Grades
3 - 5
Fun Ways to Use Graphic Novels and Illustrated Books in Class
Engage striving readers and writers with a graphic biography writing assignment inspired by Dav Pilkey.
Imagine reading a book to your class with your students perched at the edge of their seats, eagerly anticipating every word and roaring with laughter at each punch line. The story is so compelling that when you finish reading it, even your striving writers are inspired to create their own. This isn’t an impossible fantasy — it’s the magic of Dav Pilkey’s Captain Underpants.
Luckily, there are several fun ways to use an illustrated book series like Captain Underpants — or graphic novels such as Dog Man, Cat Kid Comic Club, and more — in your classroom.
Veteran teacher Meghan Everette was initially reluctant to introduce Captain Underpants to her elementary school students, but she was thrilled when she finally did. Books that rely on illustrations do more than just captivate striving readers. They also help develop important reading and critical-thinking skills and can even inspire students’ own creative writing.
Everette was particularly moved by Dav Pilkey’s motivation to write the Captain Underpants series. Pilkey’s goal was to “encourage kids to be creative without worrying about being perfect,” so they would feel free to create stories just for fun, even if they don’t have impeccable spelling or flawless drawing skills. Everette quickly realized that the Captain Underpants series was the perfect introduction to a whole new style of writing for her students.
Once Everette began reading the first book in the Captain Underpants series with her class, her students were completely mesmerized and looked forward to reading a few new chapters every afternoon.
When you read Captain Underpants to your own class, discuss what you read together after each reading session. Make a list of character traits and ask students to predict what will happen next. Compare the elements of this novel featuring comic-style illustrations to a regular chapter book. How do the pictures, sound effects, and other visual elements help tell the story?
(Use this helpful graphic novel discussion guide to get the most out of reading graphic novels with your class!)
Hilarious comic book illustrations complement the outrageous, funny, action-packed storylines of these easy-to-read chapter books about a most unlikely superhero. Perfect for reluctant readers!
Title list:
• The Adventures of Captain Underpants
• The Attack of the Talking Toilets
• The Big, Bad Battle of the Bionic Booger Boy, Part 1
• The Big, Bad Battle of the Bionic Booger Boy, Part 2
• The Incredibly Naughty Cafeteria Ladies from Outer Space
• The Perilous Plot of Professor Poopypants
• The Wrath of the Wicked Wedgie Woman
Hardcover Book
The Captain Underpants Double-Crunchy Book o' Fun: Color Edition (From the Creator of Dog Man)
The Captain Underpants Double-Crunchy Book o' Fun is a selection of stories, comics, puzzles, jokes, Flip-O-Ramas, and other fun stuff from The Captain Underpants Extra-Crunchy Book o' Fun and The All New Captain Underpants Extra-Crunchy Book o' Fun 2, now in full color!
George likes to write. Harold likes to draw. They figure all superheroes look like they're wearing underpants - and so a new comic-book superhero is born. And this one's got Wedgie Power! The boys are just as creative in real life too. At the big football game, they put pepper in the cheerleaders' pom-poms, helium in the football, and itching powder in the coach's muscle rub. And Mr. Krupp, the mean principal, films it all! Now the boys have to behave, or else. That is, until their hypnotizing ring arrives. Then watch out, Principal Krupp!
Paperback Book
Captain Underpants and the Invasion of the Incredibly Naughty Cafeteria Ladies from Outer Space (#3)
Hardcover Book
Captain Underpants and the Perilous Plot of Professor Poopypants (#4) (Color Edition)
In the Captain Underpants series, protagonists George and Harold love to write their own comic stories — and your students will, too! To start, have your students read Pilkey’s four-page comic biography, where they will discover how the sometimes-troublemaker became a celebrated author.
After reading the biography, ask your students to identify five events in their own lives that were important to them and put them in chronological order. Then, using Pilkey’s model as a guide, have your students create their own mini biographies in comic book-style form. Even striving writers and artists will be able to create and share biographies that make them feel proud.
In Everette’s experience, “introducing students to new characters...and a fun new way to express themselves was rewarding for the kids and me. I saw imaginations ignite and confidence levels soar as students set pencil to paper.”
Holding an author study is another great way to get students engaged in books. Divide your classroom into small groups and give each group a different Dav Pilkey book to read and assess. Use the Dav Pilkey Author Study Collection to lead this exercise. Next, have each group present the book and encourage them to compare and contrast their findings. Not only will this spark great conversations, but also foster teamwork.
Shop more books by Dav Pilkey below! You can find all books and activities at The Teacher Store.
A perennial favorite of the elementary school set, take a deep dive into the world that is all Dav Pilkey.
Howl with laughter with Dog Man,the internationally bestselling series from Dav Pilkey,the creator of Captain Underpants!Dog Man is the crime-biting canine who is part dog, part man, and ALL HERO!
