Author Jeff Kinney signs copies of his new book

Lighted Wimpy Kid Balloons outside Kennedy Jr. for the event.

Kennedy student winners of the Double-Down prize drawing.

A student attended the event in Greg Heffley costume.

Jeff Kinney poses with Granite school librarians and staff who volunteered at the event.

Growing crowd ready for Jeff Kinney to take the stage.

Jeff Kinney presenting on stage at author event.

Jeff Kinney presenting on stage at author event.

Jeff Kinney circulating through the audience taking student questions.

Jeff Kinney circulating through the audience taking student questions.

Author Jeff Kinney with Angie Christensen, Library Media Educational Technology Specialist at Kennedy Jr. High

Jeff Kinney, author/illustrator of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid middle grade fiction series, visited Kennedy Jr. High on Tuesday evening to share insights on his latest release Double Down.

In his presentation to a full auditorium of students and parents, Kinney shared pages from his idea-generating notebooks and told funny stories from his own childhood that inspired events in his books. Using a digital drawing pad he demonstrated on screen his cartooning style and work process. Before the close of his presentation he walked throughout the enthusiastic audience to answer as many student questions as possible in rapid-fire succession.

Jeff Kinney’s books are consistently among the highest circulating titles in Granite’s elementary and junior high school libraries, and he is a great reading, writing, and creating advocate to our students. This was Kinney’s first time visiting and presenting in Utah as an author, and we thank him for coming to Granite School District. He was brought to Kennedy through a collaboration with King’s English Bookshop of Salt Lake City. We recognize all those who worked hard to make this event a success, especially Angie Christensen, Library Media Educational Technology Specialist at Kennedy Jr. High, and Cindy Moyle, District Library Specialist for secondary schools.