FOLSOM, Calif. — Jeff Kinney, the author of the popular “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” series, donated almost $2,000 to the Folsom Public Library during the launch of his most recent installment.
On Oct. 26, Wild Sisters Book Company on Folsom Boulevard hosted Kinney for his third stop on a tour in which he held “The No Brainer Show,” a brain-challenging contest where children and their families can win monetary donations to libraries, according to the School Library Journal.
Four separate children earned $1,850 total for Folsom Public Library during the event, according to Folsom city spokesman Chris Shepard.
Booki Vivat, author and illustrator of the New York Times-bestselling children’s series, “Frazzled,” also made an appearance as a contestant at the Sacramento stop on the tour, according to Claire Bone, owner of Wild Sisters Book Company.
“We were beyond excited to have Jeff Kinney in Sacramento,” Bone said. “He’s been writing “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” books for 17 years, so many of his fans are adults. The event attracted fans of all ages, which was so fun to see.”
Bone said the “No Brainer” game contained book-related questions. Some dealt with the “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” series, but there were many questions about classic books familiar to most readers, she said.
The “Wimpy Kid” series has been a mainstay in the library's top 10 youth books since 2007, according to the Folsom city newsletter.
Kinney thanked the librarians for “placing the right books into the hands of readers when they need them most” in a statement to the Folsom library on Nov. 3.
“I was lucky to meet many contestants, who bravely took the stage in front of a large audience and won the combined $1,850 donation for your library,” Kinney said in the statement. “Libraries make our world a better place and the crucial work they do can change — and sometimes even save — lives.”
“No Brainer,” the series’ 18th installment, released Oct. 24.
Kinney’s tour ended Nov. 8, with a stop at Eagle Harbor Book Company in Bainbridge Island.
