Dav Pilkey Books in Order

This reading order guide provides the complete list of Dav Pilkey books in order, from the very first to the latest, so you won’t miss anything!

Dav Pilkey is more than a name of the author of some of the most popular children’s books – he is a creative person and the children’s books that everybody loves to read wouldn’t have been made if it weren’t for the creator of the characters like Captain Underpants, Dog Man, and Dragon. The man behind the pen name was born David Murray Pilkey Jr., on the 4th of March, 1966, in Cleveland, Ohio. Dav had an amazing and enormous imagination for his drawings and the walks at school, where he had not only one but a couple of problems. After being diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia at a very young age, he struggled to stay still and concentrate during the lessons. While it affected him negatively, he managed to use the energy in his favor and thus turned it into his biggest asset. He was expelled because of his bad behavior and instead of sitting still, he spent the time drawing weird characters and fantasizing about the adventures that would later be the opening of Captain Underpants.

What really puts Dav Pilkey on top and makes him one of the most inspiring writers is the way he handled those hard times and turned them into literature that makes children laugh, learn, and empathize. Regardless of the prophecy that he wouldn’t make it, Dav persisted in drawing, writing, and having faith in his uniqueness. His first book was published while he was still in college, and then a couple of years later, his career shot off like a rocket. The books are not only amusing, but they also educate kids about friendship, courage, and empathy through the framework of imagination. The use of simple language, playful humor, and unforgettable characters in Pilkey’s work are few who write in such a way that children understand it easily.

Dav has always been a big supporter of creativity and individuality, during his whole working life. His publications have been granted many awards and even converted to movies and series of animation. He follows the steps of people like Dr. Seuss and Van Gogh, and usually says that his storytelling was his saving soul. Currently he keeps up his writing and drawing, and is living with his wife, Sayuri, in between Seattle, Washington, and Japan. Through a prank-loving superhero in underwear or a half-dog, half-man police officer, Dav Pilkey keeps on telling us that being different is a superpower that we shouldn’t forget — and that laughter could be the quickest way to have an impact on the world.