Diary of a Wimpy Kid Books in Order — All 19 Books + Spin-offs (2026)

12 Jun 2026

With over 250 million copies sold worldwide as of 2024, Diary of a Wimpy Kid is one of the best-selling children’s series in history — and it just keeps growing. Nineteen main books, three Rowley Jefferson spin-offs, movie diaries, and activity books later, parents and kids are understandably asking: which books are the actual series, do they need to be read in order, and where on earth do you start?

Here is the complete answer.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid Books in Order — The Complete List

Diary of a Wimpy Kid books in order displayed on a desk — complete series reading order 2026

Quick Answer: Read Diary of a Wimpy Kid in publication order, starting with Book 1. The series follows a continuous story about Greg Heffley through middle school, and while each book works as a standalone, character development and recurring jokes land much better when read from the beginning. All 19 main books share the same diary format written by Jeff Kinney and published by Amulet Books.

All 19 books in the main series are listed below in reading order, which is the same as publication order. This is the sequence Jeff Kinney intended, and it is the best way to experience Greg Heffley’s middle school years from start to finish.

#	Title	Year	Lexile	AR Level	AR Points
1	Diary of a Wimpy Kid	2007	950L	5.2	13
2	Rodrick Rules	2008	960L	5.2	8
3	The Last Straw	2009	1010L	5.3	8
4	Dog Days	2009	1000L	5.3	8
5	The Ugly Truth	2010	970L	5.3	6
6	Cabin Fever	2011	1000L	5.3	7
7	The Third Wheel	2012	990L	5.3	7
8	Hard Luck	2013	1010L	5.3	6
9	The Long Haul	2014	1010L	5.3	6
10	Old School	2015	1000L	5.4	7
11	Double Down	2016	990L	5.2	6
12	The Getaway	2017	1020L	5.4	7
13	The Meltdown	2018	980L	5.3	6
14	Wrecking Ball	2019	980L	5.3	6
15	The Deep End	2020	1000L	5.3	6
16	Big Shot	2021	1010L	5.3	7
17	Diper Överlöde	2022	1020L	5.3	7
18	No Brainer	2023	1010L	5.2	7
19	Hot Mess	2024	1040L	5.4	7

Series at a Glance

Book 1 carries more AR points (13) than every subsequent entry because it is longer and establishes the entire world. Later books settle into a consistent 6–8 point range, making them faster reads that work well for AR point tracking across a school year.

You can find additional series details and the latest AR data on Jeff Kinney’s official Wimpy Kid website and cross-reference specific quizzes through Scholastic Book Wizard.

The Wimpy Kid Spin-Off Books — Do You Need to Read Them?

The Rowley Jefferson spin-offs are written by Jeff Kinney but narrated by Greg’s well-meaning, cheerful best friend rather than Greg himself. That shift in narrator changes the tone considerably — Rowley is sweet where Greg is self-serving, and his books feel lighter and sillier as a result.

The three Rowley Jefferson books:

Diary of an Awesome Friendly Kid: Rowley Jefferson’s Journal (2019) — Lexile 980L. Rowley’s take on the same events from the main series, told through his admirably naive lens. Genuinely funny for fans who want a fresh angle on familiar characters.
Rowley Jefferson’s Awesome Friendly Adventure (2020) — Lexile 840L. A departure from the diary format: Rowley tells a fantasy story he is making up, complete with knights, wizards, and monsters. Slightly easier reading than the main series and appeals to kids who love imaginative adventures.
Rowley Jefferson’s Awesome Friendly Spooky Stories (2021) — Rowley narrates a collection of (mostly harmless) spooky tales. Good for Halloween season reads or for kids who like anthology-style books.

Verdict: The spin-offs are entirely optional. They do not advance the main Greg Heffley storyline and can be read at any point — before, during, or after the main series. If your child finishes the 19-book run and wants more of the Wimpy Kid world, the Rowley books are a natural next step. If they are working through the main series, skip ahead only if they are particularly curious about Rowley’s perspective.

For a deeper look at the reading level and age range of the series — including how the Lexile scores compare to what children actually experience when reading these books — we have a dedicated guide worth checking.

Note: The Wimpy Kid Movie Diary (a behind-the-scenes book about the film adaptations) and the various Do-It-Yourself activity books are not novels and do not belong in the reading order.

What Age Is Diary of a Wimpy Kid For?

Boy age 10 laughing while reading Diary of a Wimpy Kid, recommended age 8-12

Heads Up on the Lexile Range: The Lexile scores for this series (950L–1060L) technically place these books at a 5th–7th grade reading level — but that number is misleading. Lexile measures sentence complexity and vocabulary, and the diary format with simple, conversational sentences actually reads much easier than the number suggests. The heavy use of illustrations (about one per page in most books) also dramatically reduces the reading workload. In practice, confident readers as young as 8 handle these books comfortably.

The recommended age range for Diary of a Wimpy Kid is 8–12 years old, with the sweet spot landing at 9–11. Here is how that breaks down:

Ages 8–9: Capable independent readers at this age can handle the text, and the humor lands immediately. The social dynamics (popularity, sibling rivalry, school embarrassment) will feel very relatable.
Ages 10–11: This is the bull’s-eye audience. Old enough to catch the subtle jokes and self-aware irony of Greg’s unreliable narrator voice, young enough that middle school drama still feels immediate.
Ages 12+: Plenty of middle schoolers love the series — especially those who have not read it yet. By 7th or 8th grade, some readers find Greg’s antics a little young, but fans of the early books often keep returning through the later titles.

