On Wednesday at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair, Abrams’s Amulet Books imprint announced the publication of the seventh book in Jeff Kinney’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, which will have (nearly) simultaneous publication in seven countries. The book, the name of which has not yet been revealed, will be published in the U.S. on Tuesday, November 13; it will pub the next day in the U.K., Australia, Greece, Japan, Korea, and Norway. Kinney was on hand in Bologna as Abrams released teaser art for book seven, which hints at a Valentine’s Day theme.
"I've been really overwhelmed by the worldwide reception to the books," Kinney told a large crowd of his many international publishers, as they gathered on the Abrams stand for the announcement. "This is my chance to say thank you. I'm still having a lot of fun with the books, and there are still a lot of stories to tell." The new book, he said, will center around a school dance, and a love interest for Greg or Rowley (Kinney did not specify, and implied some potential conflict). "I've only written about a third of it," he said. "And I haven't drawn a single picture yet. But it's all in my head and on my phone."
The Diary of a Wimpy Kid series has sold more than 75 million copies worldwide and is available in more than 41 countries. The two films based on the books have grossed nearly $150 million globally, and a third movie, based on the book Dog Days, lands in theaters on August 3.
