What do you offer kids who have just surprised themselves as readers by finishing and enjoying Diary of a Wimpy Kid? Readers who are now standing in front of you asking eagerly for a book just like it? This is a crucial moment.

On the New York Times Children’s Best Sellers list for more than two years, Jeff Kinney’s megahit still causes groups of children to enthusiastically exclaim that it’s the “best book ever.” What is it that kids love about Greg Heffley and his escapades? Why are they overcome with laughter while simply trying to explain his humor?

First, the format and immediacy of the storytelling make children feel as though Greg Heffley is a real kid just like them and that they are reading his actual diary. Second, Kinney presents his antihero as a not-very-popular, unexceptional kid who’s always getting into trouble. The humor of these situations is immensely appealing, and Greg’s role as an unreliable narrator allows readers to believe that they’re a bit superior—they certainly wouldn’t fall for his stunts. Third, the child-friendly layout and the ratio of illustrations to text make the books accessible for kids whose reading skills are still shaky.

Perhaps the most significant aspect of Wimpy Kid is the relationship between the text and illustrations in telling the story and how, together, they constitute a somewhat different and relatively new notion of a book for middle-grade readers. While many of our libraries have plenty of wonderful books with humor and great storytelling, many of these titles contain too much novelistic detail to be appreciated those youngsters who have just discovered the joy of reading through Wimpy Kid. The following list of hybrids, all chosen with an eye on immediacy and realism, humor, and readability, should help fill that gap.

Pull Them in with Graphics

BARSHAW, Ruth McNally. Ellie McDoodle: New Kid in School. illus. by author. Bloomsbury. 2008. Tr $12.99. ISBN 978-1-599990-238-8. Gr 3-5–Introduced in Ellie McDoodle: Have Pen, Will Travel (Bloomsbury, 2007), Ellie documents her move to a new school in her journal. The sixth-grader struggles to find friends, until she discovers the perfect outlet for her energy: leading a campaign to improve school lunches. Each spread invites readers in with high-spirited cartoons and a font that looks handwritten.

BERRY, Julie Gardner. The Rat Brain Fiasco. illus. by Sally Faye Gardner. (Splurch Academy for Disruptive Boys Series). Grosset & Dunlap. 2010. pap. $6.99. ISBN 978-0-448-45359-0. Gr 3-6–When Cody is sent to a boarding school for troublesome boys, he discovers that the institution is run by monsters who plan to swap the “naughty” part of the boys’ brains for rat brains. A text-and-illustrations format combines with interspersed comic-strip pages to create a funny, accessible story.

COLLINS, Tim. Notes from a Totally Lame Vampire: Because the Undead Have Feelings Too! illus. by Andrew Pinder. S & S/Aladdin. 2010. Tr $12.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-1183-8. Gr 5-9–This funny takeoff on the “Twilight” series features Nigel, a 100-year-old vampire stuck in the body of an awkward 15-year-old with little talent for the usual vampire tasks. Cartoon drawings and an easy-to-read handwriting font on notebook paper ramp up the humor.

HOLM, Jennifer L. & Matthew Holm. Babymouse: Queen of the World! illus. by authors. Random. 2005. PLB $12.99. ISBN 978-0-37-593229-8; pap. $6.99. ISBN 978-0-37-583229-1. Gr 2-5–Give Babymouse, with her black-and-white-and-pink peppered palette, to anyone who thinks that comics are enjoyed primarily by boys. A plucky, resilient mouse (read middle-grade girl), Babymouse negotiates issues of friendship, popularity, and sense of self. The format and indeterminate age of our heroine makes for broad appeal with a wide range of readers.

HOLM, Jennifer L. Middle School Is Worse Than Meatloaf: A Year Told Through Stuff. illus. by Elicia Castaldi. S & S/Atheneum. 2007. Tr $12.99. ISBN 978-0-689-85281-7. Gr 5-8–A year in the life of spirited seventh-grader Ginny is chronicled through reports, instant messages, postcards, bank statements, fridge magnets, and other stuff presented in fresh color collages. Readers piece together the information to create the story as Ginny negotiates her mother’s remarriage, friendship troubles, a hair-coloring disaster, and school grades.

