Recently my son, AKA Gauge, AKA Kid Friendly of the KidFriendlyTV YouTube channel, hit the Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul Atlanta premiere to interview celebrities. Technically, it was a “Read Carpet” to promote NBA Atlanta Hawks player Dwight Howard’s D12 Foundation which launched its summer initiative at the event. Along with Dwight Howard, the Read Carpet saw book author Jeff Kinney, lead actor Jason Drucker (Greg Heffley), Charlie Wright (Roderick Heffley) and Dylan and Wyatt Walters (Manny Heffley).

 

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul Atlanta Premiere Interviews, Jason Drucker, Charlie Wright, Gauge Rybak, Kid Friendly, KidFriendlyTV
Jason Drucker (Greg Heffley), Charlie Wright (Roderick Heffley) Gauge Rybak (KidFriendlyTV) Copyright 2017 The Fairytale Traveler

 

The Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul Atlanta premiere was especially exciting for Gauge since this was his first novel ever. As a homeschool mom, I find it hard to get him to read, but this series stands out and he absolutely loved it. It’s relatable and easy to read and I think that’s important. He was super happy to meet the cast and even get his book signed.

 

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul Atlanta Premiere Interviews, Dwight Howard, Gauge Rybak, Kid Friendly, KidFriendlyTV
Dwight Howard (Atlanta Hawks) with Gauge Rybak (KidFriendlyTV) Copyright 2017 The Fairytale Traveler

 

About the D12 Foundation

 

The D12 Foundation is focused on facilitating positive change in the lives of American youth – as well as girls in East Africa – through strategic programmatic and funding partners. Guided by D12 Foundation founder and president, Dwight Howard, we seek to strategically and effectively help close critical community “gaps” by making best use of our unique position and talents, and partnering with individuals and organizations who share our vision in three key areas of focus.” – D12 Foundation
 

The summer initiative is a reading challenge which encourages kids to “read for the long haul” and read as many books as they can at their local library to the end of winning a seat at an Atlanta Hawks game.

 

You can read your way to seeing an NBA game and not only will you see a Hawks game but it will help you in life. A lot of knowledge is in books and you should read.” – Dwight Howard

 

Want the whole collection? Or missing a few books? Check out Jeff’s Amazon Page for all your Wimpy Kid favorites. 

 

WimpyKid13bks

 

 

Interviewing Jeff Kinney and the Heffley Kids

 

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul Atlanta Premiere Interviews, Jason Drucker, Charlie Wright, Jeff Kinney, Gauge Rybak, Kid Friendly, KidFriendlyTV
Left to right Jason Drucker (Greg Heffley), Charlie Wright (Roderick Heffley), Jeff Kinney (author), Gauge (KidFriendlyTV) 2017 Copyright The Fairytale Traveler

 

Gauge asked the Heffley kids about scenes from the film, about Atlanta and what it’s like being a kid actor. He talked to author Jeff Kinney about Atlanta and whether or not he still feels like a grown up wimpy kid. And of course talked to Dwight Howard about the summer reading challenge.

 

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul Atlanta Premiere Interviews, The Walters Twins, Gauge Rybak, Kid Friendly, KidFriendlyTV
Dylan and Wyatt Walters (Manny Heffley), Gauge Rybak (KidFriendlyTV) Copyright 2017 The Fairytale Traveler

 

Watch the KidFriendlyTV interviews here and be sure to subscribe!

 

https://youtu.be/MQLwfEsqAME

 

Want to See the movie review? Check it out here! In theaters now!

 

 

Author

Christa Thompson is the Founder and Chief Editor of The Fairytale Traveler. She started traveling the world in 2003 when she attended a summer abroad study at the University of Cambridge in England. Since then, her wanderlust has been fierce. Her three passions in life are her son, traveling, and being creative. The Fairytale Traveler brand gives Christa the opportunity to do all of these things and to live intentionally every day. "It's never too late to believe in what you love and to pursue your dreams." -Christa Thompson

9 Comments

  1. I love the summer reading initiative of this program! My daughter is super excited to start summer reading programs at our local libraries next week.

  2. What a great blessing for your family to attend the new Diary of a Wimpy Kid premiere in Atlanta! My kids really want to see this movie. They loved the first Diary of a Wimpy Kid movie and the books! They would have loved an experience like this!

  3. My 9 year old son is so excited for this movie! He just loves the book and others in the series.

  4. It’s awesome that your son was able to do some interviews and meet the cast of the movie. I think Dwight’s summer reading challenge is such a good idea!

  5. Juliana Tomasek Reply

    My daughter hated to read, she too found the Wimpy kid diaries and poured over them, devouring every word. Now there are so many more books in the series, however she is too busy reading high school books to have time to read them.

  6. The Wimpy Kid books are amazing! When I was a teacher a lot of kids who hated reading would read those books. I am excited to see that movies were and are still being made. So exciting that your son got to interview the stars!!

  7. Oh what a great experience! I and my children love the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. We have spent hours on the weekend rereading these books and laughing!

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