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Quick answer: If your child loves Dog Man, read Captain Underpants, Cat Kid Comic Club, The Bad Guys and Big Nate. All are laugh-out-loud comics and graphic novels perfect for new readers.
Dav Pilkey's series follows Dog Man, half dog and half police officer, as he fights crime with silly gags and heart. Kids love the jokes, the comic panels and the fast pace. The books below offer similar graphic novels and comic-style fun for ages 6 to 10, perfect for boys and girls who think reading is not their thing.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Captain Underpants | Dav Pilkey | 7-10 | the origin of Dog Man |
| Cat Kid Comic Club | Dav Pilkey | 6-10 | kids who draw |
| The Bad Guys | Aaron Blabey | 6-9 | villains turned heroes |
| Big Nate: In a Class by Himself | Lincoln Peirce | 7-11 | school comics |
| Diary of a Wimpy Kid | Jeff Kinney | 8-12 | diary comedies |
| Investigators: Take the Plunge | John Patrick Green | 6-10 | silly detectives |
| Hilo: The Boy Who Crashed to Earth | Judd Winick | 7-11 | robot adventures |
| Amulet: The Stonekeeper | Kazu Kibuishi | 8-12 | fantasy comics |
| Bone: Out from Boneville | Jeff Smith | 8-13 | epic comics |
| The Last Kids on Earth | Max Brallier | 8-12 | monster fun |
| Press Start! | Thomas Flintham | 6-9 | video game comics |
| Cleopatra in Space | Mike Maihack | 8-12 | space adventures |
| Babymouse: Queen of the World | Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm | 6-9 | girl power comics |
| Lunch Lady and the League of Librarians | Jarrett J. Krosoczka | 6-9 | superhero school |
| Calvin and Hobbes | Bill Watterson | 8-12 | comic strip classics |
1. Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey
Two pranksters hypnotize their principal into believing he is a superhero. Loud, silly and loved by reluctant readers.
Best for: the origin of Dog Man.
2. Cat Kid Comic Club by Dav Pilkey
Baby frogs learn to make comics with Li'l Petey. Funny and encouraging for young creators.
Best for: kids who draw.
3. The Bad Guys by Aaron Blabey
A wolf, a shark, a snake and a piranha try to be good. Fast and hilarious.
Best for: villains turned heroes.
4. Big Nate: In a Class by Himself by Lincoln Peirce
Nate is a sixth grader who loves trouble. Packed with comics and jokes.
Best for: school comics.
5. Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
Greg Heffley records his misadventures in middle school. A hugely popular illustrated diary.
Best for: diary comedies.
6. Investigators: Take the Plunge by John Patrick Green
Two police officers dive underwater to solve a case. Silly, with lots of wordplay.
Best for: silly detectives.
7. Hilo: The Boy Who Crashed to Earth by Judd Winick
A robot boy falls to Earth and makes friends. Funny, sweet and action-packed.
Best for: robot adventures.
8. Amulet: The Stonekeeper by Kazu Kibuishi
Siblings enter a magical world to save their mother. Beautiful art and a gripping story.
Best for: fantasy comics.
9. Bone: Out from Boneville by Jeff Smith
Three cousins are lost in a valley full of strange creatures. A classic of the all-ages comic.
Best for: epic comics.
10. The Last Kids on Earth by Max Brallier
A teen and his friends survive a monster apocalypse in a tree house. Full of illustrations and humour.
Best for: monster fun.
11. Press Start! by Thomas Flintham
Super Rabbit Boy fights Evil Lord Vicious in a video game world. Perfect for gamers.
Best for: video game comics.
12. Cleopatra in Space by Mike Maihack
A teenage Cleopatra travels to the future to save the galaxy. Fun and fast.
Best for: space adventures.
13. Babymouse: Queen of the World by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm
Babymouse longs for fame in a pink-tinted comic. Funny and encouraging.
Best for: girl power comics.
14. Lunch Lady and the League of Librarians by Jarrett J. Krosoczka
A cafeteria worker is a secret superhero. Quirky and quick.
Best for: superhero school.
15. Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson
A boy and his stuffed tiger go on adventures. A classic comic strip collection.
Best for: comic strip classics.
How to Choose
If your child loves Dav Pilkey, start with Captain Underpants and Cat Kid Comic Club. For comic-style stories, pick The Bad Guys, Big Nate or Investigators. For adventure and fantasy, try Hilo, Amulet or Bone. For a boy who loves video games, Press Start! is perfect. Many of these books are quick reads, so keep a few on hand for car rides. Graphic novels are real reading, and they build skills such as sequencing, inference and visual literacy. Mix comics with chapter books and picture books so your child has choices at every level.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Dog Man about?
A police dog with a human head fights crime alongside Chief and the cat villain Petey.
What age is Dog Man for?
About 6 to 10.
Is Dog Man a good book for reluctant readers?
Yes, the comic format keeps pages turning.
Where should I start with Dav Pilkey?
Dog Man is a good start, or Captain Underpants if you want the origin.
Are there more Dog Man books?
Yes, there are over a dozen in the series.
Is Dog Man too silly for older kids?
Most children outgrow it by 11 or 12, but the humour is still popular.
Why do kids like graphic novels?
The pictures break up the text, which makes longer stories less intimidating.
Which Dog Man book should I read first?
Start with Dog Man, the first book in the series.
Are there Dog Man movies?
Yes, an animated film was released in 2025.
Does Dog Man have a series for older kids?
Cat Kid Comic Club and Big Nate are good next steps.