'Wimpy Kid' Keeps Kids of All Ages in Stitches

Read an excerpt about Greg's battles with his brother, Rodrick.

In Greg Heffley's pre-teen diary, even the most mundane details — often told in his deadpan voice — can be uproarious.

Heffley is the main character in the wildly successful book series Diary of a Wimpy Kid, by author and illustrator Jeff Kinney. The books, written like pencil-to-paper diary entries by Heffley, consistently top the New York Times bestseller lists. The newest installment, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules, debuted this week at No. 1.

The book's chapters look like copies of Heffley's diary, in which he has written stories about his life, and drawn stick figures to represent the people who make up his day-to-day existence. Kinney, who originally started the series as a Web comic, uses an adult's perspective to hilariously remind readers about life in junior high. From dealing with girls, to popularity and bullying, Kinney keeps readers in stitches.

Andrea Seabrook spoke with Kinney about his scrawny protagonist making the life-changing transition from elementary to middle school.