Greg Heffley’s cheerful best friend Rowley Jefferson takes the reins in Diary of an Awesome Friendly Kid, the newest hilarious read in the Wimpy Kid world. Rowley is inspired to write about his life in a journal, but is ultimately pressured into making it a biography about Greg instead. He documents all of their hijinks from his perspective, and along the way, readers learn more about kind, well-intentioned Rowley himself.
Here are three major reasons both you and your child will love this book — just as much as the original series!
1. Kindness is Rowley’s superpower. Rowley is kind, naïve, and an all-around good kid — the perfect foil to the scheming prankster Greg. Throughout the books, your child will get a realistic portrayal of a middle school friendship, from pranks gone awry to peer pressure at every turn.
For instance, in one scene from the book, Rowley and Greg are brainstorming ideas for superheroes. Rowley’s superhero, Amazing Guy, has a novel superpower: the power of kindness. Greg tells him a superhero “should be edgy,” and that Amazing Guy should have “knives coming out of his knuckles,” but Rowley insists he wants Amazing Guy to be a role model for kids.
Rowley occasionally gives in to Greg’s goading and pranks, but overall, he isn’t afraid to be a goody two-shoes or a teacher’s pet — and he’s always kind to Greg, despite his teasing. Diary of an Awesome Friendly Kid is a great way to spark important conversations with your child about peer pressure and staying true to yourself, no matter what your friends say or do.
2. Rowley’s journal is just as funny as Greg’s! Though Greg may be the more mischievous friend, there’s no shortage of humor in Rowley’s journal. From an unfortunate run-in with a hornet’s nest to an egg-cident that gets the pair kicked out of the library, Diary of an Awesome Friendly Kid is packed with side-splitters that will make your kid howl with laughter.
Humor is an easy way to entice kids who may find reading onerous: The Scholastic Kids & Family Reading Report found that 52 percent of kids ages 6 to 17 want books that make them laugh above anything else. When your child has goofy books to read just for fun, it makes reading an enjoyable activity instead of a chore.
3. Seeing Greg through Rowley’s eyes may take your kid by surprise. Encouraging kids to consider different characters’ perspectives can enhance reading comprehension skills, and can help them gain a greater understanding of the world. Diary of an Awesome Friendly Kid helps children think about how others may see Greg’s actions — what seems harmless to Greg, for example, may be upsetting to Rowley. This reading skill is usually emphasized beginning in 4th grade and onward, and digging into Rowley’s journal is an easy way for your child to practice it.
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