This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Jeff Kinney, the 55-year-old author of the "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" series, who lives in Plainville, Massachusetts. It has been edited for length and clarity.

When I wrote "Diary of a Wimpy Kid," I worked on it for eight or nine years without thinking I was writing a book for kids.

I thought I was writing a book for grown-ups that would feel like "The Wonder Years" or "A Christmas Story" — looking back on childhood through the lens of an adult.

The first thing that surprised me was that my publisher said I'd actually written a children's series; it caused a lot of cognitive dissonance.

But what also surprised me was that kids understood the irony in the books. They understand that Greg is an unreliable narrator; they seem to get the joke.

After writing the series, and after raising two kids of my own — ages 21 and 23 — I've learned a few things about kids. Here's my best advice about getting kids to read, screen time, and more — plus a few things I'd go back and change if I could.

1. To get kids to read, feed their interests

I recently heard author Jack Gantos say that after dinner, he and his family would get out their books and read. I think that's really cool and also very old-fashioned, in a way. I wish we'd done it when raising our kids.

With reading, I think the most important thing you can do is feed your kids' interests, whether they're interested in Pokémon cards or sharks or tornadoes. Get them books or magazines that speak to their interests, rather than trying to give them books that we read as kids or books that are too high-minded for their age level.

A lot of authors who write for kids start with some sort of a lesson, and there's a time and place for that. But kids read for the same reason that adults read: to be entertained. If we start from a position of trying to teach kids a lesson, they'll sniff that out and turn away from it.

It's really important to encourage kids down a path that gets them reaching for the next book. I want them to feel a feeling of success in having finished a book because that's an important act of completion. But mostly, I'd like them to keep reading, whatever form that might take.

2. Listen to them

In everyday parenting, sitting at dinner with our kids and hearing about their day without judgment is a really good foundation. Just about everything that kids today are going through, we've been through in some form. The most powerful thing that we can say to kids is "I understand," or "I've been there myself," and share stories, making sure that they feel seen and heard.

As parents, we should make ourselves vulnerable to our kids by telling them about the struggles that we went through.

If we do that without moralizing and without judgment, I think it draws us closer to our kids and turns us into a resource for them.

3. Envision your future relationship

I've always thought about my relationship with my kids by imagining, How do I want our relationship to look when my kids are adults? I've tried to anticipate that and treat my kids that way the whole time.

I think it's working out because my kids will call me and want to go see the Patriots or the Celtics with me. I think that's partially because I've always had this version of our relationship in mind.

4. Don't get too wrapped up in kids' sports

As parents, we live and die by our kids' successes in sports. I certainly got too caught up in it and couldn't really anticipate that there would be a life beyond sports for my kids.

If I were to go back in time, I probably would change my approach on that. We like to see our kids succeed, and of course, sports is a big stage where there's a lot wrapped up in their success, including social issues and self-esteem.

When our kids are thriving, we feel really good for them, and when they're failing, it's tough for them and us. I can understand why that happens with parents, but I can also see that it's good to take a step back.

5. Help them understand that social media manipulates

Social media bullying is something that we never had to face growing up, and it's really unfortunate and damaging.

Screen time has changed things — you see studies finding that kids are dating a lot less, and there's a loneliness epidemic.

As parents, we can help kids by educating them and helping them understand that social media companies are incentivized to make you spend more time on your screens. The more that my kids, who grew up immersed in the social media world, began to understand that, the more they wanted to move away from it.

They get out there in the world — touch grass, play sports, and pick up basketball. My son will put lockouts on his social media.

It's important for us to think for ourselves before we turn to AI

As AI becomes a part of schoolwork and daily life, my concern is that AI makes a lot of things very easy.

At times, I look for solutions through AI that I could conjure up myself, so I worry about how that rewires the brain when you feel like there's always an agent that can solve your problem for you. It could reduce your own capacity for problem-solving.

It's really important for kids to be able to think for themselves before turning to the tool.

To counteract that, getting out in the world and interacting with one another is really important. Put kids into social situations; for example, my son has been working as a bookseller this past year, where he's had to interact with lots of different types of people and solve problems.

A lot of kids or young people in this generation are more isolated. They spend a lot more time in their rooms on their phones, and so I think that getting them out there interacting with other human beings is going to give them a competitive advantage.

• Some of the most hyped films of 2026 are based on blockbuster novels.
• You still have a few weeks to read "Dune Messiah" before "Dune: Part Three."
• There are a couple of holiday books getting adapted, too.

