Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days

Kinney, J. (2009). Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days. Amulet Books.

Plot: Greg Heffley wants only to stay inside, play video games and sleep in late. His mother has better ideas. She wants him to read, go outside, check out the community pool. Jeff doesn't like to read, he'd much rather stay inside in the air conditioning and he is scarred by the images of hairy men in the showers of the community pool locker rooms! Follow Greg's summer days as he gets into trouble, fights with his best friend Rowley and tries to spend "quality" father-son time with his dad.

Genre: Humor

Suggested reading level: Grades 4-7

Subjects/themes: family, summer, vacation, friendships, humor

Other Books in this Series:

• Diary of a Wimpy Kid
• Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules
• Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw
• Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Ugly Truth

Annotation: What do you like to do on your summer vacation? Greg Heffley likes to stay in and play video games, but his mom wants him to go outside and hang out with his friends. The thing is, when Greg gets out of the house is when he starts to get in trouble. Find out what happens in the fourth book of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series!

The Witches

Dahl, R. (1999). The Witches. Turtleback Books. Illustrated by Quentin Blake.

Plot: A young boy who has recently lost his parents is living in England with his Norwegian grandmother. She is an expert on witches, and teaches him how to look out for them. On a vacation at a hotel they find themselves among hundreds of witches, for they are having their annual convention at the same hotel! The young boy finds himself locked in the same room with these witches, they turn him into a mouse and he must get to his grandmother because the witches are plotting to turn all the children in England into mice!

Genre: Humor, Fantasy

Subjects/themes: witches, death, magic, family

Suggested reading level: Grades 4-6

Other Books by Roald Dahl:

• Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
• The BFG
• Matilda
• Fantastic Mr. Fox

Annotation: Do you know how to spot a witch? They aren't easily recognizable. They could be any woman, your next door neighbor, the woman walking across the street, your teacher even. There are witches everywhere, and if you want to be prepared (and I think you should be) then you will want to read this book!