IGNATOW, Amy. The Popularity Papers: Research for the Social Improvement and General Betterment of Lydia Goldblatt and Julie Graham-Chang. illus. by author. Abrams/Amulet. 2010. Tr. $15.95. ISBN 978-0-8109-8421-9. Gr 4-6–As part of their own quest for popularity, two fifth graders share a notebook as they observe “the popular girls” at their school. Profuse colored-pencil illustrations and handwritten entries (print and script) highlight the girls different styles and lend immediacy to this entertaining and authentic look at friendship.

MCMULLAN, Kate. School!: Adventures at the Harvey N. Trouble Elementary School. illus. by George Booth. Feiwel & Friends. 2010. Tr $12.99. ISBN 978-0-312-37592-8. Gr 1-4–Beginning with driver Mr. Stuckinaditch getting the school bus stuck (in a ditch of course) and a late pass signed by Ms. Seeyalater, this story recounts a silly, pun-filled week at school for middle-grader Ron Faster. A simple typeface and cartoon-style line drawings interspersed with the text keep it accessible for younger readers.

MOSS, Marissa. Amelia’s Itchy-Twitchy, Lovey-Dovey Summer at Camp Mosquito. illus. by author. S & S/Paula Wiseman Bks. 2008. Tr $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4169-4722-6. Gr 4-7–In this episode in the perennially popular series, Amelia is about to enter eighth grade. Handwritten notebook entries and full-color drawings explore her experiences with friend Carly. Camp Runamucka turns out to be a lot more fun than Amelia anticipated, even though the girls wind up having a crush on the same boy.

PEIRCE, Lincoln. Big Nate: In a Class by Himself. illus. by author. HarperCollins. 2010. Tr $12.99. ISBN 978-0-06-194434-5; PLB $14.89. ISBN 978-0-06-194435-2. 978-0-06-194435-2 Gr 3-6–When sixth-grader Nate opens a fortune cookie that predicts he will surpass all others, he proceeds to ensure that he gets detention from every single teacher in his school, all in a single day. This funny story about an overconfident kid is packed full of illustrations, giving it the feel of an old-style comic strip. Audio version available from audible.com.

RUSSELL, Rachel Renée. Dork Diaries: Tales from a Not-So-Popular Party Girl. Bk. 2. illus. by author. S & S/Aladdin. 2010. Tr $12.99. ISBN 978-1-4169-8008-7. Gr 4-7–In this second entry in a female version of Wimpy Kid (though with more text), Nikki’s humorous diary details the ups and downs of middle-school girl friendships from the point of view of an outsider. Though somewhat flat in tone, it won’t disappoint fans of the illustrated notebook format.

SAND-EVELAND, Cyndi. Dear Toni. illus. by author. Tundra. 2008. Tr $12.95. ISBN 978-0-88776-876-7. Gr 4-6–Sixth-grader Gene keeps a journal for 100 days as a school assignment. Her entries show her life in a new school as her unemployed father finds a job and she makes friends. A sense of intimacy is augmented by Gene’s doodles and cartoons that illustrate the printed journal on notebook paper.

SCIESZKA, Jon & Francesco Sedita. Spaceheadz. Bk. 1. illus. by Shane Prigmore. (SPHDZ Series) S & S. 2010. Tr $14.99. ISBN 978-1-4169-7951-7. Gr 3-5–Although this humorous story is science fiction/fantasy, the setting and characters keep it grounded in reality. On his first day in a new school, fifth-grader Michael is befriended by two weird kids who turn out to be aliens. The text and numerous black-and-white drawings combine in an energetic layout, and accompanying websites add to the zaniness.

TELGEMEIER, Raina. Smile. illus. by author. Scholastic/Graphix. 2010. Tr $21.99. ISBN 978-0-545-13205-3; pap. $10.99. ISBN 978-0-545-13206-0. Gr 5 Up–A powerful graphic memoir with a light touch, this is the story of how sixth-grader Raina falls and loses her two front teeth. It follows her orthodontic odyssey through high school as she negotiates friendships, meanness, and boys. Full-color comic illustrations portray her journey with an emotionally honest rawness.