Any booklover knows that news of an adaptation can be complicated: Can we trust the directors, screenwriters, and actors to bring our favorite stories to life?

This year's movie slate is filled with books that are near and dear to thousands of readers, including classics that are decades (or centuries) old, like "Pride and Prejudice, "A Christmas Carol," and "Dune Messiah."

There are also some new classics set to be adapted this year, including "Klara and the Sun" and "Sunrise on the Reaping."

We've compiled a list of 13 must-read books that you should crack open before they're adapted this year.

'Whalefall'

Release date: October 16 in theaters

Daniel Kraus published "Whalefall" in 2023. It's a pretty self-contained, if wild, story: What would happen if you got swallowed by a whale? And not in a biblical, Jonah sense — in a literal, swallowed-while-scuba-diving sense.

The film stars Austin Abrams as Jay (get it? J as in Jonah?) and Josh Brolin as Mitt, Jay's deceased father, from whom he was estranged. That's the whole reason he dives in the first place; he's diving to find his father's remains.

'Wildwood'

Release date: October 23 in theaters

Stop-motion studio LAIKA's latest film, "Wildwood," is based on the 2011 novel of the same name, written by Colin Meloy and illustrated by Carson Ellis.

Both the film and the book follow Prue, a teenager, whose baby brother, Mac, is stolen by a pack of birds and taken into a mystical forest. She, along with her classmate Curtis, ventures into the woods to rescue Mac and perhaps save this magical land.

Prue is voiced by Peyton Elizabeth Lee and Curtis is voiced by Jacob Tremblay. Carey Mulligan, Mahershala Ali, Awkwafina, Jake Johnson, Angela Bassett, Charlie Day, and Amandla Stenberg also star.

'Klara and the Sun'

Release date: October 23 in theaters

Kazuo Ishiguro's 2021 novel "Klara and the Sun" was longlisted for the Booker Prize upon its publication.

The book takes place in a not-too-distant dystopian future where rich children can be gifted "Artificial Friends" to help them socialize, since now all schooling is done at home, online. Klara, the narrator, is purchased for a sick girl named Josie.

In the film, which was cowritten and directed by Taika Waititi, Klara will be played by Jenna Ortega, Josie will be played by Mia Tharia, and Josie's mom, Chrissie, will be played by Amy Adams.

'The Good Daughter'

Release date: November 12 on Peacock

Karin Slaughter's "The Good Daughter" is a bestselling thriller that was published in 2017.

It follows two sisters, Charlotte and Samantha, whose lives were shattered as kids when their mother was murdered and their father was traumatized. Now, as adults, Charlotte has followed in her dad's footsteps and tried to be the perfect daughter. Samantha chose to deal with her grief in a, shall we say, different way.

In the Peacock series, Rose Byrne plays Samantha and Meghann Fahy plays Charlotte.

'Being Heumann: An Unrepentant Memoir of a Disability Rights Activist'

Release date: November 13 on Apple TV+

Director Siân Heder's follow-up to best picture winner "CODA" is "Being Heumann," a biopic about Judith Heumann, who is known as the "Mother of the Disability Rights Movement." It's based on her 2020 memoir of the same name.

The film stars Ruth Madeley as Judith, Mark Ruffalo as United States Health and Human Services Secretary Joseph A. Califano Jr., and Dylan O'Brien as a reporter who covers Judith's protests.

'Victorian Psycho'

Release date: November 13 in theaters

"Victorian Psycho" was written by Virginia Feito and published in 2025.

The story follows Winifred Notty, a governess sent to Ensor House (a gothic dream), who seems more like Patrick Bateman than Maria von Trapp.

Maika Monroe will play Winifred.

'A Christmas Carol'

Release date: November 13 in theaters

Yet another adaptation of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol," originally published in 1843, is hitting theaters this year.

This time it's called "Ebenezer" and stars Johnny Depp as Scrooge. He'll be joined by Rupert Grint as Bob Cratchit, Scrooge's long-suffering employee, Andrea Riseborough as the Ghost of Christmas Past, Tramell Tillman as the Ghost of Christmas Present, Ian McKellen as Scrooge's dead business partner Marley, Sam Claflin as Scrooge's nephew Fred, and Daisy Ridley as Fred's wife Clara.

This version of the story will be helmed by director Ti West, so it might be a more horror-forward version of the classic.

'The Bodyguard'

Release date: November 18 on Netflix

Netflix first announced that Katherine Center's novel "The Bodyguard," published in 2022, will be adapted for the streamer in September 2025.

