Kinney, Jeff (1971-…), is an American children’s author and illustrator who created the popular “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” series. The books center on a middle school student named Greg Heffley. Greg’s mother makes a deal with Greg. If the boy keeps a diary, he will be excused from some Saturday chores. Greg insists on calling his book a journal because he claims that diaries are for girls. In his journal, Greg describes his daily experiences with his friends, classmates, and family. The series has been praised for its ability to humorously portray the life of boys as they near their teenage years. Kinney’s amusing cartoon drawings are an essential part of the stories.
Jeffrey Patrick Kinney was born on Feb. 19, 1971, at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland. He attended the University of Maryland. Kinney first explored ideas for the “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” series in 1998. He began publishing the stories online in 2004. The first volume in book form, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, appeared in 2007. Kinney also created Poptropica, a popular educational website aimed at children from the ages of 6 to 15.