VERNON, Ursula. Dragonbreath: Curse of the Were-Wiener. Bk. 3. illus. by author. Dial. 2010. Tr $12.99. ISBN 978-0-8037-3469-2. Gr 2-5–The main characters may be a dragon and an iguana facing a biting were-hot-dog, but in essence, Danny and Wendell are kids dealing with nightmarish school lunches. The hybrid chapter book/graphic novel format, large print, and all-around silliness add up to a winning combination in this installment in the series.

YOUNG, Karen Romano. Doodlebug: A Novel in Doodles. illus. by author. Feiwel & Friends. 2010. Tr $14.99. ISBN 978-0-312-56156-7. Gr 4-6–Doodles and fancy lettering abound in Dodo’s journal, which the 12-year-old takes up as her family moves to San Francisco for a fresh start after Dodo is expelled from school for sharing her ADD medication. The child’s voice comes through clearly as she discovers her artistic talent and uses her creativity to get through the challenges of school.

Keep Them Reading with Text

ANGLEBERGER, Tom. The Strange Case of Origami Yoda. Abrams/Amulet. 2010. Tr $12.95. ISBN 978-0-8109-8425-7. Gr 4-6–A group of sixth graders keeps a journal and learns about friendships as they try to figure out if an origami finger puppet made by an oddball classmate really has the power to predict the future. Different typefaces reflect the varied voices, and numerous cartoon drawings on crumpled-paper backgrounds create a sense of verisimilitude. Audio version available from Recorded Books.

EMOND, Stephen. Happyface. illus. by author. Little, Brown. 2010. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-316-04100-3. Gr 7 Up–This journal of a teenage boy dealing with some hard realities, including his parents’ divorce, his brother’s death, and his own social difficulties, is written in a more serious vein but does have its humorous moments. A small handwriting font is complemented by Happyface’s artwork, which range from cartoons to emotionally resonant, realistic drawings.

GOSSELINK, John. The Defense of Thaddeus A. Ledbetter. Abrams/Amulet. 2010. Tr $14.95. ISBN 978-0-8109-8977-1. Gr 5-8–After organizing an unauthorized safety drill at his school, Thaddeus is put on a yearlong, in-school suspension. This is the record, in the form of his journal, school reports, letters, notes, and illustrations, of the seventh-grader’s defense against the charges. While Thaddeus is reminiscent of Greg Heffley, this title is textually more demanding.

GREENWALD, Tommy. Charlie Joe Jackson’s Guide to Not Reading. illus. by J.P. Coovert. Roaring Brook. 2011. Tr $14.99. ISBN 978-1-59643-691-6. Gr 4-7–As he negotiates middle school, Charlie will do anything to avoid reading, and he documents how he bribes a friend to read a book for him. A nice twist at the end makes for a satisfying conclusion. The chapters in this first-person narrative are separated by pages from Charlie’s notebook. (Illustrations not seen.)

KLISE, Kate. Letters from Camp. illus. by M. Sarah Klise. HarperCollins. 1999. Tr $15. ISBN 978-0-38-097539-6. Gr 4-7–Told entirely through letters, postcards, Post-its, illustrations, and the like, this is the story of three brother/sister pairs who discover that Camp Harmony is not at all what it seems. Silliness and mystery combine, and readers will have to turn detective to figure it all out.

LEWIS, Josh. Super Chicken Nugget Boy and the Furious Fry. illus. by Douglas Holgate. Hyperion/Disney. 2010. RTE $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4231-1491-8; pap. $4.99. ISBN 978-1-4231-1492-5. Gr 2-4–When Fern falls into a vat of radioactive green liquid, he transforms into a chicken-nugget superhero and takes on a giant mutant French fry. This silly scenario is more appealing than it sounds, and the cartoon illustrations add to the fun. First title in a series promising more food mayhem.

MAZER, Anne. The Amazing Days of Abby Hayes: All That Glitters Isn’t Gold. Scholastic. 2009. pap. $4.99. ISBN 978-0-43-982929-8. Gr 4-6–A combination of third-person narrative and musings from Abby’s diary, this entry in a popular series deals with the child’s longing for a “Me-Phone” and what happens when she finds one belonging to someone else. There are only occasional illustrations, but the handwriting font breaks up the text.

