If You Like Dog Man…
My local library posted their 50 most checked out books of 2024. The number one item for children’s books was the Dog Man series by Dav Pilkey. If you know a child in early elementary school, you undoubtedly know about Dav Pilkey and his universe of books, including Captain Underpants, Dog Man, and Cat Kid. Dog Man is a series of slapstick graphic novels that are purportedly written by characters from Captain Underpants. They include flipbook-like pages that you can flash back and forth for a feel of animation.
Below are other humorous choices, with lots of series and graphic novels, that fans of Dog Man are sure to enjoy.
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Doctor Proctor’s Fart Powder by Jo Nesbø, Mike Lowery, and Tara F. Chace (started 2007)
Nilly’s neighbor is a mad professor whose creations include industrial fart powder, which can blast you into outer space. Come for the gross-out humor, stay for the writing of Nesbø, better known for writing Scandinavian noir thrillers.
Tree House Books series by Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton (started 2011)
Andy and Terry are friends who live in a tree house. In each volume they overcome adversity (and silliness) to write a book for their publisher.
Bird and Squirrel series by James Burks (started 2012)
Bird and Squirrel are opposites and best friends. One brave and one fearful, the pair supports each other and embraces their differences. But this series is more pratfall than touchy feely, and kids will love the bright illustrations.
Giants Beware by Jorge Aguirre and Rafael Rosado (2012)
Claudette’s goal is to slay a giant. But her town is so boring that she fears nothing interesting will ever happen there. So she sets off on a giant-seeking adventure with her friends.
Hilo series by Judd Winick (started 2015)
Hilo fell to earth and isn’t sure who he is or what he’s doing there. D.J. and Gina do their best to help him and introduce earth. Full of big adventures and strange creatures, kids will love the fast-paced fun that Winick serves up.
Narwhal and Jelly series by Ben Clanton (started 2016)
Narwhal and Jelly are best friends who enjoy life in the sea. Each book has a set of short adventures full of silliness for kids and light morals for the grownups (like a shark teaching Narwhal about dental hygiene).
Catstronauts series by Drew Brockington (started 2017)
When all else fails, we shall call on cats to save the universe. Major Meowser, pilot Waffles, inventor Blanket, and science officer Pom Pom travel the galaxy to complete their missions. Author Brockington is a proud Space Camp graduate. : )
Sparks by Ian Boothby and Nina Matsumoto (started 2018)
My kid recommended this graphic novel series, about two cats who disguise themselves as a dog. They describe it as an action-adventure novel. Sounds pretty funny to me!
Garlic and the Vampire by Bree Paulsen (2021)
A witch and her vegetable creatures have to figure out what to do when the old abandoned house isn’t abandoned any more. Brave Garlic goes to face the new inhabitant. Cute and charming.