Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever

Stuck with your family all winter break...

Okay, it is completely official that I am in love with Jeff Kinney's work and absolutely love the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. As I said back when I read the first in the series, every reader no matter how old (or young) can relate to Greg Heffley's ridiculous antics. We've all been there, we've all seen it, done it but never has anyone written it down in such a hilarious manner. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever, did not disappoint at all, and I laughed the whole way through. Cabin Fever is set in the winter months and Greg has a few issues to deal with. For starters, Christmas is coming and Greg has a bad feeling that the only time Santa checks up on him are the "few" times he isn't on his best behavior. On top of trying to please Santa, Greg is trying to keep his Kritterz pet happy, but he's run out of tokens and has to find a way to make money and buy more tokens, and to make matters worse, his mom says he needs to use his own money to buy Christmas presents this year! Greg needs to earn money, fast! Greg's determination to earn money earns Greg the spot as prime suspect when school property is vandalized. Just when Greg thinks his life is over, a blizzard hits and strands his family indoors. Now Greg has to sit and wonder what punishment awaits him when the snow is cleared. Do yourself a favor and enjoy "Christmas in July" and read Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever!

Reading Level: AR: 5.8

Teachers: Here are some resources to help you use this book in your class...

Web Resources:

• Event Kit: In this event kit/launch party, Jeff Kinney came up with some great Wimpy Kid games and activities that relate the Cabin Fever. Use these games to launch this book in your class, or think about throwing a Wimpy Kid party as a classroom reward.
• Interview: Here you will find a TIME for Kids article that consists of an interview of Jeff Kinney regarding his newest Wimpy Kid book, Cabin Fever.

Vocabulary: Here are some words I picked out... leverage, legitimate, confiscated, revenge, decoy, anguish, duped, hyperactive, petition, forgery, vandalism, perpetrators, culprits, dignity

Activities:
Before Reading: Discussion: What does "cabin fever" mean? If you're not sure, use the picture on the cover of the book for a clue. Have you ever felt like you had "cabin fever?" Based on other Wimpy Kid books, predict what kind of trouble you think Greg might get into in this book?

During Reading: Journal/Discussion Questions: Greg is responsible for the vandalism to the school, but he didn't mean for any of it to happen. Do you think it is still Greg's fault? Should he be punished for what he did?
Have you ever done anything without meaning to harm something or someone, but did anyway? What did you do? If you were Greg, would you turn yourself in?

After Reading: In this book, Greg and Rowley create their own newspaper. In small groups, create a newspaper. Decide who should write what sections, what you will write about, who you think will read your paper, etc.

Kinney, J. (2011). Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever. New York: Amulet Books.

Happy Reading (& Running) =)