book review on dog man

Common Sense Media

Movie & TV reviews for parents

• For Parents
• For Educators
• Our Work and Impact

Or browse by category:

• Movie Reviews
• Best Movie Lists
• Best Movies on Netflix, Disney+, and More

Common Sense Selections for Movies

50 Modern Movies All Kids Should Watch Before They're 12

• Best TV Lists
• Best TV Shows on Netflix, Disney+, and More
• Common Sense Selections for TV
• Video Reviews of TV Shows

Best Kids' Shows on Disney+

Best Kids' TV Shows on Netflix

• Book Reviews
• Best Book Lists
• Common Sense Selections for Books

8 Tips for Getting Kids Hooked on Books

50 Books All Kids Should Read Before They're 12

• Game Reviews
• Best Game Lists

Common Sense Selections for Games

• Video Reviews of Games

Nintendo Switch Games for Family Fun

• Podcast Reviews
• Best Podcast Lists

Common Sense Selections for Podcasts

Parents' Guide to Podcasts

• App Reviews
• Best App Lists

Social Networking for Teens

Gun-Free Action Game Apps

Reviews for AI Apps and Tools

• YouTube Channel Reviews
• YouTube Kids Channels by Topic

Parents' Ultimate Guide to YouTube Kids

YouTube Kids Channels for Gamers

• Preschoolers (2-4)
• Little Kids (5-7)
• Big Kids (8-9)
• Pre-Teens (10-12)
• Teens (13+)
• Screen Time
• Social Media
• Online Safety
• Identity and Community

Why Your Kid Should Read Banned Books

• Family Tech Planners
• Digital Skills
• All Articles
• Latino Culture
• Black Voices
• Asian Stories
• Native Narratives
• LGBTQ+ Pride
• Best of Diverse Representation List

Multicultural Books

YouTube Channels with Diverse Representations

Podcasts with Diverse Characters and Stories

Parents' guide to, dog man: dog man, book 1.

• Common Sense Says
• Parents Say 31 Reviews
• Kids Say 46 Reviews

Common Sense Media Review

Riotous, silly fun with soft touch by Underpants creator.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Dog Man kicks off a new comic novel series by Dav Pilkey, creator of the popular Captain Underpants series. It's presented as a comic by George and Harold, fourth-grade characters from the Captain Underpants books. The first chapter details how Dog Man was surgically created…

Why Age 7+?

Cartoon violence including surgical creation of Dog Man after an officer and his

Some potty humor involving "pee" and "poop."

Any Positive Content?

Dog Man's relationship with the police chief demonstrates kindness, loyalty, pat

Dog Man repeatedly saves the day with creative problem-solving. He's devoted to

Author's note encourages readers (and reassures adults) by relating how humor mo

Violence & Scariness

Cartoon violence including surgical creation of Dog Man after an officer and his dog are blown up, more explosions, slapstick accidents on a playground, and a battle involving a hot dog army getting eaten alive. A supervisor tends to yell at his employees.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Positive Messages

Dog Man's relationship with the police chief demonstrates kindness, loyalty, patience, and forgiveness. When all seems lost, creative thinking can point to a solution. Actions have consequences you can't always control. Strong support for kids who may not feel like they're a good fit for the classroom.

Positive Role Models

Dog Man repeatedly saves the day with creative problem-solving. He's devoted to the irascible police chief, who's infuriated by everything about Dog Man: licks, affectionate jumps, dog hair, sleeping on the couch, peeing on the floor. But Dog Man's persistent affection and empathy win the chief over, and he finally returns Dog Man's affection. The police officers are considerate of their boss and feel bad when things don't go his way.

Educational Value

Author's note encourages readers (and reassures adults) by relating how humor motivated him to work through challenges of dyslexia. Extols the value of reading and education through a story about people becoming "supa dumb" when their books are destroyed. Dog behavior and traits (such as limited color perception) are woven into story. Some great vocabulary words ("obsequious"!), but also some intentional poor grammar and misspellings. End pages show how to draw key characters.

Parents need to know that Dog Man kicks off a new comic novel series by Dav Pilkey , creator of the popular Captain Underpants series . It's presented as a comic by George and Harold, fourth-grade characters from the Captain Underpants books. The first chapter details how Dog Man was surgically created after a dim-witted police officer and his dog were injured trying to defuse a bomb. There are some misspellings and poor grammar and a lot of juvenile humor involving bodily functions, explosions, and a drawing of a bare bottom. Pilkey shares how illustrated books and humor helped him work through early reading struggles due to dyslexia and led him to become a writer, and he lends cheerful support to kids who might feel out of step with teachers' expectations.

Where to Read

Parent and kid reviews.

