Jeff Kinney is an American cartoonist and author from Fort Washington in Maryland. He is best known for his children’s book series, Diary Of A Wimpy Kid.
Kinney’s first artistic success came when he began a comic strip in a student newspaper while studying at the University of Maryland.
The comic strip was very popular.
Five years after graduating from university, Kinney had the idea for Gregg Heffley, the main character of the Diary Of A Wimpy Kid series.
He worked on the story for a total of 8 years before showing it to a publisher, including releasing an online version in 2004.
As soon as the book was published in 2007 it became a big hit. There are now 17 books in the series and a spin-off series based on Rowley, Gregg’s best friend.
Three years after the first book was published, a film adaptation was released. This was followed by three more live action films and a fifth animated feature.
Multiple books are combined to make each film. The book series has sold over 275 million copies worldwide and has been translated into 69 different languages.
About The Diary Of A Wimpy Kid Book Series
This book series was created to look and sound like the diary of the main character, Greg Heffley.
Greg is a middle school student who writes in a daily journal and also does illustrations to accompany his entries.
Greg goes through the type of struggles that lots of kids will relate to – he wants to be more popular in school, he falls out with his siblings, he tries to impress girls on summer vacation, and he finds himself getting caught up in trouble.
As the books progress, some themes become more mature – Greg goes through puberty, he gets a girlfriend, loses loved ones, and has to deal with family issues.
These books are about growing up, and they provide a funny yet useful outlook on life that many readers will find supportive.
They are intended audience for the books is children aged 8 to 12, but the series is actually enjoyed by many children and teenagers that fall outside of that age bracket, too.
The Diary Of A Wimpy Kid Book Series In Order
This is the correct order to read the Diary Of A Wimpy Kid book series in.
Greg’s Dad signs him up to take part in sports and other activities in an attempt to make Greg less wimpy.
Greg needs to impress his Dad to prove that he doesn’t need to go to military school to ‘toughen up’, but he finds himself getting a bit distracted by trying to impress girls instead.
Or perhaps, one girl in particular.
Pros
This is a great insight into growing up
Cons
This book perpetuates gender stereotypes in some ways
Greg has always been keen to grow up, but now that it’s actually happening it’s not what he has expected.
He is facing a lot of challenges – he has more responsibility, he has to learn how to hang out with girls, and he is going through changes which are hard to deal with.
It would all be a lot easier if his best friend was there to support him.
Pros
This book helps children and teens who are going through puberty
Cons
There isn’t a lot about the female experience in this book
A Heffley family road trip was never going to go smoothly, no matter how well-prepared they thought they were.
Greg updates his diary with every mishap of the adventure, including a fender bender, a runaway pig, crazy seagulls and a tricky situation in a gas station bathroom.
This is one road trip that the Heffley family certainly won’t forget.
The Heffley’s escape the cold weather with a tropical island holiday, but it seems their vacation is doomed from the start. Paradise isn’t all it’s cracked up to be!
Pros
The change of location is exciting
Cons
The storyline isn’t relatable for children whose families can’t afford to go on holiday
When Gregg tags along with his brother’s band, he realizes that the Rock and Roll lifestyle isn’t what he had imagined.
Pros
This is an exciting story and a great way to end the series
Cons
Younger children might find this book un-relatable
Summary
It is best to read the Diary Of A Wimpy Kid book series in chronological order, as each story follows on from the last one.
The storylines tend to be wrapped up in each book, so you could read them at random if you wanted to, but they flow better when read in the correct order.
This also gives you a better understanding of the characters, and of how Gregg is growing and maturing throughout the books.
The chronological order of the book series is also the same as the publication order.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions about the Diary Of A Wimpy Kid book series by Jeff Kinney.
Are The Diary Of A Wimpy Kid Books Based On True Stories?
Jeff Kinney drew a lot of inspiration from his own childhood when writing the book series. The stories aren’t all factual, but some of them are inspired by real events.
How Many Books From The Series Have Been Made Into Movies?
Scenes from the first 7 books in the series have been used to create 4 live action movies. There is also a fifth movie which is an animated feature.
Do You Have To Read The Diary Of A Wimpy Kid Book Series In Order?
It is best to read the book series in chronological order, as the story will flow better. You can read them as individual stories if you want to, but you won’t get the best reading experience.
Noah Burton works as a Librarian full time, and is a blogger in his spare time. His goal is to write compelling recommendations for all of the most popular books he can find, from science fiction to romance.
With a passion for books, a drive to find new reads to get stuck into, and a love for sharing book recommendations with others, Noah can help you find the next novel for your bucket list.
