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Diaries Books for Kids

29 books in diaries. Every book rated for reading level and content intensity.

Diaries books for kids span a wider readiness range than parents usually expect. The same genre category contains gentle picture books and high-intensity middle-grade novels — Lexile and grade-level scores measure text complexity, not what's actually in the story. A diaries title appropriate for a confident 8-year-old reader could still cover themes a sensitive 12-year-old isn't ready for.

Across HootRated's 29 diaries titles, books span Grade 2–7. About 93% are rated Gentle or Mild — safe picks for sensitive readers and kids reading ahead of their emotional readiness. 0% sit at the Intense or Very Intense end. Average content intensity is 1.5/5.

Use the intensity badges (green → red, low → high) to filter by emotional readiness rather than just age. For deeper detail on how we rate, see our rating methodology.

Early Sunday Morning

Barry Denenberg

Cover of Early Sunday Morning

Early Sunday Morning

Barry Denenberg

Level 4-5 Moderate

Diaries and Letters (New Longman Literature 11-14)

Celeste Flower

Cover of Diaries and Letters (New Longman Literature 11-14)

Diaries and Letters (New Longman Literature 11-14)

Celeste Flower

Level 4-5

My sister stole my boyfriend

Megan Howard

Cover of My sister stole my boyfriend

My sister stole my boyfriend

Megan Howard

Level 4-5

The laughing princess of the desert

Anne Adams

Cover of The laughing princess of the desert

The laughing princess of the desert

Anne Adams

Level 4-5

Diaries & journals

Kelly Burkholder

Cover of Diaries & journals

Diaries & journals

Kelly Burkholder

Level 2

Oh boy, Amelia!

Marissa Moss

Cover of Oh boy, Amelia!

Oh boy, Amelia!

Marissa Moss

Level 2

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Jeff Kinney

Cover of Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Jeff Kinney

Level 6

The Great green notebook of Katie Roberts

Amy Hest

Cover of The Great green notebook of Katie Roberts

The Great green notebook of Katie Roberts

Amy Hest

Level 4-5

Strider

Beverly Cleary

Cover of Strider

Strider

Beverly Cleary

Level 4-5

Catty Cornered

Cheryl Ware

Cover of Catty Cornered

Catty Cornered

Cheryl Ware

Level 4-5

A Time For Courage (Dear America Series)

Kathryn Lasky

Cover of A Time For Courage (Dear America Series)

A Time For Courage (Dear America Series)

Kathryn Lasky

Level 6

Max's Logbook (Paperback)

Marissa Moss

Cover of Max's Logbook (Paperback)

Max's Logbook (Paperback)

Marissa Moss

Level 5

Our Dumb Diary

Jim Benton

Cover of Our Dumb Diary

Our Dumb Diary

Jim Benton

Level 4-5

Dear Dumb Diary Box Set #1-4 (Dear Dumb Diary #1-4)

Jim Benton

Cover of Dear Dumb Diary Box Set #1-4 (Dear Dumb Diary #1-4)

Dear Dumb Diary Box Set #1-4 (Dear Dumb Diary #1-4)

Jim Benton

Level 3

Journey to the New World

Kathryn Lasky

Cover of Journey to the New World

Journey to the New World

Kathryn Lasky

Level 4-5

Dear America

Kristiana Gregory

Cover of Dear America

Dear America

Kristiana Gregory

Level 4-5

Amelia writes again!

Marissa Moss

Cover of Amelia writes again!

Amelia writes again!

Marissa Moss

Level 2

Exploring journals and diaries

Robert Henderson Fuson

Cover of Exploring journals and diaries

Exploring journals and diaries

Robert Henderson Fuson

Level 3

Memories to Treasure

Danielle Joy Linhart

Cover of Memories to Treasure

Memories to Treasure

Danielle Joy Linhart

Level 3

Roman diary

Richard Platt

Cover of Roman diary

Roman diary

Richard Platt

Level 3

Mostly Michael

Robert Smith undifferentiated

Cover of Mostly Michael

Mostly Michael

Robert Smith undifferentiated

Level 4-5

A Young Reader's Journal

Margie Adler

Cover of A Young Reader's Journal

A Young Reader's Journal

Margie Adler

Level 3

Diary of Greg Heffley's Best Friend

Jeff Kinney

Cover of Diary of Greg Heffley's Best Friend

Diary of Greg Heffley's Best Friend

Jeff Kinney

Level 2

Blood Sinister

Celia Rees

Cover of Blood Sinister

Blood Sinister

Celia Rees

Level 4-5

The Princess Diaries

Meg Cabot

Cover of The Princess Diaries

The Princess Diaries

Meg Cabot

Level 6

Rise of the red ninjas

Marcus Emerson

Cover of Rise of the red ninjas

Rise of the red ninjas

Marcus Emerson

Level 4-5

My Own Pages

Highlights

Cover of My Own Pages

My Own Pages

Highlights

Level 4-5

Diario de Greg

Jeff Kinney

Cover of Diario de Greg

Diario de Greg

Jeff Kinney

Level 6-7

The day dreamer

Rodriguez, Robert

Cover of The day dreamer

The day dreamer

Rodriguez, Robert

Level 4-5

Questions parents ask about diaries books

What are the best diaries books for kids?
HootRated catalogs 29 diaries children's books spanning Grade 2–7. Each is rated on reading level and content intensity. The picks above are sorted by quality signals — hook factor, discussion potential, and content appropriateness.
Are diaries books appropriate for sensitive readers?
27 books (93%) are rated Gentle or Mild — safe for sensitive readers. 0 (0%) are rated Intense or Very Intense. Average intensity is 1.5/5. Filter by intensity badge to match your child's emotional readiness.
What reading level are diaries books?
Diaries books in our catalog span Grade 2–7. The typical reading level lands around Grade 5. Reading level measures text difficulty — separate from content intensity, which measures emotional weight. The two often don't track together for gifted readers — the Gifted Kid Paradox.