• Parents say (31)
• Kids say (46)

Based on 31 parent reviews

Crosses the line

Great if you want your kids to act like jerks, what's the story.

DOG MAN revisits the goofy comics created by Harold and George in the Captain Underpants series. This collection of four short stories begins by explaining how Dog Man was surgically created after a police officer and his canine companion were badly injured in an explosion. Subsequent chapters pit Dog Man against his nemesis, Petey the cat, as Petey participates in a nefarious plot to replace the police chief with a robot who'll follow the mayor's every command; erases all the world's books and makes everyone insufferably dumb; and tries to destroy all dogs while triggering the creation of an army of animated hot dogs. In each story, Dog Man's cleverness helps him cuff the cat.

Is It Any Good?

The always cheeky Dav Pilkey stays true to form with this unapologetically giddy comic series start featuring a clever dog-hearted cop devoted to his job -- and his boss. Dog Man features typical bathroom humor (readers will solve the mystery of who pooped in the police chief's office long before the chief does), but it also has an unabashed sweet streak. When the chief feels he hasn't a friend in the world, Dog Man stays by his side, despite a history of being scolded by his boss.

The graphic novel is supposed to look as if it were drawn by fourth-graders for fourth-graders, and some parents will recognize their own children's sense of humor in this. Pilkey pokes fun at those who clutch their pearls over gross, goofy books, inserting a scolding letter from George's teacher denouncing his disruptive "comix" and urging his parents to consider "some kind of behavior modification drug to cure his 'creative streak.'"

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about empathy in Dog Man . How does the police chief's relationship with Dog Man change, and why?

What makes stories with poop jokes and gross humor so appealing?

Pilkey's books are often challenged by parents and educators. Are you more interested in books adults find distasteful? Or do you think the critics have a point?

Book Details

• Author : Dav Pilkey
• Illustrator : Dav Pilkey
• Genre : Humor
• Topics : Adventures , Cats, Dogs, and Mice , Friendship
• Book type : Fiction
• Publisher : Graphix
• Publication date : August 30, 2016
• Publisher's recommended age(s) : 7 - 18
• Number of pages : 240
• Available on : Nook, Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
• Last updated : January 25, 2019

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

Suggest an Update

What to read next.

The 13-Story Treehouse: The Treehouse Books, Book 1

Little Robot

Graphic novels and memoirs, graphic novels that teach history, related topics.

• Cats, Dogs, and Mice

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

• ADMIN AREA MY BOOKSHELF MY DASHBOARD MY PROFILE SIGN OUT SIGN IN

Awards & Accolades

Our Verdict

New York Times Bestseller

IndieBound Bestseller

From the Dog Man series , Vol. 1

by Dav Pilkey ; illustrated by Dav Pilkey ; color by Jose Garibaldi ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 30, 2016

What a wag.

What do you get from sewing the head of a smart dog onto the body of a tough police officer? A new superhero from the incorrigible creator of Captain Underpants.

Finding a stack of old Dog Man comics that got them in trouble back in first grade, George and Harold decide to craft a set of new(ish) adventures with (more or less) improved art and spelling. These begin with an origin tale (“A Hero Is Unleashed”), go on to a fiendish attempt to replace the chief of police with a “Robo Chief” and then a temporarily successful scheme to make everyone stupid by erasing all the words from every book (“Book ’Em, Dog Man”), and finish off with a sort of attempted alien invasion evocatively titled “Weenie Wars: The Franks Awaken.” In each, Dog Man squares off against baddies (including superinventor/archnemesis Petey the cat) and saves the day with a clever notion. With occasional pauses for Flip-O-Rama featurettes, the tales are all framed in brightly colored sequential panels with hand-lettered dialogue (“How do you feel, old friend?” “Ruff!”) and narrative. The figures are studiously diverse, with police officers of both genders on view and George, the chief, and several other members of the supporting cast colored in various shades of brown. Pilkey closes as customary with drawing exercises, plus a promise that the canine crusader will be further unleashed in a sequel.

Pub Date: Aug. 30, 2016

ISBN: 978-0-545-58160-8

Page Count: 240

Publisher: Graphix/Scholastic

Review Posted Online: May 31, 2016

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2016

GENERAL GRAPHIC NOVELS & COMICS

Share your opinion of this book

More In The Series

BOOK REVIEW

by Dav Pilkey ; illustrated by Dav Pilkey color by Jose Garibaldi & Wes Dzioba

by Dav Pilkey ; illustrated by Dav Pilkey ; color by Jose Garibaldi & Wes Dzioba

by Dav Pilkey ; illustrated by Dav Pilkey ; color by Jose Garibaldi

More by Dav Pilkey

More About This Book

SEEN & HEARD

BOOK TO SCREEN

QUEEN OF THE WORLD!

