Diary of a Minecraft Zombie Books: Where to Start

Diary of a Minecraft Zombie is an unofficial children’s book series, written under the pen name Zack Zombie, about a young zombie getting through middle school in the Minecraft world. It’s told as a funny diary, with doodles, in the style of Diary of a Wimpy Kid. It isn’t made by Mojang, but it has been hugely popular with kids aged about 6 to 12.

What the books are like

The narrator is a zombie kid who deals with the ordinary problems of school, like bullies, crushes, embarrassing parents and homework, except that his friends and classmates are other Minecraft mobs. Much of the humor comes from seeing the game from the monster’s side.

Chapters are short, with plenty of jokes and simple illustrations. Nothing in the books requires playing the game. Kids who know Minecraft get extra jokes about zombies burning in the sun and villagers, but the stories stand on their own.

Which Diary book to start with

Start with Book 1: A Scare of a Dare. The series ran to more than a dozen numbered books, published mostly between 2015 and 2019, plus box sets and spin-off series about other mobs. Each book is mostly self-contained, so you don’t have to read them all in order, but book 1 introduces the characters.

The books are sold in paperback and as ebooks and audiobooks, and many public libraries carry them.

Is it official?

No. The books are independently published, originally under the imprint Herobrine Publishing and later Zack Zombie Publishing. Using Minecraft settings in unofficial books is common, and Mojang doesn’t endorse these. If you want official Minecraft books, look for Mojang’s name and the Minecraft logo on the cover. Official novels and guidebooks exist and are labeled that way.

Because the series is popular, there are imitations with similar titles. Check the “Zack Zombie” byline if you want the original.

Why parents like it

It gets kids reading. A child who won’t touch a “normal” book will often finish one of these in a weekend because it’s about the game they love. Once they’re hooked on chapter books, it’s easier to move on to other series.

If you’re a parent working out the game itself, Minecraft for parents covers age ratings and safety. For gifts beyond books, see Minecraft merch and parties, and the media hub covers the rest of Minecraft outside the game.