Rotten School
middle-grade comedy
Series · humor
Diary of a Wimpy Kid
The Diary of a Wimpy Kid series by Jeff Kinney has 24 known books (23 published) and is best read in publication order, starting with Diary of a Wimpy Kid (2007). The latest book with a fully recorded publication date is Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Partypooper. The next announced book, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Fight or Flight, is due 20 October 2026.
- Books
- 24 known books (20 novels + 3 companions)
- Published
- 23
- First published
- 2007
- Status
- ongoing
- Shelved under
- Humour
- Last checked
Start here: Diary of a Wimpy Kid (2007) — then read straight through in publication order.
Reading order
The date order of published books and any announced future entries — the default way to read the series.
- Book 1:
Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Diary of a Wimpy Kid opened the series in April 2007, introducing scrawny, scheming middle-schooler Greg Heffley through his own diary entries and Jeff Kinney's scribbly cartoon drawings -- a format that would go on to sell over 300 million copies. It runs 224 pages.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Diary of a Wimpy Kid - Book 2:
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules
Rodrick Rules, the second book, leans into the running one-upmanship war between Greg Heffley and his slobby older brother Rodrick that recurs throughout the series. Published February 2008, it's 224 pages.
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Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Do-It-Yourself Book
The Do-It-Yourself Book (October 2008) is a companion activity book rather than a numbered story installment -- a keepsake for fans between Rodrick Rules and The Last Straw, running 88 pages.
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Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw
The Last Straw is the third novel in the series, published January 2009, continuing Greg Heffley's diary-and-doodle account of failed money-making schemes and family friction. It runs 217 pages.
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Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days
Dog Days (October 2009), the fourth novel, covers a summer slice of Greg Heffley's life -- the format each Wimpy Kid book uses, whether school year, summer, or holiday. It runs 220 pages.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days - Book 6:
The Wimpy Kid Movie Diary
The Wimpy Kid Movie Diary (March 2010) is a behind-the-scenes movie tie-in book rather than a numbered story installment, sitting between Dog Days and The Ugly Truth as one of the series' keepsake extras. It runs 256 pages.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Wimpy Kid Movie Diary - Book 7:
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Ugly Truth
The Ugly Truth is the fifth novel in the series, published November 2010, keeping up Greg Heffley's rationalizing, vain, laugh-a-page account of middle-school humiliations. It runs 218 pages.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Ugly Truth - Book 8:
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever
Cabin Fever (November 2011), the sixth novel, is one of the series' holiday-season slices of Greg Heffley's misadventures, told through his diary entries and Jeff Kinney's cartoon drawings. It runs 218 pages.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever - Book 9:
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Third Wheel
The Third Wheel is the seventh novel in the series, published November 2012, continuing the diary-and-doodle format that's made this the flagship reluctant-reader series for its age group. It runs 223 pages.
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Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hard Luck
Hard Luck, the eighth novel, sits between The Third Wheel and The Long Haul, published November 2013 -- another school-year installment of Greg Heffley's gross-out mishaps and schemes. It runs 218 pages.
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Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul
The Long Haul (November 2014), the ninth novel, is one of the series' family-road-trip-gone-wrong installments, narrated in Greg Heffley's vain, self-justifying diary voice. It runs 218 pages.
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Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Old School
Old School, the tenth novel, was published November 2015, continuing Greg Heffley's diary-and-cartoon account of his parents', brother Rodrick's, and best friend Rowley's roles in his ongoing misadventures. It runs 221 pages.
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Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Double Down
Double Down is the eleventh novel in the series, published November 2016 at 224 pages, keeping up the diary-and-doodle format that's turned countless reluctant readers into regular ones.
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The Wimpy Kid Movie Diary: The Next Chapter
The Wimpy Kid Movie Diary: The Next Chapter (May 2017) is a second movie-tie-in keepsake, sitting between Double Down and The Getaway rather than continuing the numbered story. It runs 208 pages.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Wimpy Kid Movie Diary: The Next Chapter - Book 15:
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Getaway
The Getaway is the twelfth novel in the series, published November 2017 -- another of the family-trip installments that run through Greg Heffley's diary, this one running 218 pages.