by Jennifer L. Holm & illustrated by Matthew Holm ‧ RELEASE DATE: Dec. 27, 2005

In a graphic novelette illustrated in minimal, two-color style, the Holms introduce a small, klutzy mouse with a very big imagination. Babymouse compensates for the lack of glamour, excitement and adventure in her everyday life by mentally casting herself as Queen, as a space explorer, as star of “Babymouse vs. the Squid,” and more at the drop of a hat—all while fretting that she hasn’t been invited to nemesis Felicia Furrypaws’ slumber party. But, finally trading her book report for an invitation, she discovers that the party’s a mean and gossipy bore—so it’s off to steady friend Wilson the Weasel’s for cupcakes and a horror movie. Young readers will happily fall in line to follow Babymouse through both ordinary pratfalls (“Typical!” is her watchword) and extraordinary flights of fancy—both of which continue in Babymouse, Our Hero ($5.95, ISBN 0-375-83230-0; PLB $12.99, ISBN 0-375-93230-5). (Graphic fiction. 7-9)

Pub Date: Dec. 27, 2005

ISBN: 0-375-83229-7

Page Count: 96

Publisher: Random House

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2005

More by Jennifer L. Holm

by Jennifer L. Holm ; illustrated by Matthew Holm

by Jennifer L. Holm ; illustrated by Matthew Holm & Lark Pien

by Jennifer L. Holm ; illustrated by Savanna Ganucheau

SARDINE IN OUTER SPACE

by Emmanuel Guibert & illustrated by Joann Sfar & translated by Sasha Watson ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 1, 2006

Taking a seat in first class aboard the graphic-novels-for-preteens train, this import features a carrot-topped lass who travels the starways with her piratical uncle Yellow Shoulders, foiling the plots of Supermuscleman, nefarious Chief Executive Dictator of the Universe. Presented in small sequential panels of brightly hued cartoon art and spacious dialogue balloons, Sardine’s adventures take her from the space prison Azkatraz to Planet Discoball (for a dance contest presided over by Empress Laser Diskette and her offspring, Prince Beejeez), from encounters with deadly, as well as thoroughly nerve-wracking, Honkfish to a deliciously violent round of “No-Child-Left-Behind-School II,” a virtual game. With nonstop action, humor geared to multiple levels of cultural awareness and the promise of more episodes to come, even readers stubbornly resisting the trendy format’s lure will find that, as Supermuscleman sneers shortly before gorily blasting his own foot, “Resistance is futile.” (Graphic novel. 7-9)

Pub Date: May 1, 2006

ISBN: 1-59643-126-1

Page Count: 128

Publisher: First Second/Roaring Brook

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2006

GENERAL GRAPHIC NOVELS & COMICS | CHILDREN'S SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY

More by Emmanuel Guibert

by Emmanuel Guibert ; illustrated by Marc Boutavant

by Emmanuel Guibert & illustrated by Joann Sfar & translated by Elisabeth Brizzi & Alexis Siegel

• Discover Books Fiction Thriller & Suspense Mystery & Detective Romance Science Fiction & Fantasy Nonfiction Biography & Memoir Teens & Young Adult Children's
• News & Features Bestsellers Book Lists Profiles Perspectives Awards Seen & Heard Book to Screen Kirkus TV videos In the News
• Kirkus Prize Winners & Finalists About the Kirkus Prize Kirkus Prize Judges
• Magazine Current Issue All Issues Manage My Subscription Subscribe
• Writers’ Center Hire a Professional Book Editor Get Your Book Reviewed Advertise Your Book Launch a Pro Connect Author Page Learn About The Book Industry
• More Kirkus Diversity Collections Kirkus Pro Connect My Account/Login
• About Kirkus History Our Team Contest FAQ Press Center Info For Publishers
• Privacy Policy
• Terms & Conditions
• Reprints, Permission & Excerpting Policy

© Copyright 2024 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Popular in this Genre

Hey there, book lover.

We’re glad you found a book that interests you!

Please select an existing bookshelf

Create a new bookshelf.

We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!

Please sign up to continue.

It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!

Already have an account? Log in.

Trouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.

Almost there!

• Industry Professional

Welcome Back!

Sign in using your Kirkus account

Contact us: 1-800-316-9361 or email [email protected].

Don’t fret. We’ll find you.

Magazine Subscribers ( How to Find Your Reader Number )

If You’ve Purchased Author Services

Don’t have an account yet? Sign Up.

Diabolical Plots

From Inspiration to Ink…

BOOK REVIEW: Dog Man by Dav Pilkey

written by David Steffen

Dog Man is a 2016 graphic novel for children written and drawn by Dav Pilkey, the creator of the Captain Underpants books. Just as, in the Captain Underpants books the Captain Underpants comics were invented by in-book characters George and Harold, Dog Man is their newest creation.

