Although you may not know who Dav Pilkey is, it is quite likely that you’re familiar with his work in children’s literature—and the white underpants of his most recognizable character.
Best known as the mind, pen, and heart behind the Captain Underpants series and the Dog Man author, Pilkey is a talented artist with a recognizable art style and an unmatched talent to captivate young readers, encourage their imagination, and nurture a love for reading.
But Dav Pilkey’s books are as fascinating as they are numerous, making it challenging for fans and parents who wish to explore the fascinating creative landscape of his published works.
Luckily, here is everything you need to know about Pilkey’s work.
- Who Is Dav Pilkey?
- How Many Books Has Dav Pilkey Written?
- Dav Pilkey Books in Order
- Beyond The Waistband Warrior
Who is Dav Pilkey?
David Murray Pilkey Jr. is one of America’s most recognizable children’s fiction writers, primarily due to the smashing success of his Captain Underpants and Dog Man series.
He has loved storytelling since he was very young. In fact, his iconic Captain Underpants character came to be during his second grade. His teacher ripped the comic and warned him that he would go nowhere if he kept making silly books, yet he persevered.
Ignoring his teacher proved to be the right choice, as he has penned multiple picture books for children, many of which have been adapted for the big and small screens and have been a tremendous success.
His works are all comic books and graphic novels, which allows him to showcase his whimsical art style and inventive narratives. The result has been stories that have fascinated children from multiple generations.
How Many Books Has Dav Pilkey Written?
Dav Pilkey is an exceptionally prolific writer, but determining the exact number of books he has authored is challenging due to the broad criteria.
Considering only the books and comics he has written and illustrated himself, Dav Pilkey has published 67 works thus far, which will likely increase as he remains an active writer.
However, if one chooses to include works in which he participated as an illustrator, along with the numerous activity books for children featuring his characters, the total number of Dav Pilkey books easily surpasses the hundred mark.
Dav Pilkey Books in Order
Most of Dav Pilkey’s books are published within the context of a specific series, so your best bet is to read them by series and in the order they were published.
However, remember that these are children’s books with an episodic nature and a loose continuity. Outside of missing a few references to previous episodes, you’re unlikely to encounter any issues if you read them out of order.
Below is a list of Dav Pilkey’s series, with their respective books organized in the ideal reading order. While most are arranged by publishing order, others are listed according to the author’s website.
The Dragon Series
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A Friend for Dragon (1991) |
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Dragon Gets By (1991) |
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Dragon’s Fat Cat (1992) |
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Dragon’s Halloween (1993) |
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Dragon’s Merry Christmas (1991) |
Dumb Bunnies Series
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The Dumb Bunnies (1994) |
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The Dumb Bunnies’ Easter (1995) |
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Make Way for Dumb Bunnies (1996) |
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The Dumb Bunnies Go to the Zoo (1997) |
Captain Underpants Series
Super Diaper Baby Series
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The Adventures of Super Diaper Baby (2002) |
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Super Diaper Baby 2: The Invasion of the Potty Snatchers (2011) |
Big Dog & Little Dog Series
Ricky Ricotta’s Mighty Robot Series
Dog Man Series
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Dog Man (2016) |
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Dog Man: Unleashed (2016) |
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Dog Man: A Tale of Two Kitties (2017) |
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Dog Man and Cat Kid (2017) |
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Dog Man: Lord of the Fleas (2018) |
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Dog Man: Brawl of the Wild (2018) |
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Dog Man: For Whom the Ball Rolls (2019) |
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Dog Man: Fetch-22 (2019) |
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Dog Man: Grime and Punishment (2020) |
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Dog Man: Mothering Heights (2021) |
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Dog Man: Twenty Thousand Fleas Under the Sea (2023) |
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Dog Man: The Scarlet Shedder (2024) |
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Dog Man: Big Jim Begins (2024) |
Cat Kid Comic Club Series
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Cat Kid Comic Club (2020) |
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Cat Kid Comic Club: Perspectives (2021) |
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Cat Kid Comic Club: On Purpose (2022) |
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Cat Kid Comic Club: Collaborations (2022) |
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Cat Kid Comic Club: Influencers (2023) |
Other Books
Even outside his main series, Dav Pilkey is a prolific author with many more illustrated series for children. For classification purposes, books in which he collaborated as an artist have been excluded, which means only the works solely authored by him are included in the list below.
Likewise, it’s worth noting that Pilkney withdrew and removed The Adventures of Ook and Gluk from sale because he considered it depicted and perpetuated “passively racist” imagery, which he deemed a mistake that needed to be rectified.
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World War Won (1987) |
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‘Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving (1990) |
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Kat Kong (1993) |
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Dogzilla (1993) |
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Dog Breath: The Horrible Trouble with Hally Tosis (1994) |
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The Moonglow Roll-O-Rama (1995) |
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The Hallo-Wiener (1995) |
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When Cats Dream (1996) |
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God Bless the Gargoyles (1996) |
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The Paperboy (1996) |
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The Silly Gooses (1998) |
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The Adventures of Ook and Gluk: Kung-Fu Cavemen from the Future (2010) |
Beyond The Waistband Warrior
Dav Pilkey’s books have a universal appeal that draws in children—as well as the inner children of every adult.
The distinctive art style, whimsical narrative, and non-patronizing approach to storytelling for children have made every book in his repertoire a treasure trove to encourage reading and the desire to imagine.
If you’re interested in whimsical and timeless stories, the Magic Tree House series and Matt Haig’s children’s books are fantastic options. For older children and young teens, consider popular titles like the Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan, FGTeeV books, Gravity Falls books, and the Harry Potter series.
If you’re wondering where to donate children’s books, these beloved titles are always appreciated by libraries, shelters, and literacy programs—especially in cities like Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, and Chicago, where many organizations welcome book donations for kids in need.
