Dog Days

Starred review from October 12, 2009
Is there a better remedy for the back-to-school doldrums than getting to see how Greg Heffley spent his summer vacation? If nothing else, the comedy of errors and indignities he suffers will make readers feel a whole lot better about any family vacation disasters of their own. In the fourth book in Kinney's bestselling Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, Greg has a falling-out with his friend Rowley over a failed lawn-care business, puts up with his parents' attempts to get him out of the house (Mom organizes a book club for boys—who pick out titles like “Sudoku Insanity” and “Ultimate Video Game Cheats”) and tries to shake off the twin horrors of the murderous “muddy hand” from a horror film he watches and the terrifying sights in the men's locker room at the pool. Kinney's gift for telling, pitch-perfect details in both his writing and art remains (such as the cursive script and cutesy content of Mom's photo album captions). No reason to think kids won't devour this book as voraciously as its predecessors. Ages 8–12.

August 1, 2010

Gr 4-8-The wheeling and dealing of Greg Heffley's everyday life continues in the fourth book (Amulet Books, 2009) in Jeff Kinney's series. Unlike the previous stories, which take place during the school year, this one occurs during Greg's summer vacation. His summer plans include remaining indoors and playing video games, and not much else. But his mother has other plans for him, and so begins Greg's summer. His vacation is filled with one trial after another-running up an $83 dollar tab for smoothies at the country club where the father of his friend is a member (he thought the drinks were free), having to work to pay off his debt, starting a business which promptly fails, being frightened after watching a horror movie, bemoaning the fact that his mother starts a book club for boys, and that is just the beginning. Listeners will not have the opportunity to visually enjoy Greg's "handwritten" diary entries accompanied by his cartoon pictures, but they are certain to be entertained by Ramon de Ocampo's wonderful reading that skillfully captures Greg's self-centered, somewhat whining yet humorous angst.-Mary Oluonye, Shaker Heights Public Library, OH

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