We hear that DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: RODRICK RULES, the second volume of Jeff Kinney’s Wimpy Kid series, will debut at #1 on this Sunday’s NY Times Bestseller list. Wimpy Kid book 1 holds steady at the number two spot. With Hugo Cabret at #3, picture books definitely rule.
The Diary of a Wimpy Kid phenomenon is one that hasn’t been overanalyzed by the comics blogosphere — the books are very text heavy and are more truly called comics/text hybrids than straight out comics. However, the series has long been labeled a webcomic, and its sales success does prove you can give something away on the internet for free for a long time and still sell loads and loads of books — as long as someone wants to read it in the first place!
“…its sales success does prove you can give something away on the internet for free for a long time and still sell loads and loads of books — as long as someone wants to read it in the first place!”
Exactly. People read strips like PEANUTS and POGO for “free” in their daily paper for decades, and their paperback collections still sold by the hundreds of thousands.
People still like holding (and owning) a book of their favorite comic.
The Invention Of Hugo Cabret uses pictures to set the locale, show facial reactions, and reproduce historical photographs and sketches. The format is a bit clumsy, as the pictures fill a double-page spread, and the text is formatted accordingly. The book is a quick read, finished in less than two hours, and contains some interesting historical information. I highly recommend the website!
Jeff Kinney kindly agreed to appear on a panel I’m moderating for PLA (the Public Library Association) in March in Minneapolis: “Not Just for Young Adults: Graphic Novels for Kids”. There is still a widespread perception that while there are hundreds of graphic novels and comics out there for teens, you can’t fill a bookshelf with quality graphic novels for kids. This really isn’t true — I’m preparing a handout of “core titles” for the panel, and I easily listed more than 60 books *and* series (if the series were counted as individual titles, the list would be much longer).
However, this is just the tip of the iceberg. There is SO MUCH potential for expanding the universe of children’s comics. I want more mysteries! More adventure stories! More cool nonfiction! And MORE HUMOR like Diary of a Wimpy Kid!!! One thing that I hope Jeff’s book does, is encourage publishers to experiment with the comics format for kids. If it is done well, it will sell. And sell. And sell.
The first collection was great! I read some of them online but the having them in book format really enriched the experience. Especially because the book was so nicely printed! I’m looking forward to volume 2.
this book is going to rock your socks boi!!!!
I thought the book was great! I read it in two days, as I did the last book. My favorite part book was – Nay, the book was great all the way through the whole time. I felt bad for Greg, You know the whole summer thing. I can’t believe that Manny was RATTING OUT his own famly! Man I wish “Magyk and Monsters” was a real game because it sounds sooooo cool! (I guess that tells you how much of a nerd I am!) I am elven years old, and I am in the fifth grade. YOU ROCK OUT LOUD JEFF KINNEY!!!
I thought the book was great! I read it in two days, as I did the last book. My favorite part book was – Nay, the book was great all the way through the whole time. I felt bad for Greg, You know the whole summer thing. I can’t believe that Manny was RATTING OUT his own famly! Man I wish “Magyk and Monsters” was a real game because it sounds sooooo cool! (I guess that tells you how much of a nerd I am!) I am elven years old, and I am in the fifth grade. YOU ROCK OUT LOUD JEFF KINNEY!!!
I thought the book was great! I read it in two days, as I did the last book. My favorite part book was – Nay, the book was great all the way through the whole time. I felt bad for Greg, You know the whole summer thing. I can’t believe that Manny was RATTING OUT his own famly! Man I wish “Magyk and Monsters” was a real game because it sounds sooooo cool! (I guess that tells you how much of a nerd I am!) I am elven years old, and I am in the fifth grade. YOU ROCK OUT LOUD JEFF KINNEY!!!
I thought the book was great! I read it in two days, as I did the last book. My favorite part book was – Nay, the book was great all the way through the whole time. I felt bad for Greg, You know the whole summer thing. I can’t believe that Manny was RATTING OUT his own famly! Man I wish “Magyk and Monsters” was a real game because it sounds sooooo cool! (I guess that tells you how much of a nerd I am!) I am elven years old, and I am in the fifth grade. YOU ROCK OUT LOUD JEFF KINNEY!!!
i think that this book could have been better, but overal it was pretty great… hope you can all read it
ye i eat pie and so does this book.. does anybody actualy read this stuff?
you guys are big nerds
where can you read it at onoine
where can you read it at onoine
I persanaly love da book cuz it has wounderful charicter
and sounds like a great book.
I persanaly love da book cuz it has wounderful charicter
and sounds like a great book.
I persanaly love da book cuz it has wounderful charicter
and sounds like a great book.
I persanaly love da book cuz it has wounderful charicter
and sounds like a great book.
AWSOME DUDE
did anyone read the last straw or is it not out yet.