Grade range: 3rd through 7th grade, roughly AR Level 5.2–5.4 across the series.

Content advisory: Parents should know this series contains mild bathroom humor, slapstick physical comedy, and realistic middle school social dynamics (cliques, embarrassing moments, minor sibling conflicts). There is no mature content, no violence beyond cartoonish slapstick, and no language beyond very mild expressions. It is genuinely appropriate for the age range listed.

For context on where Wimpy Kid lands relative to other popular series, check out our grade-level Lexile chart — it shows at a glance how the series compares to other titles your child might be reading.

Should You Read Diary of a Wimpy Kid in Order?

Yes — and here is why it matters.

The series follows Greg Heffley through a continuous narrative arc across middle school. Characters like Rowley, Rodrick, Holly Hills, and Greg’s parents develop over time. Callbacks to earlier books are common, inside jokes accumulate across volumes, and several storylines introduced early (family dynamics, Greg’s relationship with Rowley, the tension with his older brother) pay off in later books in ways that only land if you have been following along.

That said, the books are designed to be mostly standalone — each volume covers a discrete period of Greg’s life and has its own beginning, middle, and end. You will not be completely lost starting at Book 3. But starting at Book 1 is better, and it is not a hardship: the original Diary of a Wimpy Kid is one of the strongest entry points in the entire series.

Where to start for reluctant readers:

Books 1, 2, and 3 are the best hooks, in that order.

Book 1 establishes everything and has the highest AR point value — great for kids who need to earn points quickly.
Book 2 (Rodrick Rules) is widely considered the funniest book in the series by fans and is an excellent entry point for a reluctant reader who needs a reason to commit.
Book 3 (The Last Straw) introduces the threat of military school and raises the stakes — it tends to pull in readers who bounced off the first two.

If someone has already read, say, Books 1–6 out of order and wants to catch up, do not backtrack obsessively. Pick up at the earliest unread number and go forward. The series rewards in-order reading but does not punish gap readers.

What to Read After Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Child's bedroom bookshelf with next books to read after Diary of a Wimpy Kid series

Finished the series? The best next reads depend on what your child loved most — the humor, the illustrated format, the school drama, or Greg’s voice. Here are the strongest next steps by category.

If they loved the humor and illustrated format:

Big Nate (Lincoln Peirce) is the closest match to Wimpy Kid in tone, format, and humor. Nate is brash, overconfident, and perpetually convinced he is destined for greatness — sounds familiar. The comic-strip panels within the story make it a great bridge for visual readers.
Dog Man by Dav Pilkey is worth recommending for readers on the younger end of the range (ages 6–10) or those who prefer more pictures than text. The humor is sillier and more absurd, but the series shares the same “I can’t put it down” energy that makes Wimpy Kid so effective for reluctant readers.
Captain Underpants (also by Dav Pilkey) is another obvious recommendation — it shares the bathroom humor, meta-narrative voice, and kid-protagonist-versus-adults energy that Wimpy Kid fans love.

If they want something longer and more adventure-driven:

Harry Potter books in order is the classic step-up for readers who have outgrown light middle grade but are not yet ready for YA. The first two books are accessible to confident 9-year-olds; the series grows in complexity alongside its readers.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians (Rick Riordan) is another strong escalation — faster-paced than Harry Potter, funnier, and particularly good for kids who liked Greg’s sarcastic narrative voice.

If they are just getting into reading and want to start somewhere easier:

The Junie B. Jones series (Barbara Park) is the right move for younger or emerging readers. Much shorter books, simpler vocabulary, and the same first-person diary-adjacent voice that makes Wimpy Kid click — just calibrated for ages 5–8.

If they want more Jeff Kinney:

Circle back to the Rowley Jefferson spin-offs described above. Rowley’s books are a comfort read for anyone who loved the main series and is not quite ready to leave the Wimpy Kid universe.

Frequently Asked Questions About Diary of a Wimpy Kid

How many Diary of a Wimpy Kid books are there?

As of 2024, there are 19 books in the main series (Diary of a Wimpy Kid through Hot Mess), plus 3 Rowley Jefferson spin-off novels, plus activity books and a movie diary. The main reading series contains 19 titles.

What order should you read Diary of a Wimpy Kid?

Publication order is reading order. Start with Book 1 (2007) and continue through Book 19 (Hot Mess, 2024). The spin-offs can be read at any point after you have started the main series.

Is Diary of a Wimpy Kid appropriate for 8-year-olds?

Yes. Confident readers aged 8 and up handle the series comfortably. The Lexile scores (950L–1060L) sound high but the diary format, conversational writing style, and abundant illustrations make the actual reading experience much more accessible than the number implies. Content is appropriate — mild humor, no mature themes.

What is the AR level of Diary of a Wimpy Kid?

AR levels across the series range from 5.2 to 5.4, placing the books at approximately a 5th-grade reading level for Accelerated Reader purposes. Individual book point values range from 6 to 13 points. Book 1 offers the most AR points (13) due to its length.

Will there be more Diary of a Wimpy Kid books after Hot Mess?

Jeff Kinney has not announced an end to the series. He has consistently released one book per year, and given the commercial success of the franchise, further books beyond Hot Mess (2024) are widely expected. Check Jeff Kinney’s official Wimpy Kid website for the most current news on upcoming releases.