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Quick answer: If you loved Captain Underpants, try Dog Man, Cat Kid Comic Club, The Bad Guys, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Big Nate and Timmy Failure. Each one is a silly, laugh-out-loud book full of pranks, comics and heroes that kids love.
Dav Pilkey's 1997 book introduces George and Harold, two fourth-grade pranksters who love making comic books. When they hypnotize their mean principal, Mr. Krupp, he turns into their comic hero, Captain Underpants, who fights villains in his underwear and cape. The books mix chapters with comics and “Flip-O-Rama” animations. Readers love its jokes and energy. These books share its humor and its appeal to reluctant readers.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Age | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dog Man | Dav Pilkey | 6-10 | readers who want more Pilkey |
| Cat Kid Comic Club | Dav Pilkey | 6-10 | readers who like making comics |
| The Bad Guys | Aaron Blabey | 6-10 | readers who like silly villains |
| Diary of a Wimpy Kid | Jeff Kinney | 8-12 | readers who like school humor |
| Big Nate | Lincoln Peirce | 8-12 | readers who like comic strips |
| Timmy Failure | Stephan Pastis | 8-12 | readers who like hopeless detectives |
| The Stinky Cheese Man | Jon Scieszka | 5-9 | readers who like silly fairy tales |
| Hilo | Judd Winick | 8-12 | readers who like action comics |
| Bad Kitty | Nick Bruel | 6-9 | readers who like naughty pets |
| The Day My Butt Went Psycho! | Andy Griffiths | 8-12 | readers who like gross humor |
| Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life | James Patterson | 8-12 | readers who like pranks |
| Wayside School | Louis Sachar | 7-11 | readers who like silly schools |
| Investigators | John Patrick Green | 7-10 | readers who like comic agents |
| Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea | Ben Clanton | 5-8 | younger readers |
| The 13-Storey Treehouse | Andy Griffiths | 7-10 | readers who like wild adventures |
1. Dog Man by Dav Pilkey
A half-dog, half-man cop.
Best for: readers who want more Pilkey.
2. Cat Kid Comic Club by Dav Pilkey
Baby frogs make their own comics.
Best for: readers who like making comics.
3. The Bad Guys by Aaron Blabey
Animal bad guys try to be heroes.
Best for: readers who like silly villains.
4. Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
A boy survives middle school.
Best for: readers who like school humor.
5. Big Nate by Lincoln Peirce
A sixth grader's comic disasters.
Best for: readers who like comic strips.
6. Timmy Failure by Stephan Pastis
A clueless boy detective.
Best for: readers who like hopeless detectives.
7. The Stinky Cheese Man by Jon Scieszka
Fractured fairy tales.
Best for: readers who like silly fairy tales.
8. Hilo by Judd Winick
A boy falls from the sky.
Best for: readers who like action comics.
9. Bad Kitty by Nick Bruel
A kitty throws tantrums.
Best for: readers who like naughty pets.
10. The Day My Butt Went Psycho! by Andy Griffiths
A boy's butt runs away.
Best for: readers who like gross humor.
11. Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life by James Patterson
A boy tries to break every rule.
Best for: readers who like pranks.
12. Wayside School by Louis Sachar
A school built sideways.
Best for: readers who like silly schools.
13. Investigators by John Patrick Green
Two alligator agents.
Best for: readers who like comic agents.
14. Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea by Ben Clanton
A narwhal and a jellyfish become friends.
Best for: younger readers.
15. The 13-Storey Treehouse by Andy Griffiths
Two friends live in a crazy treehouse.
Best for: readers who like wild adventures.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick is a real, widely available book that shares something specific with Captain Underpants: its tone, its themes, its pace or the kind of characters it puts at the center. We mixed well-known favorites with a few less obvious titles, and we noted who each book suits best so you can match it to the reader. Where a book belongs to a series, we list the first volume so you can start at the beginning.
If you are not sure where to begin, start with the first three picks in the table: they are the closest match to Captain Underpants. The rest of the list moves further out, so it works well once you know which part of the original you liked most. If a pick is part of a longer series, read the first book before you commit, and check the age or content notes in the table before passing a book to a younger reader.
How to Choose
For more Pilkey, Dog Man and Cat Kid Comic Club are the obvious next reads. For silly humor, The Bad Guys, Wayside School and The 13-Storey Treehouse are favorites. Older kids will enjoy Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Big Nate.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Captain Underpants about?
Two boys hypnotize their principal into becoming a superhero in underwear.
What age is it for?
It suits readers about 7 to 10.
How many books are there?
Twelve main books, plus spin-offs.
Is it good for reluctant readers?
Yes. Its comics and humor appeal to kids who don't like reading.
Why was it challenged?
Some adults objected to its rude humor.
Is there a movie?
Yes. An animated film came out in 2017.
What should my child read next?
Dog Man.
Who are George and Harold?
Two fourth-grade best friends who love pranks and drawing comics.
What is Flip-O-Rama?
A simple flip-book trick in the books that makes pictures look animated.