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Jeff Kinney

Jeffrey Patrick "Jeff" Kinney is an American author and cartoonist, best known for the children's book series Diary of a Wimpy Kid. He has also created the child-oriented website Poptropica.

Quick Facts

  • Best known for his children's book series Diary of a Wimpy Kid.
  • The series has been adapted into multiple films.
  • The series has been translated into more than 60 languages.
  • Sold more than 200 million copies worldwide.
  • Before becoming an author, he worked as a newspaper designer and an online game developer.
  • Time magazine named him one of "The World's 100 Most Influential People" in 2009.

Background

Kinney was born in 1971 in Maryland, United States. He attended the University of Maryland where he ran a comic strip called "Igdoof" in the campus newspaper. After college, he started writing a children's book, which turned into the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, originally published online on Funbrain.com in daily installments. The series first came to print in 2007 and quickly gained popularity among children and teens. He has since written more than a dozen books in the series. Apart from being an author, Kinney is also a game designer and created the kid-friendly website Poptropica.

Writing Style and Impact

Kinney's writing style is casual and humor-filled, characterized by comic-strip illustrations and diary-like commentary. His work is popular with children and young adults, and praised for its relatability and authenticity. Kinney uses everyday situations to create engaging narratives, making readers laugh while also addressing deeper themes like family dynamics and friendship. His 'Diary of a Wimpy Kid' series has contributed significantly to encouraging reluctant readers.

Notable Works

  • Diary of a Wimpy Kid series (2007-present)
  • Diary of an Awesome Friendly Kid: Rowley Jefferson’s Journal (2019)
  • The Wimpy Kid Movie Diary: The Next Chapter (2017)
  • The Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself Book (2011)