Jeff Kinney is an online game developer and designer. He grew up in Washington, D.C., and moved to New England in 1995. He lives with his wife Julie and their two sons, Will and Grant, in southern Massachusetts.

Greg is on summer vacation, and he would prefer to spend it playing video games in the living room. Unfortunately, his mother sees it differently and sends him outside to do something. The Heffleys are currently short on cash and are vacationing at home. But what is Greg supposed to do? Stand in line at the pool and endure long car rides to the water slide paradise? That sounds boring. And then Dad Heffley decides to fulfill a dream: they should get a dog...