A paw-some box set of the first ten Dog Man books by worldwide bestselling author and artist Dav Pilkey.
Howl with laughter with Dog Man,the internationally bestselling series from Dav Pilkey,the creator of Captain Underpants!Dog Man is the crime-biting canine who is part dog,part man,and ALL HERO! This three-book boxed set includes the fourth,fifth,and sixth books in the Dog Man series: Dog Man and Cat Kid,Dog Man: Lord of the Fleas,and Dog Man: Brawl of the Wild.Dav Pilkey's wildly popular Dog Man series appeals to readers of all ages and explores universally positive themes,including empathy,kindness,persistence,and the importance of being true to one's self.
When a new bunch of baddies busts up the town, Dog Man is called into action, and this time he isn't alone. With a cute kitten and a remarkable robot by his side, our heroes must save the day by joining forces with an unlikely ally: Petey, the World's Most Evil Cat. But can the villainous Petey avoid vengeance and venture into virtue?
Is Dog Man bad to the bone? The heroic hound is sent to the pound for a crime he didn't commit! While his pals work to prove his innocence, Dog Man struggles to find his place among dogs and people. Being a part of both worlds, will he ever fully fit in with one?
Purportedly drawn by the main characters of Pilkey's hit, Captain Underpants, this wildly popular series features a half-canine crime fighter; his arch rival, Petey the Cat; Petey's good-hearted clone; a devoted robot; and...you really just have to read it. “Riotously funny"-SLJ
Petey the Cat is out of jail, and he has a brand-new lease on life. While Petey's reevaluated what matters most, Li'l Petey is struggling to find the good in the world. Can Petey and Dog Man stop fighting like cats and dogs long enough to put their paws together and work as a team? They need each other now more than ever - Li'l Petey (and the world) is counting on them!
Purportedly drawn by the main characters of Pilkey's hit, Captain Underpants, this wildly popular series features a half-canine crime fighter; his arch rival, Petey the Cat; Petey's good-hearted clone; a devoted robot; and...you really just have to read it. “Riotously funny"-SLJ
Dav Pilkey's wildly popular Dog Man series appeals to readers of all ages and explores universally positive themes, including empathy, kindness, persistence, and the importance of doing good.
Hardcover Book
Dog Man: Twenty Thousand Fleas Under the Sea: A Graphic Novel (Dog Man #11): From the Creator of Captain Underpants
Piggy has returned, and his newest plot is his most diabolical yet. WHAT other new villains are on the horizon? WHERE are they all coming from? And WHO will step forward to save the city when scoundrels sabotage our Supa Buddies?
In Cat Kid Comic Club, Li'l Petey, Flippy, and Molly introduce twenty-one rambunctious, funny, and talented baby frogs to the art of comic making. As the story unwinds with mishaps and hilarity, readers get to see the progress, mistakes, and improvements that come with practice and persistence.
Flippy, Molly, Li'l Petey, and twenty-one baby frogs each have something to say. Naomi and Melvin don't see eye to eye and Poppy perceives the world differently than her siblings. Will the baby frogs figure out how to work together and appreciate one another's point of view -- both inside and outside the classroom?
The comic club is going in all different directions! Naomi, Melvin, and siblings are each trying to find their purpose. Naomi has an idea to get rich quick that causes a lot of commotion and emotion. And when faced with rejections, the friends try and try again to stay true to their vision. To top it off, a surprise visitor comes to class to stir things up. Will a desire for money and power cloud Naomi's purpose? Is it quitting time? Will the club ever be the same?
Excitement and imagination run wild as Naomi, Melvin, Poppy, Gilbert, Curly, and their siblings get back to making comics with originality and laughter. But wait -- have they cleaned their rooms yet?!
A lonely little dragon ventures into the world looking for a friend. He is tricked into thinking he has found one after an apple falls on his head. He loves spending time with his new buddy! He becomes grief stricken when he believes the apple is lost to him. Will he have his friend back again?
These easy-to-read books feature the endearing blue dragon whose heart is always in the right place and who learns from each new experience. Popular illustrator Pilke brings gentle humor to each short chapter.
Pick a book. Grow a reader! With easy-to-read text, a short-story format, plenty of humor, and full-color artwork, these books will plant a love of reading!
Dragon is so excited for Halloween! He plans to carve a big, scary jack-o'-lantern and create a creepy costume. Unfortunately, Dragon can't find a big pumpkin, and he can't decide which costume to wear. Plus, when Dragon goes for a walk through the woods, he hears some unexpected growling -- yikes! Will Dragon's Halloween be filled with more tricks than treats?
