Dog Days was published by Amulet Books in 2009 (the second Wimpy Kid book released that year). Greg’s ideal summer — air conditioning, video games, sleeping until noon — is derailed by his mother’s campaign for wholesome family activities: the country club (which Greg can’t afford), a book club, and various outdoor excursions that reliably end in humiliation.
The novel captures the specific suburban summer experience of a middle-class American family: the boredom, the enforced togetherness, the mother’s anxiety about screen time, and the child’s desperate attempts to avoid anything resembling physical activity or personal growth.
Collecting Dog Days
First edition (Amulet Books, New York, 2009): Hardcover with illustrated boards.
Market values:
- First edition, first printing: $25–$60
- Later printings: $5–$15
Projected values (2026–2036): Moderate appreciation. The 2012 live-action film adaptation keeps awareness high.
The Summer Novel
Dog Days established a pattern the series would return to: the summer book, where the absence of school structure exposes the Heffley family dynamics more fully. Greg’s relationship with his mother — who genuinely wants the best for him but whose methods drive him further into evasion — is the book’s emotional core. Susan Heffley is one of children’s literature’s most sympathetically drawn parental figures.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was Dog Days made into a movie? Yes. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days (2012) combined plot elements from Dog Days and The Last Straw. It starred Zachary Gordon and was the third live-action Wimpy Kid film. The movie was a commercial success, earning over $77 million worldwide.