Jeff Kinney: Diary of the Wimpy Kids author

Jeff Kinney is one of the most influential people today, at least when it comes to children’s books, as he wrote the highly popular Diary of a Wimpy Kid series.

Who is Jeff Kinney?

Jeff Kinney is an American writer, and his most notable work includes The Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. He was born in 1971, and his first book was published in 2007. This author and illustrator created a highly praised children’s book series, and he received numerous awards.

He is married to Julie Kinney, the couple has two sons, and they’ve been living in Massachusetts for the past couple of years. Kinney graduated from the University of Maryland. During his time in college, he created a popular comic strip named Igdoof.

Besides the stories of the wimpy kid, Kinney also wrote supplementary books and a series from Rowley Jefferson’s perspective, who is Greg’s best friend. Diary of an Awesome Friendly Kid: Rowley Jefferson’s Journal came out in 2019.

He also wrote The Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself-Book, Rowley Jefferson’s Awesome Friendly Adventure, The Wimpy Kid Movie Diary: The Next Chapter, Rowley Jefferson’s Awesome Friendly Spooky Stories, and others.

Because of their love of books, Jeff Kinney and his wife opened a bookstore in Plainville named An Unlikely Story in 2015.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid series

The Diary of a Wimpy Kid book series started in 2007. There are currently seventeen books you can collect, with a few more on the way. Each book is a combination of narration and drawings, which makes it perfect for children between 8 and 12 years. In addition to the books, the series has also spun movies to which Disney holds the film rights.

Plot

The Diary of a Wimpy Kid series follows Greg Heffley and his attempts to become popular in middle school. Each book focuses on a different part of his life and growing up. The first book Diary of a Wimpy Kid is especially a charming story that became an instant bestseller.

As Greg explains in the story, this is not a diary. It is a journal he made, and he only decided to write it for when he is famous. Other characters in the book are Greg’s friend Rowley, his older brother Roderick, and his younger brother Manny who is still a toddler.

There are currently seventeen books in the series. The full title of each book shows that it is a continuation of the series, and they are called Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days, etc. Here are all of the Wimpy Kid books so far:

• Diary of a Wimpy Kid
• Rodrick Rules
• The Last Straw
• Dog Days
• The Ugly Truth
• Cabin Fever
• The Third Wheel
• Hard Luck
• The Long Haul
• Old School
• Double Down
• The Getaway
• The Meltdown
• Wrecking Ball
• The Deep End
• Big Shot
• Diper Överlöde

Each book is the next story in the adventure, but they are not as intertwined as other similar series.

Genre

The genre of the series is comedy, and it has elements of young adult fiction. The main character will often have his ups and downs, and while the situation might seem tragic (from his perspective), it still keeps elements of comedy and joy.

This series is often described as a novel in cartoons, and the bestselling author Jeff Kinney did a great job making a perfect combination that kids will adore.

Poptropica

Another thing worth mentioning is that the Wimpy Kid author launched Poptropica. It is an online role-playing game, and targets children between the age of six and fifteen. These games are focused on improving problem-solving skills, and Poptropica is available on numerous different platforms.

The game received several awards, with some listing it as one of the best games for children. Kinney acted as an executive producer and game designer.

Awards

The series won numerous awards, and Kinney was named one of The World’s Most Influential People by TIME magazine. Diary of a Wimpy Kid was a New York Times Best Seller, and it won Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards for several years in a row.

Additionally, the series received the ALA Notable Book award and was named the Most Favorite Book Around the World.

How can my child listen to the series?

While reading books is always fun, there are those that prefer a different approach. Whether you love to multitask or simply prefer listening over reading, you can listen to the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series in audiobook format, and there is an easy way to do it.

Speechify

Speechify is one of the best audiobook platforms, and it gives you access to a rich library filled with the most popular and latest titles, including young adult comedy books. Sign up and get access to the entire Diary of a Wimpy Kid series or explore Jeff Kinley’s supplementary Wimpy Kid books such as Rowley Jefferson’s Awesome Friendly Adventure or Rowley Jefferson’s Awesome Friendly Spooky Stories about Greg’s best friend. Once you’ve listened to all of Jeff Kinney’s books, have no worries. Speechify Audiobooks offers 70,000+ other titles and many others that are also suited for children, such as Michael Fry’s series The Bad Guys. Plus, when you join Speechify Audiobooks, you’ll receive your first premium audiobook for free.

FAQ

What is Diary of a Wimpy Kid 17 called?

The seventeenth book in the series, which came out in 2022, is called Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Diper Överlöde and it is the latest book published. You can listen to Diper Överlöde when you sign up for Speechify Audiobooks today.

Did Diary of a Wimpy Kid end?

No. Jeff Kinney plans to release three additional books, and the twentieth will be the last in the series.

Is The Diary of a Wimpy Kid Based on a true story?

No. While, some moments in the series are inspired by Kinney’s own experiences, it is still a fictional story.