Jeff Kinney Books In Order

Publication Order of Diary of a Wimpy Kid Books

Publication Order of Diary of an Awesome Friendly Kid Books

Publication Order of Wimpy Kid Non-Fiction Books

Publication Order of Short Stories/Novellas

Publication Order of Anthologies

About Jeff Kinney:

Jeffrey Patrick (Jeff) Kinney is best known as the author of the iconic children’s book series, “The Diary of a Wimpy Kid”. Apart from his writing exploits, Kinney is also heavily involved in online game creation, cartooning, website creation, movie producing, and has even made the big screen as an actor in his own movies.

Born in 1971, Kinney lives in Plainville Massachusetts with his family (wife Julie and sons Will and Grant).

Early Career

It was while at college at the University of Maryland in the early 1990s that his talent for writing and cartooning first came to the fore. He first made his name with the popular cartoon strips Igdoof. At this stage of his life, Kinney had his sights firmly on a future career as a newspaper cartoonist, but failed to achieve syndication for any of his comic strips.

His Career takes off

However, in the year 2004 his career took a promising turn with the release of a web book called Diary of a Wimpy Kid. A long-term project started as far back as 1998, the web book was a huge success and Kinney was pressured to release a print version, which he did in 2007. The book is hand illustrated with simple illustrations, in the form of child-like scribblings, appropriate to a 7th grader’s diary. The print book took the Wimpy Kid story in a slightly different plot direction, but was extremely well received by readers. At the time of writing there have been eight books in the series, as well as two Do it Yourself volumes and three Movie Diaries to accompany the best-selling three releases in the Wimpy Kid movie series.

Greg Heffley

The Wimpy kid main character, middle-school weakling, Greg Heffley, has become an iconic figure for all the like-minded American middle-schoolers. Greg Heffley is certainly not likely to develop into a typical heroic leading-man type figure. His character has many flaws, including: laziness, paranoia, selfishness, egotism, lack of remorse for his wrong-doing and trouble-making, nerdiness, and of course, wimpiness.

Although much of Greg’s character is to a degree obnoxious, he does have a number of redeeming features, and his character flaws have become less well-defined as the series has progressed. He is now starting to show signs of maturing into somewhat of a likeable young man as he starts to take responsibility for many of his misdeeds and character flaws.

Rowley Jefferson

For many, Rowley (Want to come over to my house and play?) Jefferson, Greg Heffley’s best friend, is the real hero of the series. A character shaped by his over-protective parents who are certainly not fond of Greg, Rowley is a skilled manipulator who often gets others into trouble while craftily avoiding the blame himself. Initially coming across as somewhat of an immature idiot, he often displays Jekyll and Hyde-like characteristics, being able to move effortlessly from antagonist to caring peacemaker. At first sight the overweight and overly-protected innocent, first impressions prove deceptive, as he often shows real strength of character when in stressful situations.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid (2007 print book, 2010 movie)

The first volume in the series was a huge hit when first released in 2007, winning a New York Times best seller award. Greg Heffley is introduced as a middle school newbie,’ continually harassed by his older brother Rodrick and blamed for everything that his spoilt rotten’ younger brother Manny gets away with. Mom and Dad, Susan and Frank, disapprove of Greg’s indolent indoor video game obsessed way of life. Greg is immediately cast as an outcast on his first day at school and quickly befriends Rowley, despite his overtly immature ways.

The film develops their friendship as they deal with one humorous stressful situation after another. We are quickly introduced to Greg’s paranoid ways as he deals with apparent rejection and fun making at his expense by some of his schoolmates. Greg and Rowley’s friendship is regularly tested throughout the book but they head off to a summer vacation of video game playing, the best of mates.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid Rodrick Rules (print book 2008, movie 2011)

The story begins with Greg recounting the horrors’ of his summer vacation, having been continually bullied and harassed by his older brother Rodrick. The film features Rodrick much more than in the first volume. Rodrick is a wannabe rocker’, lead singer of “Loaded Diaper’, a band with a stand-out name but no stand-out talent. Rodrick is far more obnoxious a character than Greg at his worst and it is easy to enjoy Rodrick’s painful experiences throughout the book and movie.

A Booming Success

The Diary of a Wimpy Kid series has been a runaway success, both in book and film form. Many of the books have been on best seller lists for many weeks with Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days being the best-selling book of 2009. In total, the three movie adaptations have grossed more than 220 million dollars (US) since their release. All the books have also been released in Audible form, for those who would prefer a listening experience on their smart devices.

The Future

Jeff Kinney has no immediate plans to put the series to rest. Why would he when he is riding on the crest of such a successful monster wave? In 2010, seven of the top ten places on the best sellers list in the United States were held by Kinney’s Wimpy Kid stories. All told, sales are now into the tens of millions of copies and the momentum shows no sign of abating anytime soon.

But do we need to sound a note of caution? Greg can’t remain a seventh grader for ever; he needs to grow into teen hood and that transition may not be so easy for Jeff Kinney and The Wimpy Kid. How will they both cope with the new challenges that teenage angst’ will bring? Will Kinney be able to keep his massive following as Greg and his mates move into the teenage world of temptation: girls, relationships, sex, parties, etc.? Greg and Rowley will no longer be cute innocents; they will have to mature into their new life roles. Somehow I think Jeff Kinney will successfully manage the transition.

2 Responses to “Jeff Kinney”

1. Debbie: 3 years ago

   I just want to say how much my grandson and I enjoy your books.I buy him one for every occasion/holiday and he has them all on his book shelve nice and neat. Usually can’t wait to get the next one in the series. When we read these we are usually in bed. he reads a page and then i’ll read a page. sometimes he get so excited he’ll read my page.
   SO THANK YOU FOR MAKING A GREAT BOOK FOR THE KIDS. he has become such a great reader do to my times like these with him. .. Just a GREAT BIG THANK YOU.

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2. Whitney: 3 years ago

   Hi Mr. Kinney your book series is my number one favorite Especially Manny I like how silly he is but I was thinking what if there was another brother?The story would go totally different.so I was thinking what would happen if you added one more brother to the Hefley house? What do you think about that Mr. Kinney ,sincerely you’re number one fan Whitney

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