If you’ve spent any time at a school book fair recently, you know that Dog Man is essentially the Roblox of the publishing world. It is everywhere.

The universe created by Dav Pilkey—which started with the Captain Underpants novels in the late 90s and exploded with the Dog Man graphic novels—is built on a very specific foundation: the sense of humor of an eight-year-old boy. We’re talking "Prankster 101." Whoopee cushions, toilet paper, and absurd villains like "Professor Poopypants."

As parents, it’s easy to look at this and see "brain rot." After all, if your kid is already obsessed with Skibidi Toilet or saying everything is "Ohio" (aka weird/cringe), do they really need more low-brow humor?

But here is the "No-BS" take: Dav Pilkey is a genius of literacy. He struggled with ADHD and dyslexia as a kid and was frequently sent to the hallway for being disruptive. That’s where he created these characters. His books are designed specifically for kids whose brains move faster than traditional prose allows. They are the "gateway drug" to actual reading.

The "secret sauce" here is the meta-narrative. In the books, Captain Underpants and Dog Man are actually comic books written by two fourth-graders, George and Harold.

This empowers kids because:

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Mark your calendars for January 2025. DreamWorks is bringing Dog Man to the big screen. If you thought the Captain Underpants movie was a fever dream, buckle up.

The movie follows the origin story: a police officer and his dog are injured in an explosion, and the only way to save them is to sew the dog's head onto the cop's body. Yes, it’s weird. Yes, your kids will think it’s the height of cinema.

From a digital wellness perspective, the movie is likely to be a high-energy, fast-paced assault on the senses. If your kid is sensitive to overstimulation, you might want to wait for the streaming release. But for the average fan, it’s going to be the biggest cultural event of the third grade.

You might have noticed a "Last day to watch" warning on The Epic Tales of Captain Underpants. This isn't because of a "cancel culture" crackdown on potty jokes—it’s just the boring reality of streaming licenses.

DreamWorks Animation (the studio behind the show) is owned by NBCUniversal (Peacock). As their contracts with Netflix expire, many of these shows are heading back to their "home" platforms.

If your kids are devastated, this is a great time to pivot back to the Captain Underpants books. Reading the source material is a classic "parent win" move that bridges the gap between screen time and literacy.

Ages 6-10 The gold standard. If your kid is "bored" by books, hand them the first volume. It’s fast, funny, and teaches visual storytelling. It’s better than the Netflix show because it requires the child to actually process the text and images at their own pace.

Ages 7-11 This is the "entrepreneurship" branch of the Pilkey-verse. It’s about teaching a group of frogs how to make their own comics. It explores different art styles (photography, claymation, haiku) and is genuinely inspiring for kids who want to be creators rather than just consumers. It’s like a Scratch tutorial but in book form.

Ages 6+ Surprisingly well-reviewed. It captures the "anarchy" of childhood imagination. It’s a great Friday night family movie, provided you can handle 90 minutes of "tra-la-laaa!"

Ages 7+ If your kid has finished every Dog Man book, this is the logical next step. It has that same "reformed villain" energy and a high-octane animation style.

Check out our guide on the best graphic novels for 2nd and 3rd graders

Let’s address the "potty joke" in the room. Some parents worry that these books encourage disrespect or "bathroom talk" at the dinner table.

The Reality: Yes, they do. You will hear the word "fart" more often. You will see drawings of toilets.

The Screenwise Stance: This is a phase. For most kids, this brand of humor is a way to claim a bit of independence. It’s "their" thing. In the context of the books, the "bad" behavior is usually coming from the villains, or it’s framed as George and Harold being silly kids.

If you have a strict "no bathroom talk" rule, these books will challenge it. However, the trade-off is often a child who actually wants to read for 30 minutes before bed. For many of us, that's a trade we're willing to make.

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If you want to connect with your kid over Dog Man, don't focus on the poop jokes. Focus on the creativity.

Ask them:

By focusing on the making of the story, you’re validating their interest while steering the conversation toward something more substantive than just laughing at the word "underpants."

The Dav Pilkey universe—Dog Man, Captain Underpants, and Cat Kid—is the defining literary experience for the modern elementary student.

It’s loud, it’s crude, and it’s occasionally annoying to listen to. But it’s also deeply human, neurodivergent-friendly, and a massive win for literacy. With the movie coming in 2026, now is the perfect time to lean in, buy a copy of Dog Man, and maybe—just maybe—laugh at a fart joke or two.

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