Bianca with Jeff Kinney on Diary of a Wimpy Kid

The Children's Book Review: Growing Readers Podcast

Dive into the uproarious world of Jeff Kinney, the creative force behind the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, in this upbeat podcast episode! Kinney spills the beans on how his bestselling idea sprouted from a simple journal meant to keep him on the work grind. With a staggering 275 million copies sold worldwide, the series has become a literary sensation, garnishing Kinney with a slew of well-deserved awards. Beyond the numbers, Kinney shares his aspirations for his books—shaping reading habits for kids and influencing the industry's humor landscape. Get ready to laugh, be inspired, and join the Wimpy Kid revolution in this delightful exploration of literary magic!

Transcription:

⁠You can read the transcription on ⁠The Children's Book Review⁠⁠.

Order a Copy:

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: No Brainer on Amazon and Bookshop.org.

Resources:

Jeff Kinney is a #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series and the Awesome Friendly Kid series. He is a six–time Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Award winner for Favorite Book and has been named one of Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World. He spent his childhood in the Washington, DC, area and moved to New England, where he and his wife own a bookstore named An Unlikely Story.

For more information, visit ⁠https://wimpykid.com/⁠.

Discussion Topics:

Jeff Kinney talks about:

• How his college comic strip, Igdoof, garnered attention but fell short of syndication due to skill gaps and contracting challenges.
• Diary of a Wimpy Kid stemmed from his accountability journal, featuring text and illustrations resembling the book's style.
• Initially envisioning one big humor book for adults, Kinney eventually landed a multi-book deal for kids.
• The excitement of becoming a New York Times bestseller and the sustained success of the series unfolds.
• He hopes the books instill a reading pattern in kids and influence humor in the entertainment industry.
• Diversity and support for librarians, the importance of representation, and the vulnerability of librarians in the face of book banning.
• Encouragement for kids to read about diverse experiences for empathy and character richness.