The story begins with a villainous attack that leaves a policeman with a dying head and a dog with a dying body. A fast-thinking ER nurse proposes a drastic procedure to try to make the most of a dire situation, and soon Dog Man is born, half cop, half dog, with the strengths (and weaknesses) of both. Dog Man is the new hero extraordinaire, beloved by all and eager to save the day! Dog Man will face off against Petey the Cat and other dastardly villains, foiling their plots and saving the day!

Dog Man is a great book for kids in early grade school. It’s the kind of books that kids love to read and especially just as they’re learning to read the funny kid-targeted jokes and funny illustrations will encourage them to come back for more. And if they like this book, there is an ongoing series still being published. Highly recommended!

If you ever get a chance to go to a book signing with Dav Pilkey, I would highly recommend it as well. He is great with the kids and has a great energy, and he takes the time to give each kid some attention, looking at drawings they make just for him.

Published by

David Steffen

David Steffen is an editor, publisher, and writer. If you like what he does you can visit the Support page or buy him a coffee ! He is probably best known for being co-founder and administrator of The Submission Grinder , a donation-supported tool to help writers track their submissions and find publishers for their work . David is also the editor-in-chief here at Diabolical Plots . He is also the editor and publisher of The Long List Anthology: More Stories From the Hugo Award Nomination List series. David also (sometimes) writes fiction, and you can follow on BlueSky for updates on cross-stitch projects and occasionally other things. View all posts by David Steffen

4 thoughts on “BOOK REVIEW: Dog Man by Dav Pilkey”

My boys *LOVE* Dog Man. The 4 year old in particular is obsessed. My mother-in-law just sewed him a Dog Man tee-shirt and his eyes were about as big as I’ve ever seen!

• Pingback: BOOK REVIEW: Dog Man Unleashed by Dav Pilkey – Diabolical Plots

Hi Dave when will you make a dog man movie

It’s coming out in 2024, also it dav not Dave

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

The Dog Man Books: A Guide for Parents and Teachers

For whom does the ball roll, anyways? We're answering your biggest questions about the Dog Man book series by Dav Pilkey.

CJ Connor is a cozy mystery and romance writer whose main goal in life is to make their dog proud. They are a Pitch Wars alumnus and an Author Mentor Match R9 mentor. Their debut mystery novel BOARD TO DEATH is forthcoming from Kensington Books. Twitter: @cjconnorwrites | cjconnorwrites.com

View All posts by CJ Connor

If there’s anything Dav Pilkey is a master at, it’s creating chapter books that kids can’t get their hands on fast enough. I tore through the Captain Underpants books as an elementary schooler and, almost 20 years later, am overjoyed that he’s created a series for the next generation of young readers: the  Dog Man books.

Parents and educators, we’re answering your most common questions about the series today. Read on to learn all of the essential lore and what you need to know to appreciate the series as much as your children or students.

What Are The Dog Man  Books About?

How Many Dog Man Books are There?

As of 2019, there are seven published books in the series. For Whom the Ball Rolls is the most recent addition. The next book in the series,  Fetch-22 , will be released on December 20th.

What is the Dog Man Series Reading Order?

Including Fetch-22 , the current series order is:

You may notice a theme in this list: many of the titles are allusions to classic literary works. And who said that comics couldn’t be educational?

Who Wrote the Dog Man Books?

Pikley is also the writer behind The Adventures of Super Diaper Baby , Ricky Ricotta’s Mighty Robot , and The Dragon Tales . Chances are that if you’ve known any elementary school students within the past decade-and-a-half, you’ve heard of at least one book by Dav Pilkey.

What is the Dog Man  Reading Level?

The series’s official Lexile level is GN390L , which puts its reading level at around 2nd–3rd grade. The fun illustrations and engaging plot make it a popular series among early readers who are just starting to pick up chapter books.

Who Are Some of the Main Dog Man Characters?

Since the series is now seven books long and running, jumping into the series can be intimidating for a newcomer. Here’s a primer on a few important characters from the series to help you out:

When is the Next Dog Man Book Coming out?

Although Pilkey hasn’t yet announced any releases for 2020, the series is so beloved among elementary students that we imagine Fetch-22 isn’t the last we’ll see of this crusading canine.

Are There Any Dog man   Games or Toys?

If you’re doing your winter shopping early,  Dog Man toys could be a great choice for little readers. While Scholastic hasn’t yet released a board or video game, they do have plush dolls  of many of the main characters available for purchase.

Once your children or students have read through the whole series, what should you give them next to keep their love of books alive? Check out these recommended reading lists to discover books perfect for little bookworms:

You Might Also Like