The story follows Jack Stapleton, a famous actor with a stalker, who hires bodyguard Hannah Brooks to protect him. But since he doesn't want to worry his sick mother, the two instead pretend to date.

The catch with this adaptation? Since there's already a quite famous film called "The Bodyguard," Netflix, along with stars Leighton Meester (Hannah) and Jared Padalecki (Jack), asked fans to come up with a new name for the film, and they landed on "Guarding Stars."

'Sunrise on the Reaping'

Release date: November 20 in theaters

For years, fans begged "Hunger Games" author Suzanne Collins to tell the story of Haymitch Abernathy's games. In March 2025, she obliged, publishing "Sunrise on the Reaping," a "Hunger Games" prequel that takes place 24 years before the first novel.

It tells the story of the 25th Hunger Games, which Haymitch, the future tribute mentor for District 12, won. As with all "Hunger Games" books, it's devastating.

"The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping" boasts an all-star cast of Mckenna Grace, Jesse Plemons, Ralph Fiennes, Glenn Close, Kieran Culkin, Elle Fanning, Billy Porter, Maya Hawke, Lili Taylor, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Whitney Peak, and newcomer Joseph Zada as Haymitch.

'The Titan's Curse'

Release date: November 20 on Disney+

Season three of "Percy Jackson and the Olympians" is set to premiere on November 20. This season consists of eight episodes and concludes on December 11.

This season is based on the third installment in Rick Riordan's books: "The Titan's Curse." It sees Percy (Walker Scobell) go on a mission to rescue his friend, Annabeth (Leah Sava Jeffries), and the goddess Artemis (Dafne Keen) after they're kidnapped by mysterious forces.

'In a Holidaze'

Release date: December 2 on Netflix

Romance powerhouse duo Christina Lauren published their first holiday romance in 2020, called "In a Holidaze."

This is a classic time-loop story that follows Mae (Maddie Ziegler) as she returns home for Christmas, determined to tell her longtime crush Andrew (Graham Phillips) how she really feels. But when everything goes wrong, instead of dealing with the fallout, she relives the same day over and over.

'Pride and Prejudice'

Release date: December 3 on Netflix

"Sense and Sensibility" wasn't the only Jane Austen novel getting adapted this year — over 20 years after Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen played Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy, there's a new duo in town that's ready to play these iconic yearners.

In this Netflix miniseries, adapted by Dolly Alderton, Emma Corrin and Jack Lowden will play the two. They'll be joined by Olivia Colman, Rufus Sewell, Daryl McCormack, Louis Patridge, Jamie Demetriou, Fiona Shaw (who was also in "Sense and Sensibility" this year), and Freya Mavor.

'Dune Messiah'

Release date: December 18 in theaters

After the two-part adaptation of "Dune," the third film in the series is set to adapt Frank Herbert's second novel, "Dune Messiah," published in 1969.

Picking up after the events of "Dune: Part Two," "Dune: Part Three" will follow Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) as he struggles to control the galaxy, prevent the death of millions, avenge his father, and juggle relationships with Princess Irulan (Florence Pugh) and his love Chani (Zendaya).

Editor's Note: This story was first published in December 2025 and was last updated in October 2026.

New film Fatherland took Sandra Hüller back to a divided Germany. She talks about damaged dreams, Hollywood feelgood and - just maybe - appearing in the new Marvel movie

Sandra Hüller is crying, and it feels very strange. A wildly gifted actor, she can convey every human emotion there is. On screen, though, she is most often asked to embody deep self-possession. Even doing karaoke, Hüller is in control. And in real life, life is good. Her 2026 will end with four high-profile movies this year alone. Two (Fatherland and Rose) are black-and-white arthouse films that centre on her brilliance, and though one of the others (Digger) is already a Hollywood cautionary tale, a second (Project Hail Mary) was a giant $684m hit. (There may also be a fifth movie, bigger still. We will come back to that.)

And yet, dressed in film star black, she is in tears. “This is really hard for me,” she says.

Author withdrawn from France’s Prix Goncourt last month has repeatedly denied using artificial intelligence to write novel

The publisher of top-selling Haitian Canadian writer Thélyson Orélien, who was removed from France’s most prestigious literary prize list last month, has confirmed the author used artificial intelligence to help write his novel C’était ça ou mourir (It Was Either That or Die).

Orélien has denied allegations that he used AI on his breakthrough novel and, last week, Canadian publisher Les Éditions du Boréal said it was standing by the 38-year-old writer.