I hear this at almost every school event: "My kid only reads Dog Man. When are they going to start reading real books?"

Here is the no-BS reality: Graphic novels are not just "real" reading; in some ways, they are more cognitively demanding than text-only books. When a child reads a graphic novel, their brain is performing "multimodal" processing. They aren't just decoding words; they are simultaneously interpreting facial expressions, "reading" the pacing of the panels, and connecting visual cues to the dialogue.

For a kid with ADHD or dyslexia, the visual scaffolding of Dog Man provides the confidence to tackle complex vocabulary that they might skip in a dense block of text. Dav Pilkey (who has ADHD and dyslexia himself) intentionally uses sophisticated words—terms like "melancholy," "reprehensible," and "anthropomorphic"—wrapped in silly illustrations.

If your kid finishes a 200-page graphic novel in one sitting, they aren't "skimming." They are experiencing "flow state" reading. That is the ultimate goal.

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Dav Pilkey is the undisputed king of the elementary school library for a reason. He respects the "kid" perspective.

Captain Underpants and Dog Man lean heavily into the "absurd." To an adult, a cop with a dog's head sewn onto a human body is weird. To a 7-year-old, it’s the funniest thing since sliced bread. This "low-brow" humor is the hook that keeps them turning pages.

Pilkey frames these stories as being written and drawn by two kids, George and Harold. This makes the art feel attainable. It’s why you see so many kids trying to draw their own comics after reading. It’s not just a book; it’s an invitation to create.

Hidden behind the "Flip-O-Ramas" and puns are surprisingly deep themes. Dog Man deals with redemption (through the character of Petey the Cat), the importance of doing good, and the power of love. It’s "brain rot" on the surface, but heart-heavy underneath.

Mark your calendars for January 31, 2025. DreamWorks is bringing Dog Man to the big screen.

This is a major shift for the fandom. For years, Dog Man has been a private, "on the page" experience. Now, it’s going to be a "on the screen" cultural moment, much like The Bad Guys movie or The Wild Robot.

What to expect:

Check out our guide on the Dog Man movie age ratings and content

Eventually, your kid will hit the end of the series (or you will get tired of seeing the same covers). Here are the best "next steps" organized by what they liked about Dog Man.

Find more alternatives to Dog Man for your specific child

Let’s be real: some parents hate Dog Man because of the "toilet humor." There are jokes about poop, pee, and "living spray."

The Screenwise Take: It’s harmless. In the grand scheme of digital media—where your kid could be stumbling onto toxic YouTube shorts or aggressive Roblox chats—a book about a dog-headed cop is wholesome.

If the humor bothers you, use it as a teaching moment about "time and place" humor. We can laugh at a "poop" joke in a Dav Pilkey book, but we don't tell those jokes at Grandma's dinner table.

If your school or teacher is discouraging graphic novels, it’s okay to push back gently. Current literacy research (and organizations like the American Library Association) heavily support graphic novels as a bridge to literacy.

According to community data from Screenwise parents, roughly 65% of kids in grades 2-4 are regularly reading graphic novels as their primary "for fun" reading. You are not alone, and your kid isn't "behind."

Dog Man is a win. It’s a win for literacy, a win for creativity, and a win for getting kids off screens and into pages. With the movie coming in 2026, now is the time to lean into the craze rather than fight it.

Next Steps:

Learn more about the science of visual literacy and graphic novels