Jeff Kinney is an American author, cartoonist, and producer. He is best known for writing and illustrating the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, which has sold more than 200 million copies worldwide. He has also written and illustrated several other books, including The Last Straw, The Ugly Truth, and The Getaway. Kinney is also the creator of the Poptropica website, an online virtual world for children. Kinney was born in Maryland in 1971 and grew up in the Washington, D.C. area. He attended the University of Maryland, where he studied computer science and English. After college, he worked as a computer programmer and game designer before turning to writing and illustrating children's books. Kinney's books have been praised for their humor and relatable characters. He has won numerous awards, including the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Book in 2012 and the Children's Choice Book Award for Author of the Year in 2011. He has also been featured in Time magazine's list of the 100 Most Influential People in the World. Kinney continues to write and illustrate books, as well as produce films and television shows based on his work. He is also an advocate for literacy and has spoken at schools and libraries around the world.