TL;DR: Dog Man is the undisputed king of elementary school libraries. Created by Dav Pilkey (the Captain Underpants guy), these graphic novels are packed with potty humor, but they’re also a secret weapon for turning reluctant readers into bookworms. With a major Dog Man movie hitting theaters in January 2025, the hype is about to go nuclear.
If your kid is obsessed, they’re in good company—about 80% of 2nd to 4th graders have read at least one of these. Here’s how to handle the farts and find the heart.
If you haven't had the "pleasure" of reading one yet, the premise is peak 8-year-old logic: A police officer (Officer Knight) and his police dog (Greg) are injured in an explosion. To save them, a "harebrained" surgery fuses the dog’s head onto the man’s body. Voila: Dog Man.
He’s a "Supa Cop" who still has dog instincts—meaning he fights crime, but he also rolls in dead fish and licks the Chief’s face at inappropriate moments.
The books are framed as being "written and illustrated" by George and Harold, the two mischievous protagonists from the Captain Underpants series. This "meta" layer explains why the spelling is sometimes wonky and the art looks like it was done with a Sharpie on a bus—it's supposed to look like a kid made it.
It’s easy to dismiss Dog Man as "brain rot" because of the toilet jokes, but there’s a reason these books have sold over 60 million copies.
- The "Naughty" Factor: Kids feel like they’re getting away with something. When a book features a character named "Flat Petey" or has eleven different euphemisms for passing gas, it feels rebellious.
- Visual Literacy: For kids who find a wall of text intimidating, the graphic novel format is a lifeline. They can follow the story through the panels, which builds "reading stamina" without the fatigue of a traditional chapter book.
- The "Flip-O-Rama": Every book has interactive pages where you flip back and forth to "animate" a scene. It’s low-tech, but it makes the book feel like a toy.
- Surprisingly Deep Themes: I’m not joking. Starting around book three, A Tale of Two Kitties, the series starts tackling big stuff: empathy, the struggle to be "good" when you have a "bad" past (looking at you, Petey the Cat), and what makes a family.
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Mark your calendars for January 31, 2025. DreamWorks is bringing the series to the big screen, and the casting is actually pretty inspired.
- Pete Davidson is voicing Petey the Cat (the "world's most evilest cat").
- Lil Rel Howery is The Chief.
- Ricky Gervais is Flippy the Fish.
The plot follows the first few books, specifically the introduction of Lil Petey—a kitten clone of Petey who ends up being a sweet, optimistic influence on everyone. If your kid isn't already asking for the "Supa Buddies" merch, they will be by February.
Ages 5-7 (Grades K-1)
Many kids start here as a read-aloud. They’ll love the pictures and the slapstick. You might need to explain some of the literary puns (like why a book is titled For Whom the Ball Rolls). Parental Warning: Be prepared for them to repeat the potty jokes at the most inconvenient times (like during a quiet moment at a wedding).
Ages 8-10 (Grades 2-4)
This is the sweet spot. These kids are reading them independently, trading them at recess, and drawing their own versions in the back of their notebooks. At this age, the books are social currency.
Ages 11+ (Middle School)
Most kids age out of Dog Man by 5th or 6th grade, moving on to things like Cat Kid Comic Club (also by Pilkey) or more complex series like Wings of Fire. If they’re still reading Dog Man, it’s usually for comfort or because they’re waiting for the next release.
Learn more about the science of why graphic novels are "real" reading
Let's address the elephant in the room: The potty humor.
Yes, there is poop. Yes, there is pee. Yes, there are jokes about butts. If your family has a hard "no potty talk" rule, Dog Man is going to be a struggle for you.
However, consider the source. Dav Pilkey struggled with ADHD and dyslexia as a kid. He was frequently sent to the hallway for "acting out," and that’s where he started drawing these characters. He writes specifically for the kids who hate school or find reading hard.
If the price of getting a kid to read 200 pages is a few fart jokes, most educators (and Screenwise) would argue that’s a bargain.
Safety Considerations:
- Language: Mostly "stupid," "dumb," and "jerk." Nothing that will get them suspended, but "mildly rude" is the vibe.
- Violence: It’s cartoon violence. Think Looney Tunes. Bombs go off, characters get flattened, but they’re fine in the next panel.
- The "Teacher" Portrayal: Sometimes the adults/teachers in the books are portrayed as fun-killers or slightly incompetent. It’s the classic "kids vs. the world" trope.
If you want to move "beyond the fart jokes," try these conversation starters after your kid finishes a book:
- On Redemption: "Petey started out as a villain, but now he’s trying to be a good dad to Lil Petey. Do you think people can really change?"
- On Creativity: "I noticed the 'How to Draw' section in the back. Which character do you think is the hardest to draw?"
- On Humor: "What was the funniest part? Why was it funny—was it the words or what was happening in the pictures?" (This actually builds visual literacy skills).
Dog Man is silly, messy, and occasionally gross. It’s also a masterclass in engagement. If you have a child who avoids books, this series is a wide-open door.
Don't fight the hype—embrace it. And maybe get them some InvestiGators or The Bad Guys when they finish the Dog Man series.
- Check the library: Most libraries have long waitlists for these, so put them on hold now.
- Watch the trailer: Sit down with your kid and watch the Dog Man movie trailer together.
- Encourage drawing: If they like the books, get them a sketchbook. The "How to Draw" pages are a great gateway to art.
- Set boundaries: If the potty humor gets too much, it's okay to say, "Those jokes stay in the book; they don't come to the dinner table."
Check out our guide on handling potty humor and rude language in media