Diary of a Pug: Pug Blasts Off
A pug keeps a diary through doodles, lists, and speech bubbles while his owner builds a rocket for a school project. At a fifth of the length of Wimpy Kid, it offers a familiar format at a level perfect for six-year-olds.
Diary of a Pug: Pug Blasts Off by Kyla May is estimated to take about 24 minutes to read aloud (2,510 words, about 2 sentences a page), and it lands best with children aged 5-8.
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- Estimated read-aloud time
- about 24 minutesEstimated read-aloud time
- Word count
- 2,510Counted words
- Sentences per page
- 2Sentences per page
- Re-read tolerance
- 4/5repeat friendly
- Vocabulary level
- 2/5everyday words
- Best for
- Ages 5-8Our editorial fit
Our review
The heavy use of illustrations and simplified text makes this very approachable for younger children. It uses the diary format in a way that isn't overwhelming for the 5–8 age range.
It is a great choice for a six-year-old who wants to read something that looks like the books their older siblings are reading.
Before you buy it
This one is a bit thinner than it looks, totaling only 72 pages. Much of the humor relies on the idea that the reader is supposed to dislike the cat, Baron von Bubbles.
Themes
- dogs
- diary
- school projects
- rockets
- friendship
Books like Diary of a Pug: Pug Blasts Off
Matched by refrain, density, length, and listener—not just the subject.
Diary of a Wimpy Kidabout 181 minutes estimated · 4/5 re-read
Owl Diaries: Eva's Treetop Festivalabout 24.5 minutes estimated · 4/5 re-read
Dog Manabout 47 minutes estimated · 5/5 re-read
Bad Kitty Gets a Bathabout 28.5 minutes estimated · 4/5 re-read
Narwhal: Unicorn of the Seaabout 9 minutes estimated · 5/5 re-read
Questions parents ask
How long does it take to read Diary of a Pug: Pug Blasts Off aloud?
About 24 minutes at an unhurried pace, including a standard allowance for page turns, pictures and participation, from a word count of 2,510. Stopping for a longer conversation on every page will add more time.
What age is Diary of a Pug: Pug Blasts Off actually for?
Ages 5-8 in our testing, which is narrower than the publisher's range. With 2 sentences a page and vocabulary at 2 out of 5, it asks for that much attention span and no more.
Does Diary of a Pug: Pug Blasts Off survive being read on repeat?
Yes. It survives a fortnight of nightly repeats, which is the real test.
Will my child memorise Diary of a Pug: Pug Blasts Off?
It can. It scores 4 out of 5 with us for holding up to repeat reading, and children tend to learn by heart the books they ask for most, even without a strong refrain.
Can a beginning reader read Diary of a Pug: Pug Blasts Off on their own?
It is closer than most picture books. With 2 sentences a page and plain vocabulary (2 out of 5), a confident early reader can attempt it, though it is written to be read aloud first.
Is Diary of a Pug: Pug Blasts Off part of a series?
Yes, it belongs to the Diary of a Pug series. It stands on its own, so you can start here without reading the others in order, then move to the rest if it lands.
What themes does Diary of a Pug: Pug Blasts Off cover?
We tag it with dogs, diary, school projects, rockets and friendship. Those are the threads that actually run through the book, not just the ones on the cover, which is how it earns its place on our themed lists rather than a keyword match.