ROY, James. Max Quigley, Technically NOT a Bully. Houghton Harcourt. 2009. Tr $12.95. ISBN 978-0-54-715263-9. Gr 4-6–Sixth-grader Max sees himself as a nice kid, even as he bullies Triffin Nordstrom, aka Nerdstrom. His punishment is to be tutored by Triffin, and eventually Max comes to a new understanding of himself. Using the same “unreliable narrator” device as Wimpy Kid, this Australian import is illustrated with occasional cartoons from Max’s notebook.

SCIESZKA, Jon. Knucklehead: Tall Tales and Mostly True Stories About Growing Up Scieszka. Viking. 2008. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-670-01106-3; pap. $12.99. ISBN 978-0-670-01138-4. Gr 3-6–Laugh-out-loud stories from Scieszka’s childhood, illustrations with the feel of an old scrapbook, and a format that includes plenty of white space make for an autobiography that kids really want to read for fun. Audio version available from Brilliance Audio.

SILBERBERG, Alan. Milo: Sticky Notes and Brain Freeze. illus. by author. S & S/Aladdin. 2010. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-1-4169-9430-5. Gr 5-8–In a more serious tone but leavened with humor, this first-person narrative tells of seventh-grader Milo as he deals with the death of his mother and negotiates girls, schoolwork, and his family. The numerous cartoon illustrations and occasional comic strips add a light touch.

TASHJIAN, Janet. My Life as a Book. illus. by Jake Tashjian. Holt/Christy Ottaviano Bks. 2010. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-8050-8903-5. Gr 4-7–Derek, 12, hates to read but loves to draw, and his incisive and funny cartoons fill the margins of this first-person account of his struggle with a summer-reading assignment. He’s also attempting to solve a mystery involving his babysitter who drowned 10 years before. A generous layout and typeface keep the story accessible.

VAIL, Rachel. Justin Case: School, Drool, and Other Daily Disasters. illus. by Matthew Cordell. Feiwel & Friends. 2010. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-312-53290-1. Gr 2-4–Fewer illustrations and a more traditional look make this title more challenging, especially as Justin is only in the third grade. However, the pitch-perfect tone of his diary as he makes his way nervously through the school year, its humor, and the generous white space on each page will draw in younger readers.

VAN DRAANEN, Wendelin. Secret Identity. Bk. 1. illus. by Brian Biggs. (Shredderman Series). Knopf/Borzoi. 2004. Tr $12.95. ISBN 978-0-37-582351-0; PLB $14.99. ISBN 978-0-37-592351-7. Gr 2-6–Fifth-grader Nolan has the nickname “Nerd” but uses his secret online identity as the Shredderman to triumph over the school bully. Large print, plenty of white space, and cartoon illustrations, along with the age of the protagonist, ensure that this first book in a series will appeal to a wide range of ages. Audio version available from Live Oak Media.

WIGHT, Eric. Frankie Pickle and the Closet of Doom. illus. by author. S & S. 2009. Tr $12.99. ISBN 978-1-4169-6484-1. Gr 2-4–When his mother gives up on trying to make Frankie clean up his disastrously messy room, the fourth-grader is happy to let things pile up, until his powerful imagination makes it clear that he needs to address the problem. The realistic portions of the story are told in text with pen illustrations, and the fantasy sequences are in comic-strip format.

WILLIAMS, Vera B. Scooter. illus. by author. Greenwillow. 1993. pap. $16.99. ISBN 978-0-06-440968-1. Gr 2-4–An innovator in the field of graphic elements in chapter books, Williams tells the story of Elana Rose Rosen, a young girl growing up in the Bronx who deals with everyday life with an irrepressible energy and spirit. The acrostics that begin each chapter and the black-and-white sketches around the margins add to the appeal.

WILSON, Jacqueline. Double Act. illus. by Nick Sharratt & Sue Heap. Dela corte. 1998. Tr $14.95. ISBN 978-0-38-532312-3. Gr 3-6–Ten-year-old identical twins Ruby and Garnet do everything together but discover that this isn’t necessarily the best thing as they deal with their widower father’s remarriage and their own underlying rivalry. The entertaining journal kept by the girls, with numerous black-and-white cartoon drawings and distinguishing typefaces, reads like a conversation.