I was obsessed with the Series of Unfortunate Events books around that age. They can be kinda dark as far as kids media goes, but I don't remember them having any of the weirdness you described with the Wimpy Kid books.
this post was submitted on 09 Jun 2026
49 points (100.0% liked)
Parenting
3395 readers
11 users here now
A place to talk about parenting.
Be respectful of others' parenting decisions.
founded 3 years ago
MODERATORS
Ah good suggestion, I'll put them on my list.
I think it's with the Wimpy kid series, it's supposed to be the joke that the main character is oblivious to all the horrible things he's doing, but he just comes across as a sociopath. And I don't like that it makes fun of kids for being different, rather than the more common theme these days of our differences are our strengths.
Haven't read them since I was a kid so not sure how they've aged but I really liked Encyclopedia Brown.
Thanks, I've put it on my list!
In a similar style are:
Captain Underpants
Dogman
Ook and Gluk
Some fart joke level stuff, but generally wholesome.
Screen them first, checking out a library copy.
Also, the Sid the Science Kid series is very wholesome. They have a bunch of books released too
Thanks for the suggestion! This kid did love Dogman, and fart jokes, so we'll check out the others. Thanks for the suggestions!
Captain Underpants is pretty great. You don't really need to read them in order, but you should. The plotline gets unbelievably complicated.
Captain underpants and seeing them at scholastic book fairs are such deeply nostalgic parts of my childhood
I remember them generally sucking a lot less than diary of a wimpy kid in terms of what they model for children
The 13-Storey Treehouse series.
Oh I think we've read a couple in the past, I'll add it to my list to go back to. Thanks!
Another vote for "Captain Underpants". It's immature and strange and great.
I know it's not related in tone at all, but I loved the Redwall series as a kid.
Thanks for the suggestion, I've added it to the list!
The Notebook of Doom - good series, there is a short spin-off, but I don't remember the name. A little spooky at the start, but should be ok for 9yr old
The Alien Next Door - okay story. Not a long series, but fun enough
Magic Treehouse - pretty sure you know this one, but I haven't seen anyone mention it on this post
Thanks for the suggestions, I've put them on the list!
Another vote for the magic tree house from our kids
Have you ever run across Beverly Cleary?
The whole Henry and Ribsy run, as well as the Ramona and Beezus stuff is definitely old. So it has an archaic feel to it. Hell, it has that feel back when I read it all the first time as a kid forty odd years ago.
But it hits well. I've read it to various kids over the years to good effect because it's simple, easy to follow, and easy enough to relate to for most kids. It won't hit for every kid, but it's where I tend to start once they're past Seuss.
Edit: the Wikipedia page https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beverly_Cleary
It reminded me of the Ralph S Mouse stuff too.
I haven't, thanks for the suggestion!
Are they still in print? Searching up local book stores here I can't seem to find them.
Dagwood already hooked up a link, but yeah, they're still in print. Not necessarily in stock at a physical store nowadays, but they're classics
https://bookshop.org/beta-search?keywords=beverly+cleery
Enjoy.
https://bookshop.org/beta-search?keywords=danny+dunn
I liked these when I was a lad. Danny is smart but impulsive. His widowed mom is housekeeper to an eccentric scientist. Danny manages to get himself into, and out of, trouble with the help of his friends..
Thanks, it seems bookshop.org only covers the US and Canada, but I'll have a look around to try to find them.
Anything but Amazon!
Haha I wouldn't stoop that low for a book, if I have to I'll download it to the kobo.
To paraphrase Stan Lee
Books are like lovers.
I'd rather hold one in my hands than see it on a screen.
But that's me!
Haha well that's the first option if I can find it!
Personally I am more likely to read on a screen, and that screen will be my phone, but that's because I tend to read most away from home and don't want to carry a book around with me. But for the kids, a physical book is better. Even if I'm reading to them I'd rather read from a book than the kobo or my phone.
I'd love to chat more, but I gotta catch my bus.
Last message. Look up mystery writer Ross Thomas.
