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Original poster

To think that the Wimpy Kid books are pure shite?

136 replies

FlyingPi · 23/04/2025 01:10

I read to my kid every night, I love it and am happy to read almost anything even if he goes through phases of the same book or author for a while (we must have read Dogman A Tale of Two Kitties about 15 times).

But I freaking hate the Wimpy Kid books. And we're currently on our fourth one in a row, he spent a Christmas book token on three of them and also keeps asking for them at the library.

The hero is a little bully and is just mean to everyone. There are loads of parts where he makes fun of people for being fat, bald, stupid etc. They're not particularly funny, to me anyway. And there is a weird, WEIRD emphasis on the hero trying to chat up girls all the time which seems really odd in a book for this age group who are not yet at that stage surely? In one illustration he even is shown peeping in a window at some girls having a pillowfight. WTF? I also feel that the situations are honestly quite boring.

Just wanted to have a rant! Obviously I'll keep reading them if my kid wants me to, but I am really hoping he moves onto another series soon.
Does anyone else hate them?

OP posts:
celticprincess · 25/04/2025 19:25

I can’t edit but will also add. Inspector calls is a playscript (gcse text) and she says that this is easier to read than a novel as they read it out with doffeeent kids reading different parts. They also enjoy drama so might be something linked.

AllProperTeaIsTheft · 25/04/2025 19:25

FlyingPi · 24/04/2025 01:04

For various reasons, his reading age is much lower than his comprehension age, so that would only leave him with early reading level books at the moment (he is 9). Just because he can't read fluently yet doesn't mean he should be deprived of stories he enjoys, I think it would be very harsh (and self-defeating) to say he could only have books that I personally like, unless there is something absolutely offensive in them. We do talk about it when Greg is being mean to people like his friend Rowley, my son described him tonight as "an absolute idiot" but he still likes the books.

I really loved reading the Dogman and Cat Kid books with him, very funny and actually a lot to think about as well - redemption in Dogman, creativity in Cat Kid. I've read a number of my childhood favourites too, it's very hit and miss. E Nesbitt, I'm afraid, was so turgid and dull that we gave up - I'm amazed I ever enjoyed these. The Bagthorpe Family saga has gone down well, also Diana Wynne Jones, Danny the Champion of the World, Narnia.

Edited
Show quote history

I love, love, love Diana Wynne Jones. Has he read Archer's Goon? 😍

FleaBeeBob · 25/04/2025 19:51

I like the films

Original poster
FlyingPi · 25/04/2025 22:05

AllProperTeaIsTheft · 25/04/2025 19:25

I love, love, love Diana Wynne Jones. Has he read Archer's Goon? 😍

Show quote history

Not yet, I'm not even sure I understood that one! The Crestomancis, but also Dogsbody, which I honestly think is sheer genius.

OP posts:
PlumpHobbit · 27/04/2025 21:47

kurotora · 23/04/2025 18:28

I’m glad it’s not just me who has found the DW books obnoxiously bad! I got rid of the ones we had except Little Monsters which is slightly more tolerable and has illustrations that aren’t a pure Quentin Blake ripoff.

Not to hijack OP but could anyone recommend some books for my DD, reception age? She started wanting only “chapter books” lately after finding a copy of Fantastic Mr Fox. We have read through that twice, plus George’s Marvellous Medicine, Charlie & The Chocolate Factory, James & The Giant Peach and The Worst Witch. She loved the latter, we will keep an eye out for more of those in the charity shops.

Appreciating most novels are aimed at little older, any good ones past or present to introduce? I feel like I struggle to remember which ones are most appropriate to the youngest readers!

Not sure if too advanced as mine is only 4 weeks old so nowhere near reading but I loved the owl who was afraid of the dark and others from that group of stories e.g the cat who wanted to go home

Also diary of a killer cat is really funny, one of my mum's favourites to read to me

Possibly a bit advanced still but if you're reading them to her it'll probably be OK as there's illustrations

Hoohaz · 27/04/2025 22:03

My DS loves them. Stop yucking someone else's yum!

Hoohaz · 27/04/2025 22:07

kurotora · 23/04/2025 18:28

I’m glad it’s not just me who has found the DW books obnoxiously bad! I got rid of the ones we had except Little Monsters which is slightly more tolerable and has illustrations that aren’t a pure Quentin Blake ripoff.

Not to hijack OP but could anyone recommend some books for my DD, reception age? She started wanting only “chapter books” lately after finding a copy of Fantastic Mr Fox. We have read through that twice, plus George’s Marvellous Medicine, Charlie & The Chocolate Factory, James & The Giant Peach and The Worst Witch. She loved the latter, we will keep an eye out for more of those in the charity shops.

Appreciating most novels are aimed at little older, any good ones past or present to introduce? I feel like I struggle to remember which ones are most appropriate to the youngest readers!

The Magic Faraway Tree by End Blyton?

Ionacat · 27/04/2025 22:18

I let DD read them to herself - I refuse to read them to her. ButI was all about ballet series at that age, Sadlers Wells, Drina dances! I read fairly widely these days and have moved on from ballet and boarding schools!

If you want something funny and well written, I can recommend Charlie changes into a chicken by Sam Copeman. We all enjoyed that one!

PlumpHobbit · 27/04/2025 22:29

Lemonyyy · 23/04/2025 20:32

was anyone else here of an age to have avidly read goosebumps books one after the other as a child? That was definitely my book fair purchase of choice and my mum definitely would’ve refused to read them to me as well! 😂

Loved the Goosebumps books!

Half wanting to read through some of them again while on maternity but unfortunately they don't have them on kindle

Hillarious · 27/04/2025 22:52

Ah, DS loves them and gets the new book from Santa every year. He’s coming up for 25, and has usually finished reading it by lunchtime on Christmas Day. I never read it to him, so can’t comment in the content.

Lilyhatesjaz · 27/04/2025 23:32

We loved Jeremy Strong, I read them allowed to both DC and we all found them really funny.

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