Check It Out:

Diaries and journals can be the place that holds their author’s greatest secrets and inner most thoughts. They can also be too tempting to resist sneaking a peek. From picture books for toddlers to chapter books for school-age children, many children’s books have tapped into this unique format and explore worlds via a diary entry. Here are just a few of the “diary” books found at your Newport Beach Public Library.

“Diary of a Worm” by Doreen Cronin: A young worm discovers day by day that there are some very good and some not so good things about being a worm in this great big world. This delightful tale is the beginning of a humorous series including the titles “Diary of a Spider” and “Diary of a Fly.”

“Diary of a Wombat” by Jackie French: In his diary, a wombat describes his life of eating, sleeping, and getting to know some new human neighbors. This book is a fun way to introduce the youngest of children to unique wildlife, especially this lovable wombat.

“Jahanara: Princess of Princesses” by Kathryn Lasky: Beginning in 1627, Princess Jahanara, first daughter of Shah Jahan of India’s Mogul Dynasty, writes in her diary about political intrigues, weddings, battles and other experiences of her life. This historical fiction includes historical notes on Jahanara’s later life and on the Mogul Empire. It’s just one of many in the popular Royal Diary series that encompass cultures from all over the globe.

“Strider” by Beverly Cleary: This is a classic in children’s literature that deals with tough but realistic life topics. In a series of diary entries, Leigh tells how he comes to terms with his parents’ divorce, acquires joint custody of an abandoned dog, and joins the track team at school.

“Let’s Pretend This Never Happened: by Jamie Kelly” by Jim Benton: In her diary, middle school student Jamie Kelly describes her life at home and at school, including her attempts to triumph over her nemesis, the beautiful and popular Angeline. This is the first title in a well-loved series, “Dear Dumb Diary” and is a humorous take on middle school life.

“I’m Too Fond of My Fur” by Geronimo Stilton: Geronimo follows clues in a diary all the way to Mouse Everest in search of his old friend Professor von Volt who has mysteriously disappeared. The unique inclusion of colorful additions to this chapter book series is one of the reasons it is growing in popularity.

“Diary of a Wimpy Kid 4: Dog Days” by Jeff Kinney: In the latest diary of middle-schooler Greg Heffley, he records his attempts to spend his summer vacation sensibly indoors playing video games and watching television, despite his mother’s other ideas. This book is not yet released but will be hitting our shelves in a few weeks. Come into your closet Newport Beach Public Library location or check out our website to place a hold on this in-demand book.

Make sure to join us for our special program, Diary of a Wimpy Kid from 4 to 5 p.m. Oct. 21 at the Central Library. Children will enjoy crafts and games based on the popular series by Jeff Kinney in celebration of the latest book. This program is a free and fun event for children in third through sixth grades that just requires registration via www.newportkids.org.

CHECK IT OUT is written by the staff of the Newport Beach Public Library. All titles may be reserved from home or office computers by accessing the catalog at www.newportbeachlibrary.org. For more information on the Central Library or any of the branches, please contact the Newport Beach Public Library at (949) 717-3800, option 2.