Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days

It's Dog Days as in the dog days of summer (the timing of this book's release could have been better) and Greg Heffley is looking forward to some quality indoor time, but unfortunately, his Mom's idea of the perfect summer vacation does not include horror movies, video games and TV. In Dog Days, Greg woefully recounts his misadventures at Rowley's country club, the public pool, his summer job, and the cabin at the beach. Rodrick, Manny, Gramma, Mom, Dad, the Jeffersons, and Fregley, all make appearances in this latest installment of the Wimpy Kid series. However, the true stars of Dog Days are Greg and his Dad, who learn that father-son bonding may not be the same in every family. Sometimes hating the same comic strip is all that you show more need.

Dog Days may not have as many "laugh out loud" moments as earlier installments, (Rodrick Rules is still my favorite) but it remains comic genius, hilarious sketches seamlessly integrated into the story, often acting as the "punchline" in place of words.

Usually, I can relate to Mrs. Heffley. In Dog Days, I completely empathize with Greg. As a child, I also dreaded the trip to the "public pool," although my experiences (thankfully) were not the same as Greg's,

"I didn't want Manny to have to walk through the shower area and see the things I've seen. So I got a towel out of my bag and was gonna put it over Manny's eyes when we walked past the shower guys. But in the two seconds it took me to get my towel, Manny was gone. And you'll never believe where he went."

(You'll have to imagine the sketch of the diminutive Manny, whistling and washing in the men's shower, surrounded by hairy knees and ankles!)

"I knew I had to rescue Manny, so I closed my eyes as tight as I could and went in to save him... When we got to the other side, Manny seemed fine, but I don't think I'll ever totally recover from that experience."

And although I never watched a movie with "the muddy hand," I do remember one with a charred, black hand, and can completely relate with Greg's feelings in this passage,

"My new fear is that the hand is gonna crawl up on my bed and get me in my sleep. So lately I've been covering my whole body with the blanket and leaving a hole so I can breathe. But that strategy his its OWN risks. Rodrick got into my room today, and I had to spend the morning trying to wash the taste of a dirty sock out of my mouth."

And finally, I have to agree with Greg on this one,

"There's this comic about a dog called "Precious Poochie," and it's been running for about fifty years. The guy who wrote it died a long time ago, but they're still recycling his old comics. I don't know if they're funny or not because, to be honest with you, most of them don't even make sense to a person my age."

Well, Jeff Kinney DOES make sense to a person of Greg Heffley's age! In fact, based on the phenomenal interest in his books, he makes sense to kids of all ages - from 9 to 99.
Check out The Diary of a Wimpy Kid website for the Dog Days Event Kit. show less

So when I started this series I wasn't too super thrillingly excited about it. I heard it was good and funny and that lots of people loved it. After the first book I was, honestly, a bit dubious. I didn't feel like I really enjoyed it and I felt it was.....ok, fine, I thought it was over rated. But now, after reading on and continuing the series, I have to say that it has grown on me. I'm enjoying it. It has its own style and merit to it that easily allows me to see why it has been so successful these last few years. Yes, I even have looked to see what the next books are and if any more books are being published.

Dog Days is the fourth installment in the series, as narrated by Greg Heffley. Greg is a kid, just trying to survive his show more everyday life. It's not life threatening experiences that he faces. It's just being a kid and the typical kid problems that we have while growing up. He's your typical kid. He's lazy, he doesn't like to read, he loves watching tv and playing video games, he has a little brother he's not really crazy about and an older brother who treats him like dirt, and parents that just don't understand. He has falling outs with his best friend.

These books don't really revolve around one major plot point. Its more of the type of book that takes a certain amount of time and tells all that happens within it. The time period for this book is....SUMMER! How perfect. As I have started this book series in the summer, I find that it is only fitting to read this book before it ends. Greg is on summer vacation. Every kid loves vacation! No school, no worries. The only question that needs answering is: how to spend it? Greg spends his getting into all sorts of zany antics. From creating a lawn mowing business to a dog to failed family activities, there are laughs waiting in store for every reader. Lifeguards and pools.....hair salons and tabloids....the list goes on and on.

