Bianca with Jeff Kinney on Diary of a Wimpy Kid

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.