Pilkey
The Adventures of Captain Underpants
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Captain Underpants
Dav Pilkey - 12 books
The series that started it all. George and Harold are the in-universe creators of Dog Man, so reading Captain Underpants gives you the full backstory.
Series - Books in order
Dog Man books in order
by Dav Pilkey - 12 books - 2016-2024 - Updated June 2026
When a police officer and his dog are injured in the line of duty, a nurse surgically combines them into Dog Man, a crime-fighting hero with the head of a dog and the body of a human. Created by George Beard and Harold Hutchins (the kid characters from Captain Underpants), the series is told in comic-book format with intentional misspellings, flip-o-rama action, and surprisingly thoughtful themes about empathy and growth.
Pilkey
Dog Man
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1
Pilkey
Dog Man
✦
1
The short answer
Read in publication order, starting with Dog Man (2016). publication.
12 books - read in publication order
Show orderPublication order
Contains affiliate links| # | Book | Published | Rating | Where to read |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dog Man Dog ManStart | 2016 | 4.3 | Kindle $5.99Paperback $9.99Audible $5.99Bookshop $10.99 |
| 2 | Dog Man Unleashed Dog Man Unleashed | 2017 | 4.3 | Kindle $5.99Paperback $9.99Audible $5.99Bookshop $10.99 |
| 3 | Dog Man: A Tale of Two Kitties Dog Man: A Tale of Two Kitties | 2017 | 4.3 | Kindle $5.99Paperback $9.99Audible $5.99Bookshop $10.99 |
| 4 | Dog Man and Cat Kid Dog Man and Cat Kid | 2018 | 4.3 | Kindle $5.99Paperback $9.99Audible $5.99Bookshop $10.99 |
| 5 | Dog Man: Lord of the Fleas Dog Man: Lord of the Fleas | 2018 | 4.2 | Kindle $5.99Paperback $9.99Audible $5.99Bookshop $10.99 |
| 6 | Dog Man: Brawl of the Wild Dog Man: Brawl of the Wild | 2018 | 4.2 | Kindle $5.99Paperback $9.99Audible $5.99Bookshop $10.99 |
| 7 | Dog Man: For Whom the Ball Rolls Dog Man: For Whom the Ball Rolls | 2019 | 4.3 | Kindle $6.99Paperback $9.99Audible $5.99Bookshop $10.99 |
| 8 | Dog Man: Fetch-22 Dog Man: Fetch-22 | 2019 | 4.2 | Kindle $6.99Paperback $9.99Audible $5.99Bookshop $10.99 |
| 9 | Dog Man: Grime and Punishment Dog Man: Grime and Punishment | 2020 | 4.2 | Kindle $6.99Paperback $9.99Audible $5.99Bookshop $10.99 |
| 10 | Dog Man: Mothering Heights Dog Man: Mothering Heights | 2021 | 4.2 | Kindle $6.99Paperback $9.99Audible $5.99Bookshop $10.99 |
Showing 10 of 12 - the openers plus the key entries. See the full 12-book list →
Our recommended reading order
publication
Pilkey
Dog Man
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Best book to start with
Dog Man
Book #1, and still the best on-ramp. It sets up everything that makes this series work.
Catch up on the whole series
Box sets in print, or listen on Audible.
Similar series
If you love Dog Man, try these next.
Pilkey
Cat Kid Comic Club
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Cat Kid Comic Club
Dav Pilkey - 5 books
A spin-off from Dog Man where Li'l Petey teaches baby frogs how to make comics. Same art style, more focus on creativity and storytelling.
Kinney
Diary of a Wimpy Kid
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Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Jeff Kinney - 19 books
Different format but the same audience. If your kid devours Dog Man, Wimpy Kid is usually the next step toward more text-heavy books.
Blabey
The Bad Guys
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The Bad Guys
Aaron Blabey - 16 books
Villains trying to become heroes, told in a similar comic-hybrid format. Quick reads with genuine heart underneath the jokes.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. There is a continuous storyline involving Petey the cat's character arc and Li'l Petey's origins that builds across the series. Starting from book one is strongly recommended.
Yes. In the Captain Underpants books, George and Harold create Dog Man as a comic within a comic. The Dog Man series presents their creation as its own full story. You do not need to read Captain Underpants first, but it adds context.
Ages 6-10 is the sweet spot. The comic format, silly humor, and short page count make these books especially popular with early and reluctant readers.
Contains affiliate linksUpdated June 2026