When our son first discovered Dog Man, by Dav Pilkey we assumed it was just goofy drawings and immature jokes. But tucked inside all that silliness were clever bits of writing, genuinely funny plots, and characters he couldn’t resist. Something surprising happened—he couldn’t put it down. By the time he was seven, he was completely hooked. We ended up collecting every book in the series, and even now, as he heads toward nine, he still loves them and rereads them often.
The “Dog Man Effect”
Here’s what we’ve noticed:
- The books are playful and colorful, which draws kids in before they even realize they’re reading.
- The text may look simple, but those chat bubbles are packed with dialogue, character motivation, and plot.
- The humor keeps kids turning pages and the more they read, the more fluent they become.
- The books are quite thick, usually around 250 pages, yet somehow, our kid finishes them in one sitting when they get really into it. Even when they don’t, they won’t hear me calling them because they’re so deep into the story!
- Even our 5-year-old, who can’t read yet, loves the illustrations! They’ll flip through the book just to follow the pictures. No wonder there’s a Dog Man movie!
The “Dog Man” series quickly became his go-to book for car rides. It slips right into his backpack next to his trusty water bottle, and it never fails to keep him entertained on the go.
Why Parents Shouldn’t Dismiss Graphic Novels
A lot of parents (me included, at first!) wonder: “Do these books count?” The answer: absolutely.
- They build reading stamina: finishing a whole book can feel doable.
- They teach visual literacy: kids follow story arcs through both words and pictures.
- They bridge the gap: once a child falls in love with one series, it’s easier to branch into others.
Other Series That Can Also Hook Kids Early
If your child loves Dog Man, they might also get pulled into:
- Captain Underpants (by the same author, Dav Pilkey)
- Cat Kid Comic Club (by the same author, Dav Pilkey)
- Amulet (graphic novel fantasy series)
- The Baby-Sitters Club (graphic novel edition)
These books aren’t just “kid favorites.” They’re stepping stones into a world of stories.
Final Thoughts
Graphic novels might not look like traditional reading, but don’t underestimate their power.
For our kids, Dog Man was the gateway. It’s silly, yes—but it gave them a reason to read every day. And that joy of reading? That’s what really matters.
