Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Story

Stuck in middle school with a bunch of morons, Greg Heffley is eager to prove his maturity. This comic book journal records his relationships with his annoying brothers and sidekick Rowley as he attempts to sail through the school year with his popularity intact.

Why we chose it

Diary of a Wimpy Kid is frequently named a favourite book by primary school children visiting the museum.

Where it came from

Greg Heffley’s misadventures began online on Funbrain.com in 2004. American author and cartoonist, Jeff Kinney (1971 - ), published his story in daily installments until 2005. In 2007, the first Diary of a Wimpy Kid book was published to continue Greg’s story on paper.

Where it went next

The book became an instant bestseller, and, as of January 2019, more than 200 million copies of the book have been sold worldwide. It has won numerous awards and the online installments are typically read by over 70,000 children a day. In 2009, Jeff Kinney was named by TIME magazine as one of The World’s Most Influential People, and 20^th Century Fox have based four films on books in the series.

Associated stories

Diary of a Wimpy Kid is the first of a series of books following Greg Heffley’s day-to-day life. Other books in the series include Rodrick Rules (2008), The Last Straw (2009), and Cabin Fever (2011). Related titles include Diary of an Awesome Friendly Kid: Rowley Jefferson’s Journal (2019).