New Diary of a Wimpy Kid book coming in October
Fans of the Wimpy Kid series -- and there are millions -- may feel the earth shaking. The publisher just released cover art for the latest in the phenomenally successful series by Marylander Jeff Kinney -- born at Andrews Air Force base and a 1993 Maryland grad -- and the book is scheduled for an Oct. 12 release. The initial run: 3 million copies.
If you haven't heard about the series, here's a quick rewind: Kinney drew a cartoon strip featuring a character named Igdoof for the Diamondback, the student paper on the College Park campus. But he couldn't get a syndication deal after graduating, so after years of effort he started writing an online strip about the trials of middle schooler Greg Heffley, told in diary form. His work drew tens of millions of hits on Funbrain.com, and a book deal followed.
The first book, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, was released in 2007 and spent months atop the New York Times best-seller list for kids' chapter books. Two other books have followed, and #4, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days tells of Greg's summer vacation.
(One other fun note: The promotional tour for the book features a Wimpy Kid ice cream truck tour -- Baltimore County is one of the stops, on Aug. 22. We'll keep you posted on the details as it gets closer.)
Last year, The Baltimore Sun's Joe Burris spoke with Kinney. Here are some exceprts from that story:
[Greg Heffley] is not that cool. In fact, he's kinda wimpy. He's got a big head and a stick for a body; he looks like a Blow Pop. Plus, he wears a stupid backpack the size of a microwave. He's got a mom who's a total wimp. He scams his wimpy friends. He thinks wimpy thoughts. And, he gets harassed by his teenage brother Rodrick and other boys because ... well, why do you think? ...
"I wasn't bullied the way that Greg Heffley is in the book, but there were plenty of moments of terror and intimidation," said Kinney. "On the whole, I made it through childhood unscathed. My childhood was, I think, fairly typical for a kid growing up in the '70s and '80s, but plenty of funny things happened along the way. In writing this series, I set out to find the humor in the mundane and to celebrate the universality of childhood.
"I would say that I really wanted to remember what it was like to be a kid and put myself in that frame of mind. And that took a lot of work to remember the pettiness and being put upon."
Comments
plaze come to are school in dalton GA are school is called city park school plaze send me a messege im a big fan
Posted by: david | July 23, 2009 6:54 PM
i just think ur book are awsome! a boy going thrrew a terible life a best friend who invited little kids to his birthday party!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i littarly cant wait 4 the book to come ouut
Posted by: sarah | July 26, 2009 2:09 AM
I have read all of your books and think they are really awesome! My mom and I read them before bed and while we are waiting for your next one, we are re-reading your first one. We have laughed so hard that we both cried many times! Thank you for writing these books!
Posted by: Hayley | October 6, 2009 8:46 PM
OMG
Ur books are terribl!
This kid whines about his life, his parents treat him like dirt, they let his brother bully him, he gets bad grade, and he bullies his "Best Friend"
And he does nothing to fix it!
Im tellin ya-read a bit of dickens or twain-at least the characters are SMART,
HARDWORKING and NICE!!!!!!
Posted by: Mariah | November 1, 2009 7:51 AM
i love dog days your books are so good i want all of them for my b-day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
peace?
Posted by: megan | November 21, 2009 11:27 AM