Book Summary:
This chapter book (which contains picture on every page) is the first book in the Captain Underpants series. Two fourth grade boys, George and Harold, create a comic book with a superhero - Captain Underpants. The boys' adventure begins when they hypnotize their principal and turn him into their comic book creation! George and Harold create mischief throughout the book, and Captain Underpants chases the bad guys in his underwear.
APA Reference of Book:
Pilkey, D. (1997). Captain Underpants. New York, NY: Scholastic
Impressions:
I thought this book was silly although still enjoyable to read. I can definitely see why it's appealing to young kids, especially boys - I mean, what young boy doesn't enjoy superheroes or get a kick out of anything dealing with underpants? Children would also love the illustrations on each page.
I can see why this book might have censorship issues due to a man running around in his underwear and all the mischief the boys get into. But I just find these things humorous. I think this book could even get reluctant readers to read because it's funny. I think readers are likely to pick up the next book in the series.
Although I enjoyed the illustrations, I think they are so full of action that sometimes they take away from the story itself.
Professional Review:
"Pilkey plays with words and pictures, providing great entertainment. The story is immediately engaging - two fourth-grae boys who write comic books and who love to pull pranks find themselves in big trouble. Mean Mr. Krupp, their principal, videotapes George and Harold setting up their stunts and threatens to expose them. The boys' luck changes when they send for a 3-D Hypno-Ring and hypnotize Krupp, turning him into Captain Underpants, their own superhero creation. Later, Pilkey includes several pages of flip-o-rajas that animate the action. The simple black-and-white illustrations on every page furnish comic-strip appeal. The cover features Captain Underpants, resplendent in white briefs, on top of a tall building. This book will fly off the shelves."
Hopf, M. M. (1997). The adventures of Captain Underpants book
review. [Review of the book The Adventures of Captain
Underpants, by D. Pilkey]. School Library Journal, 43, p. 99
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Library Uses:
This book can be used as an introduction to character analysis/feelings. Then, the school library could put on a program in which students dress up as a character from their favorite book. They can share about their characters - how they grow and change, their adventures, problems, and feelings.
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