Dear Dumb Diary: #4 Never Do Anything, Ever

What’s new, what’s cool: Dear Dumb DiaryBy Jennifer TobiaKnight Ridder/Tribune News Service(KRT)An entertainment or product review – anything from books and video games toWeb sites and music.Dear Dumb Diary, by Jim Benton (Scholastic, $4.99).Middle-schooler Jamie Kelly is mad. She’s mad at Angeline, the most popularand prettiest girl in the world (or at least in Mackerel Middle School).Jamie is mad at the fact that she has to go to middle school in the firstplace. She’s mad at her disapproving parents, and mad at Hudson Rivers (theeighth cutest guy in her grade) for not noticing her. Her only hope is toconsole in her diary, the one place where she can spill her heart out anddraw pictures of how things really look.Dear Dumb Diary (Scholastic, $4.99) by Jim Benton is a look at Jamie’slife in her own words. Her adventures include avoiding trouble (or gettinginto it) with her partner in crime, Isabella; rating people on a “Loser”scale; dealing with crazy cafeteria monitor, Miss Bruntford; and observingand caring for her do, g Stinker.You’ll laugh out loud at what this girl has to say.PRAISE FOR JIM BENTON AND DEAR DUMB DIARY: PW calls Jamie a “feisty protagonist.”“Told in knee-slapping diary entries…Jim Benton delivers a wonderfully silly series that combines his knack for knowing what kids love to read with fun illustrations. Young audiences will eat up Jamie’s diary descriptions…while parents are sure to see their kids beg for more Dumb Diary books.” – The Barnes & Noble Review”This book’s witty and satiric sense of humor is sure to resonate with kids and make these books a must-have.” -BIG BLUE DOT Trend UpdateFrom the Fans…“omg u totally rule!!!! i luv happy bunny! and i read dear dumb diary… its so hillarious!…lol” –dani”yo mr.benton, u r totally AWESOME!!! I’m totally trying to get my mom to buy me the 2nd dumb diary book!! they r hilarious!! (but true!!!): )” – sk8erbear”dear dumb diary is an awesome book I did that for my book report.” -Keith”I’m going to start collecting your books. I’ll call it, My Collection of Books by Jim Benton.” – Olivia L. “Thanks for making reading so much fun!” –Jennifer L.“My daughter recently purchased your first edition of your Dear Diary books at a school book fair. I must admit… I don’t know who enjoyed the book more, my daughter or me. (I am 31 and my daughter is 9!!) I can’t remember the last time I laughed that hard! It was hysterical! Congrats on a great new series!” –Marisa W.“My 9-year-old daughter loved your book! She actually laughed out loud while reading it! It is quite an accomplishment to get my daughter to sit still long enough to read as she is constantly doing cartwheels and backflips!…I look forward to getting her more of your books (and having her sit still for a little while!)” —Lourdes F.

Jim Benton is an award-winning author and artist. You may know some of the other things he’s made, like It’s Happy Bunny, Dear Dumb Diary, Franny K. Stein, Victor Shmud, and more. He’s created a TV series, written books, and produced a movie, and he always did everything his parents told him to do. Pretty much. Jim lives in Michigan with his wife and kids.