What's new, what's cool: Dear Dumb Diary'By 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 dog Stinker. You'll laugh out loud at what this girl has to say. From Our Editors The Barnes Noble ReviewThe hilarious author of the Franny K. Stein, Mad Scientist books zaps fans with another new series, this time about a girl braving the trials and tribulations of middle school. Told in knee-slapping diary entries, the first installment of Jamie Kelly's tales begins as "the worst thing that can happen to you in middle school" almost occurs: getting a nasty nickname (for all of you uneducated souls out there). From there, Jamie goes on to describe a schoolmate's misfortune of using ChocoMint lip smacker; her interest in almost-hunk boy Hudson Rivers; and most of all her unkind feelings toward Angeline, a pretty blonde girl who Jamie's sure is "scorpion-like" beneath her sweet exterior. But when a mysterious culprit smacks the school's cafeteria monitor in her "neck blubber" with meatloaf, Jamie takes the heat and winds up almost-pals with Angeline. 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 of stealing Angeline's hair out of the wastebasket, her "glazed" cousin, and just about every other crazy event that happens, while parents are sure to see their kids beg for more Dumb Diary books. As the subtitle suggests, we can pretend this never happened, but in reality we're sure happy it did. Shana Taylor "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 Update From 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 loudwhile reading it! It is qui"

Jim Benton is a New York Times bestselling author and the creator of many licensed properties, including the hugely successful It's Happy Bunny. He's created a kids' TV series, designed clothing, and written books, such as the Franny K. Stein series and the bestselling Dear Dumb Diary series. Jim lives in Bloomfield, Michigan with his spectacular wife and kids. Visit him online at www.jimbenton.com and on Twitter at @JimBenton.