Dog Days picks up right where The Last Straw ended. I'm really excited to begin book 5. I want more laughs and yes, I want more of Greg and Rowley. Silly boys! This series is way better now than when it first started. I've grown to really enjoy it and I will keep reading each book that comes out. show less

Greg would love nothing better than to spend his summer inside the house. Especially since his parents have decided they can't afford to go to the beach this summer. Greg's mother on the other hand wants him outside. She comes up with all kinds of activities. She tries a book club and Greg ends up being the only one in it. He keeps getting in trouble with the parents of his best friend Rowley. It seems like the more Greg tries to have fun his way the more trouble finds him. Once again Jeff Kinney has created a book that the kids love. I actually had to purchase two copies so that I could read one of them. I had a deadline though since I have three other student names on the list to read it next. I definitely recommend the Diary of a show more Wimpy Kid Series to my students. The funny thing is I probably would not have picked it out. My dyslexic husband was with me at a book store when he saw it and told me if they'd had books like that when he was young and struggling he probably would have read more. I am so glad he was there to recommend it. I can't keep them on my shelves. show less

Growing up, one of my favorite series was the “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” books. Specifically, my ultimate favorite is the “Dog Days” one. This children’s chapter book focuses on exploring a new look at the character, Greg Heffley's, summer vacation and new responsibilities as he gets older. The central theme I found throughout this story is Greg wants to spend his summer inside playing video games whereas his mother wants him to get outside for family bonding. In the story, Greg’s family also adopts a new dog which is an additional responsibility Greg was not used to having. I can relate to Greg’s situation because when I used to be a young teen, I also struggled finding the energy to go outside and want to bond with others show more when I had electronics in front of me. I believe the author is trying to persuade young readers with this comedy fiction book to set down the electronics and realize there are many other ways you can occupy your summer vacation. In this chapter book, I find it very interesting how the author uses stick-like figures for the illustrations. On each page, there is a very simple but effective picture that is drawn on what looks like notebook paper to give it a middle school note-book effect. show less

Having loaned out all the previous books in this series to various members of my daughter's class (and the class above), this book arrived this week. I sneakily read it quickly before my daughter got hold of it - which was a good thing too because she raced through it in about 24 hours and took it to school today to lend out!

Once again Greg writes a hilarious journal of his life. Understated text set off by hilarious cartoons that had me laughing out loud as I read it. Few books get me actually laughing out loud, but that has been an experience for every one of this series (if you find this book first, the series begins with the red cover "Diary of a Wimpy Kid". Its useful to start at the beginning as some of the jokes refer back to show more events in previous books).

Greg is on summer break in this book, and the story of that break makes a wonderful self contained book that has a funny and very appropriate ending.

I highly recommend this book - and as its an easy read its a good series for less confident readers, but don't keep it from the good readers too! Its too funny not to share. Parents of my friends tell me they are having the funny bits read out to them over and over again! So this is perfect for ages about 8 and upwards (no upper age limits in my opinion!) show less

"I've been lazy ever since I was a little kid, and if someone had caught it early on, maybe I wouldn't be the way I am now."
-Jeff Kinney in Dog Days.

Finally finished the fourth Diary Of A Wimpy Kid, Dog Days, in my quest to read all the books as an adult since I wasn't able to read them as a kid. Dog Days followed the Heffley's budget summer vacation and ultimately wasn't nearly as annoying as the other installments. Greg Heffley is still a menace of a child but most of his misdeeds were committed in thoughts rather than actions this time around. I thought Dog Days was charming and a pretty realistic portrayal of a budget summer.

Greg Heffley is still majorly annoying and still completely unaware of it. There's also tons of advice I show more would not want passed down to a child. show less

Diary of a Wimpy Kid Dog Days is the journaling’s of a young boy as he tells of his summer vacation. He is lazy and disrespectful. He lies to his parents and talks his friend into lying to his parents as well. He doesn’t take responsibility for himself and expects everything to be given to him. He wants to stay inside and watch television and play video games all summer but his mother wants him to read classic books, spend time with his Dad and friends and play outside. The only fun he finds outside is going to the town pool with his Mom and brother and hanging around the High School female lifeguard.

I found nothing redeeming in this book. It takes all the bad traits of a person and glorifies it for the sake of humor? I didn’t show more find it humorous or positive in any way. My son loves this series. He was stunned when he was allowed to have it. I believe it opens the door for meaningful conversation. We don’t have to agree on what we like, but as long as we can talk about what we are reading, I think it is good.

I would never encourage students to read this book series, however, since they do we would use it for a lesson on integrity. First, we would define the word. Then, we would look for examples of how Gary didn’t show integrity in his choices. Finally, the students would each take a part of the story where Gary didn’t show integrity and rewrite it with pictures. We would display our projects on the wall for encouragement in good choices. show less