Boy, which was fantastic.

I forgot to mention the wonderful The Super Miraculous Journey of Freddie Yates.

Everyone needs to read it.

Purpleice oh poor Picky Picky in the Ramona books. Still gets me

Diary of a wimpy kid is very funny. Not scary at all. Very simple language so do t expect him to learn new words from it. Very entertaining.

My two loved the Wimpy kid books at that age and Tom Gates too. My DD was the biggest wimp of all about scary /upsetting things in books and had no problem with any of them. As pp has said, there's nothing deep in any of these books, just lots of funny writing, very easy reading with lots of witty cartoons. I loved them too!

I agree, the Wimpy Kid books are funny but for an only-just-8 year old I'm not too impressed by content including: the facts of life lesson, fascination with an American bachelor party complete with allegedly cheating bachelor, the dentist visit where it all gets intimidating rather than the little boy treatment, and somebody eating part of a deodorant and inventing some scary crazy guy in the woods for a holiday camp. Some of the back covers do recommend being for 9 plus and I would pay more attention to that now too. Kid's particular fears at that age? Most holiday childcare I'd tried (still no choice but to persist), and dentist visits. So, thanks for that one, class 3.

My 8 year old loves the Wimpy Kid books. Also Timmy Failure series, and The World of Norm series. All very similar format and he is always giggling as he reads them.