Book Buzz: Kinney's 'Ugly Truth' beats two presidents

USA Today
By Bob Minzesheimer and Craig Wilson,



The Wimpy Kid balloon made its debut in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

The kids' book is No. 1 again, over George W. Bush's memoir at No. 2 and President Obama's first kids' book at No. 14.

All puffed up:The fifth book in Jeff Kinney's popular series for kids, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Ugly Truth, edges George W. Bush's memoir, Decision Points, for the top spot on USA TODAY's Best-Selling Books list for the second consecutive week.

If that's not enough, Greg Heffley, the middle-schooler created by Kinney, will appear as a 60-foot-long, 56-foot-tall balloon in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York. Kinney says he's thrilled by the balloon but adds, "I have no place left to go — but down."
He faces new competition on next week's list from Sarah Palin, whose America by Heart hit stores Tuesday. "Palin is coming," he says, "but she doesn't have a balloon."

TOP 150: Peruse the Best-Selling Books list

President Obama is no stranger to USA TODAY's list. After his 2009 inaugural, his memoir, Dreams From My Father, originally published in 1995, was No. 7; The Audacity of Hope, his 2006 book, was No. 8. Now his children's book, Of Thee I Sing: A Letter to My Daughters, illustrated by Loren Long, lands on the list at No. 14.
The 31-page book celebrates the qualities of 13 Americans, from Georgia O'Keeffe to George Washington. Obama is the first president to write a kids' book while in office.
Theodore Roosevelt co-wrote Hero Tales From American History with Henry Cabot Lodge six years before becoming president. Jimmy Carter's The Little Baby Snoogle-Fleejer, illustrated by his daughter, Amy, was released 14 years after they left the White House.