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Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Meltdown
The Meltdown, the thirteenth novel, arrived October 2018, sitting between The Getaway and Wrecking Ball as Greg Heffley's diary-and-cartoon misadventures with brother Rodrick and friend Rowley continue. It runs 224 pages.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Meltdown - Book 17:
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Wrecking Ball
Wrecking Ball, the fourteenth novel, was published November 2019 at 220 pages, continuing the self-contained school-year slices of Greg Heffley's life that define each Wimpy Kid entry.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Wrecking Ball - Book 18:
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Deep End
The Deep End is the fifteenth novel in the series, published October 2020, keeping up Jeff Kinney's diary-and-doodle formula of gross-out mishaps and failed schemes. It runs 224 pages.
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Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Big Shot
Big Shot, the sixteenth novel, was published October 2021 at 224 pages, continuing Greg Heffley's vain, rationalizing take on his own middle-school misadventures.
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Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Diper Overlode
Diper Overlode is the seventeenth novel in the series, published October 2022, another self-contained slice of Greg Heffley's diary-and-cartoon misadventures. It runs 224 pages.
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Diary of a Wimpy Kid: No Brainer
No Brainer, the eighteenth novel, sits between Diper Overlode and Hot Mess, published October 2023 -- part of the run that's kept the series a flagship pick for 8-12 year old reluctant readers for nearly two decades. It runs 224 pages.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Diary of a Wimpy Kid: No Brainer - Book 22:
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hot Mess
Hot Mess is the nineteenth novel in the series, published October 2024 at 224 pages, continuing Greg Heffley's diary-and-doodle account narrated in his characteristically self-justifying voice.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hot Mess - Book 23:
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Partypooper
Partypooper, the twentieth novel, is the most recent entry in the series so far, published October 2025 -- nearly two decades after Greg Heffley's diary first appeared in 2007. It runs 224 pages.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Partypooper
About the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series
Greg Heffley is a scrawny, scheming middle-schooler convinced that fame and popularity are just one clever plan away, and that everyone around him -- his slobby older brother Rodrick, his well-meaning but oblivious parents, his loyal best friend Rowley -- is somehow standing in his way. Told entirely through Greg's own diary entries and Jeff Kinney's scribbly cartoon drawings, each book follows a school year (or a summer, or a holiday) of Greg's misadventures: failed money-making schemes, gross-out mishaps, family road trips gone wrong, and a running war of one-upmanship with Rodrick.
The appeal is the voice: Greg is vain, lazy, and constantly rationalizing his own bad behavior, which makes him funnier -- and more recognizable -- than a straightforwardly "good" kid hero would be. The diary-and-doodle format is a huge part of the draw for reluctant readers, packing a laugh onto nearly every page and making a 220-page book feel like a breeze. Parents and teachers have kept handing these to 8-12 year olds for the same reason kids keep handing them to each other: they're funny without being mean-spirited, and they capture the specific humiliations of middle school with uncomfortable accuracy.
With over 300 million copies sold and adaptations across film and animated specials, Wimpy Kid remains the flagship "kid finally wants to read" series for its age group -- it's often the book that turns a reluctant reader into a regular one.
Frequently asked questions
How many Diary of a Wimpy Kid books are there?
There are 20 main-series books as of Partypooper (2025), with book 21, Fight or Flight, due October 20, 2026.
What order should I read Diary of a Wimpy Kid in?
Publication order, starting with the first book, Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Each entry is a standalone school year or summer, so the numbering is also the story order.
Do I need to read the Rowley Jefferson books too?
No. The Rowley spin-off series is optional and best enjoyed after the main series, since it retells some of the same events from Rowley's perspective.
Is Diary of a Wimpy Kid finished?
No, it's ongoing. Jeff Kinney has published a new entry every year since 2007 and has not announced an end point.
What age group is Diary of a Wimpy Kid for?
It's aimed at roughly ages 8-12, though its comic, heavily-illustrated format makes it a popular pick for reluctant readers both younger and older than that range.
If you like the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series
Reading order last verified .