Ricky Ricotta loves his Mighty Robot, but sometimes it's hard for a little mouse to have a best friend who's so big. One night, Ricky makes a wish: If only his Mighty Robot had another friend who was his own size so he wouldn't have to hang out with Ricky all the time. Little does Ricky know, his wish is about to come true. Evil Uncle Unicorn has traveled all the way from Uranus with a mean and nasty plan. He's built a giant Ladybot to trick the Mighty Robot so he can take over planet Earth. Once again, it's up to Ricky and his pals to save the day.
Ricky Ricotta and his Mighty Robot are in for a sticky, slimy surprise!
Paperback Book
Ricky Ricotta: Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot vs. the Mutant Mosquitoes from Mercury
Ricky Ricotta may be a small mouse, but he has a very big friend, a giant flying Robot! And when an evil, outerspace villain named Mr. Mosquito invades Earth with an army of Mutant Mosquitoes from Mercury, Ricky and his Robot know exactly what to do! Young readers will cheer as Ricky's Robot battles the bad guys. And when Ricky finds a very smart way to play a trick on Mr. Mosquito, it's plain to see that even a little mouse can be a big hero!
It's Ricky Ricotta's birthday, and as a special treat, his parents are taking him and his Mighty Robot to see dinosaurs at the museum. Too bad they've also invited Ricky's little cousin Lucy; she's a real pest! When they get to the museum, all the dinosaurs are missing their heads, because an evil spacebunny named General Jackrabbit from Jupiter has used the dino DNA to create Jurassic Jack Rabbits! Now it's up to the entire Ricotta family, including Lucy, to stop them from taking over the planet.
Ricky and his Mighty Robot have made a mess. They've been mean to Cousin Lucy, and now they must make it up to her. But their surprise present for Lucy turns into a trap when President Penguin from Pluto plots to take over Earth. Infuriated by the declaration that Pluto is no longer a planet, President Penguin and his penguins invade Earth and it is up to Ricky and his robot pal to defeat them - with some help from Ricky's cousin Lucy and her pets. Can Ricky, Lucy, and their friends defeat this tiny terror and keep Squeakyville safe?
Paperback Book
Ricky Ricotta: Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot vs. the Mecha-Monkeys from Mars
Ricky Ricotta is lucky to have his Mighty Robot as a best friend. They play, study, and even get in trouble together, and they always watch out for each other. That's what friends are for! In this book, Ricky and his Mighty Robot meet a mean little Martian named Major Monkey who plans to take over Earth with his monstrous Mecha-Monkeys. When Major Monkey plays a trick on Ricky's Robot, it's up to Ricky to rescue his friend and stop Major Monkey from menacing mousekind!
Paperback Book
Ricky Ricotta: Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot vs. the Voodoo Vultures from Venus
Ever wish you had a flying Robot for a best friend? Wouldn't it be great to have a Robot so big and powerful that nobody would ever mess with you again? Friendly Robots can be fun! But with giant friends come giant responsibilities. In this book, the evil Victor Von Vulture and his army of Voodoo Vultures from Venus are about to take over planet Earth. Only the super-smart tricks of Ricky and his Mighty Robot can send the bad guys packing for home!
Ricky Ricotta loves his Mighty Robot, but sometimes it's hard for a little mouse to have a best friend who's so big. One night, Ricky makes a wish: If only his Mighty Robot had another friend who was his own size so he wouldn't have to hang out with Ricky all the time. Little does Ricky know, his wish is about to come true. Evil Uncle Unicorn has traveled all the way from Uranus with a mean and nasty plan. He's built a giant Ladybot to trick the Mighty Robot so he can take over planet Earth. Once again, it's up to Ricky and his pals to save the day.
Paperback Book
Ricky Ricotta: Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot vs. the Uranium Unicorns from Uranus
Ricky Ricotta loves his Mighty Robot, but sometimes it's hard for a little mouse to have a best friend who's so big. One night, Ricky makes a wish: If only his Mighty Robot had another friend who was his own size so he wouldn't have to hang out with Ricky all the time. Little does Ricky know, his wish is about to come true. Evil Uncle Unicorn has traveled all the way from Uranus with a mean and nasty plan. He's built a giant Ladybot to trick the Mighty Robot so he can take over planet Earth. Once again, it's up to Ricky and his pals to save the day.
In the still before dawn, while the rest of the world is sleeping, a boy and his dog leave the comfort of their warm bed to deliver newspapers. As the boy pedals his bike along a route he knows by heart, his dog runs by his side, both enjoying a world that, before sunrise, belongs only to them.
Hally, the Tosis family dog, has such bad breath that Mr. and Mrs. Tosis plan to give her away, until she proves to be an invaluable watchdog.
Go wild with the Dumb Bunnies! Momma Bunny is really dumb. Poppa Bunny is even dumber. And Baby Bunny is the dumbest bunny of all.
