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Diary of a Wimpy Kid author Jeff Kinney returns with second spooky spin-off
Jeff Kinney, author of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series of books, is returning with a second spooky stories spin-off, Rowley Jefferson’s Awesome Friendly Spooky Stories 2.
Scheduled for publication on 11th August 2026 by Puffin in hardback, e-book and audiobook, Rowley Jefferson’s Awesome Friendly Spooky Stories 2 is the fourth Diary of a Wimpy Kid spin-off book written from the perspective of the “ever-cheerful and ‘Awesome Friendly’” Rowley Jefferson, the best friend of Diary of a Wimpy Kid protagonist Greg Heffley.
In this new collection of stories, “readers will meet monsters, ghouls, oversized insects and many other spooky – and hilarious – surprises, as they dive back into Rowley’s brilliant imagination,” the publisher says.
"Like the rest of the Awesome Friendly Kid books, these bite-sized, fully-illustrated spooky short stories can be read in any order and, just like the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books, they’re 50% words, 50% cartoons and 100% hilarious, with laughter guaranteed on every page – perfect for readers wanting to scare themselves silly all year round.”
Francesca Dow, managing director of Penguin Random House Children’s, said: “With the publication of Partypooper this year, the 20th book in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, and the 300 million global sales milestone, it’s joyful to see young readers in the UK and across the globe continue to embrace Greg Heffley’s laugh-out-loud diaries with such enthusiasm. For Jeff to achieve his strongest on-publication sales since 2019, 20 books into the series, is nothing short of phenomenal. And so, during this landmark period for Wimpy Kid, it is perfect timing – and hugely exciting – that Jeff is writing more brilliantly funny and accessible short stories from Rowley’s perspective in Awesome Friendly Spooky Stories 2, to publish in 2026.
“We also cannot wait for Jeff to bring his uniquely spectacular event – the Partypooper Show – to the UK this autumn, where he will connect with his young readers in person and build on his important and longstanding relationship with the National Literacy Trust, to celebrate both Wimpy Kid and the magic of reading, together. No one gets kids laughing – and reading – quite like Jeff Kinney.”
