Created by Dav Pilkey—the same mind behind Captain Underpants—Dog Man is a graphic novel series about a police officer and his dog who are injured in a bomb blast. Through a "medical miracle" (this is where you lean into the absurdity), the dog’s head is sewn onto the cop’s body.

The result is a hero who has the body of a man but the impulses of a golden retriever. He fights crime, loves "Chief," and constantly tries to outsmart his nemesis, Petey the Cat. The books are written from the perspective of George and Harold, the fictional protagonists of the Captain Underpants series, which explains the misspelled words, hand-drawn aesthetic, and relentless potty humor.

I get it. You look at a page of Dog Man and see misspellings, "poop" jokes, and chaotic drawings. It’s easy to dismiss it as "brain rot" or "junk food reading." But here is the reality: Dog Man is the single greatest tool we have for engaging reluctant readers.

According to our community data, Dog Man is the #1 most-read series for boys and girls in 2nd through 4th grade. For kids with ADHD or dyslexia, the graphic novel format provides visual cues that make the narrative accessible.

Dav Pilkey himself grew up with ADHD and dyslexia and was frequently sent to the hallway for being disruptive. He used that time to draw. That "outsider" energy resonates with kids. The humor isn't just "dumb"—it's a celebration of creativity and the idea that even if you’re "different" (or have a dog’s head), you can be a hero.

Check out our guide on why graphic novels are "real" reading

DreamWorks is handling the animation, which is great news because they did an incredible job with The Bad Guys and The First Epic Movie (Captain Underpants).

The movie features Pete Davidson as Petey the Cat and Lil Rel Howery as the Chief. Expect a high-energy, slapstick-heavy experience. It’s going to be loud. It’s going to have a lot of "gross-out" humor. But it’s also likely to touch on the surprisingly emotional redemption arc of Petey the Cat—a villain who eventually learns to be a father to Li'l Petey (a kitten clone).

Parental Pro-Tip: This is the kind of movie where you buy the popcorn, turn off your "refined adult" brain, and just let your kid laugh at the dog eating the couch. It’s a safe, PG-rated bet for a family afternoon.

If your kid is asking for the "Dog Man game," they are talking about Mission Impawsible.

It’s a 2D side-scrolling platformer. Think Super Mario Bros. Wonder but with a much lower difficulty curve. Players can switch between Dog Man and his friends, using unique abilities to solve puzzles and defeat "living sprays" and other weird inventions from Petey’s lab.

Yes. There is no online multiplayer, no voice chat with strangers, and—thankfully—no predatory microtransactions or "loot boxes" that we see in Roblox or Fortnite. It’s a "buy once, play forever" console game. It’s perfect for kids who are just learning how to use a controller.

Learn about the differences between console games and mobile apps

The 12th book in the series. If your kid has the first ten, they are definitely hunting for this one. It deals with Dog Man getting a new robotic suit (the "Scarlet Shredder") and explores themes of artificial intelligence and identity—in the most "Pilkey" way possible.

This is the "sophisticated" spin-off. It’s actually a brilliant meta-commentary on the creative process. Li’l Petey and Molly the Tadpole teach a class of baby frogs how to make their own comics. It uses different art styles (photography, claymation, watercolor) and is genuinely inspiring for kids who like to draw.

If your kid has finished every Dog Man book twice, InvestiGators by John Patrick Green is the best "if you liked that, try this" recommendation. It’s about two alligators who are secret agents. The pun density is off the charts.

Another heavy hitter in the "illustrated chapter book" category. It has a similar "reformed villain" vibe and a very successful movie adaptation on Netflix.

Safety Considerations: The "violence" is strictly cartoonish—think Looney Tunes style. No blood, no real peril. The biggest "risk" is your kid picking up some creative new ways to talk about toilets or using the word "dumb" more often than you’d like.

Ask our chatbot for more graphic novel recommendations for 8-year-olds

Let’s be real: Dog Man isn’t Shakespeare. It isn’t even Harry Potter.

However, Dav Pilkey is doing something most authors fail to do: he is meeting kids exactly where they are. He doesn't look down on them for liking fart jokes, and he doesn't use "big words" just to satisfy parents.

The "Community Context" here is that Dog Man is a social currency. On the playground, knowing the latest plot twist in the Petey/Li'l Petey saga is how kids connect. If you’re an "intentional parent" trying to limit screen time, Dog Man is your best friend. A kid with a Dog Man book is a kid not asking for your iPhone.

If you want to engage with your kid about Dog Man without sounding like a "narc," try these prompts:

Dog Man is a win. It’s a win for literacy, a win for kid-centric humor, and with the 2025 movie and game, it’s a win for family shared experiences.

Don't overthink the "low-brow" nature of the content. Instead, celebrate the fact that your child is excited about a book. In 2026, that’s a rare and beautiful thing.

Compare Dog Man to other popular graphic novel series