set the bar high with his beloved series, but that’s not to say there aren’t audiobooks out there just as hilarious, adventurous, and out-right fun as Greg Heffley’s shenanigans.
From brazen heroines to nerdy heroes, there are plenty more kids to root for as they navigate school, life, and the world.
Here are 11 of the best audiobooks to try for fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid.
Dork Diaries
by Rachel Renée Russell
Much like Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Dork Diaries invites you into the mind of a middle schooler—and all the angst and drama and hilarity that entails. This time, it’s Nikki, a total dork and fairly standard pre-teen. She gains a scholarship to a new school, but instead of being excited, she’s mostly just worried about the mean girls that await her there. Hilarious and fun, uplifting and totally dorky, this series by Rachel Renée Russell has 20 titles to enjoy and even has its own spin-off series, . The first few titles are narrated by Lana Quintal, a talented artist known for her work on the Junie B. Jones series, while the later releases feature Jenni Barber, who brings Nikki to life with a youthful enthusiasm and emphatic tone.
The Princess in Black
by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale
Princesses are usually the type to wear frills, pearls, and lots and lots of pink. Not Princess Magnolia though—her colour of choice is black. Which she happens to wear a lot of, especially while taking down monsters and generally saving the kingdom. And to top it all off, Princess Magnolia has to keep her black-clad superhero alter ego a secret. This series beautifully combines middle-grade listening with a superhero twist, making it perfect for the young listener who likes their heroines with a bit of spunk. Inspired by their daughter who claimed that girls never wear black, husband-and-wife duo Shannon and Dean Hale have created an endlessly fun and adventurous series, all masterfully narrated by actress Julia Whelan.
Judy Moody
by Megan McDonald
Like any third-grader, Judy Moody just wants to have fun. And to predict the future. And be famous. And save the environment. And a few other things besides. It’s fair to say Judy has a few different moods, but that just makes her more fun to listen to. This series offers 18 amazing titles, many of which draw from author Megan McDonald’s real-life experiences. The characters are so real and enjoyable that one of them—Judy’s little ‘bother’ —even has his own spin-off series. Audie Award-winning narrator Barbara Rosenblat lends her voice to the earlier titles, while Amy Rubinate brings her own award-winning experience to the later releases.
Ramona Quimby
by Beverly Cleary
Before there was Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Greg Heffley, there was Ramona Quimby. Mischievous and unruly, Ramona was introduced to the world as a side character in the , where her star power shone through so much that she landed a series of her own. She’s outgoing and always getting into trouble. What’s more, her stories include a number of real-world struggles, such as family issues, the loss of a pet, and other genuine upsets, making this a great choice for kids facing similar challenges of their own. Known to more mature audiences as the face of Betty Rizzo in , narrator Stockard Channing is perfectly suited to the outspoken character of Ramona Quimby.