The Fools in Town Are On Our Side
The Porkchoppers
Enjouy
Thanks, have added to the list!
Hi Dave
Our 9 y/o girl is really into Wings of fire at the moment - nothing like Wimpy Kid sorry.
You 11 y/o (another girl) has developed an interest in Asian tween graphic novels, moving on from wimpy kid, but I see that she still has one on loan atm.
Sorry that I cant offer something better
I didn't realise our kids were so close in age
Thanks for the suggestion! I have seen Wings of fire in the book club, I might order one or two and give it a go. It sounds more like the kind of book one of my other kids reads but we can try it out and see.
Seconding wings of fire. My son has both the graphic novels and the chapter books. Favors the graphic novels, but it seems to be a fantastic series.
My son used to Read Wimpy kid too. Idk if its any better, but he also loves a series called Big Nate. It seems similar to wimpy kid, but Im not gonna lie, I didnt read it myself at all. He reads this everyday (when hes home) during his lunch. Its his lunch book lol
It looks like it gets read every day! Thanks for the suggestion, I've put it on the list.
Aliens Ate my Homework
Sideways Stories from Wayside School
I loved both of these when I was that age.
Thanks for the suggestions!
My son (9) recently started reading "worst week ever" which is said to be similar. It relies a lot on poop jokes, so there's that, but hey, he's literally rolling on the floor laughing. What I've read so far also seemed like the story was kind of fine. Main character runs from one embarrassing situation into the next, but so far nobody in the story, especially not the main character, seems to be a genuinely bad person, which I like a lot.
This kid does love poop jokes so that does sound like a good replacement! I also see there are a bunch on Libby so I'll jump on that.
Thanks for the suggestion!
My now 10yo loved all the Enid Blyton books a few years ago, especially the famous 5.
Thanks, I've added it to the list!
There are a lot of good suggestions here already, my kid never got into wimpy kid, but is a bookworm, about to turn 10. Some books we've liked; (with Mild summaries written at 6am)
Minecraft woodsword books is about a group of kids that go in and out of a VR Minecraft game
Harry Potter (you can dislike the author and still like the story)
Percy Jackson is about a present day Greek demigod, growing up.
Hotel flamingo is about animals working at a hotel
Dragons of wrenly
Puppy place.
Storm dragons.
Silver arrow (train story)
Harry Potter (you can dislike the author and still like the story)
You mean the story where the black girl gets relentlessly mocked for trying to abolish elf slavery?
My kid is rooting for the elfs to be freed, so the right lesson is being learned, even if the wrong one might be portrayed.
Big take for me is that they are reading like mad and excited about it.
Wow thanks for the list! As you can imagine I'm building up quite a list, but I've added these too!
Not a parent, but hear really good things about Bluey. Other decent shows for that age range would be Daniel Tiger or even the original Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood.
Those shows are typically for younger kids , so if looking for something that will appeal to a pre-teen, Reading Rainbow is a classic that can get kids into actually reading books, along with Between the Lions (though that one might be for slightly younger than preteen).
I would also say that the early seasons of Cyberchase are great for math and science concepts and Arthur is a great show all around and has tons of episodes.
Most of these are older shows, but they should be readily available on Internet Archive or YouTube and try to be low stimulation with good role models rather than high stimulation with bad role models.
She meant series, as in books, I think - She is talking about books and wants similar book, The protagonist of the book she is talking about is straight up a sociopath lol.
That makes more sense, especially since there are some Diary of a Wimpy Kid movies but no TV show. Thanks 😅
Sorry I have edited my post to say it's a book series. I'm not sure if there is a TV series but I'm referring to the books.
But we have watched plenty of Bluey and Daniel Tiger.
Despite me looking for book suggestions, I'll note down your suggestions anyway!
I'm not gay, Greg
Gonna second the Captain Underpants recommendation. And when I was that age, I really liked Deltora Quest. It's more of an epic fantasy adventure for kids than jokes, though.
Thanks, I've added it to the list 🙂