Summary: In today’s article, I’ve put together 20 books like Dog Man that are sure to keep young readers laughing, entertained, and excited to read more! Here's the top 3:
- Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey
- Cat Kid Comic Club by Dav Pilkey
- Bad Guys by Aaron Blabey
Books similar to Dog Man are great for young readers because they mix humor, adventure, and lively illustrations that make reading exciting and accessible. These graphic novels appeal to kids of all reading levels, especially those who might find traditional books intimidating. With funny characters and fast-paced stories, they inspire creativity, boost reading confidence, and make kids eager to read more.
TOP 20: best Books Similar to Dog Man
- Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey
- Cat Kid Comic Club by Dav Pilkey
- Bad Guys by Aaron Blabey
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
- Big Nate by Lincoln Peirce
- Lunch Lady by Jarrett J. Krosoczka
- Amulet by Kazu Kibuishi
- InvestiGators by John Patrick Green
- Mighty Jack by Ben Hatke
- Press Start! by Thomas Flintham
- Hilo by Judd Winick
- The Yeti Files by Kevin Sherry
- Squish by Jennifer L. Holm & Matthew Holm
- Phoebe and Her Unicorn by Dana Simpson
- Zita the Spacegirl by Ben Hatke
- Narwhal and Jelly by Ben Clanton
- Super Turbo by Edgar Powers
- The Misadventures of Max Crumbly by Rachel Renée Russell
- Comics Squad by Various Authors
- Dragonbreath by Ursula Vernon
1. Captain Underpants
- Author: Dav Pilkey
- About: Follows the adventures of two prank-loving kids, George and Harold, who accidentally create Captain Underpants, a superhero brought to life from their comics.
- Style of writing: Humor-driven, illustrated, simple language with plenty of wordplay and visual gags.
- Length: Around 5,000-8,000 words per book.
- Year written: First published in 1997.
- Emotional impact: Light-hearted and fun, leaves a lasting impression of joy and creativity.
- Difficulty level: Easy to moderate; accessible for younger readers, especially grades 2-5.
- Why read it: It’s funny, creative, and has just enough gross-out humor to engage young readers. It’s a great series for kids who need an easy read that’s still engaging.
2. Cat Kid Comic Club
- Author: Dav Pilkey
- About: A spin-off from Dog Man, this series focuses on Li’l Petey teaching a group of younger “kids” how to create their own comics, fostering creativity and teamwork.
- Style of writing: Illustrated and episodic; the narrative is mixed with comic pages drawn by the characters themselves.
- Length: Around 5,000 words per book.
- Year written: First published in 2020.
- Emotional impact: Playful and uplifting, encourages creativity and self-expression.
- Difficulty level: Easy; suitable for elementary-aged readers, particularly grades 2-4.
- Why read it: This series encourages kids to express themselves through art and storytelling while staying connected to the Dog Man universe.
3. Bad Guys
- Author: Aaron Blabey
- About: Follows Mr. Wolf, Mr. Snake, Mr. Piranha, and Mr. Shark as they try to prove they can be heroes, even if they aren’t quite cut out for it.
- Style of writing: Short, punchy sentences with lots of humor and action, presented in a comic-like format.
- Length: Around 2,500-4,000 words per book.
- Year written: First published in 2015.
- Emotional impact: Light and humorous, but with an encouraging message about self-identity and second chances.
- Difficulty level: Easy; great for early to mid-elementary students (grades 1-4).
- Why read it: This series offers tons of laughs and adventure with an underlying theme of redemption, making it perfect for young readers who like action-packed, funny stories.
4. Diary of a Wimpy Kid
- Author: Jeff Kinney
- About: Middle-schooler Greg Heffley’s humorous struggles.
- Style of writing: Diary-style with illustrations.
- Length: ~20,000 words.
- Year written: 2007.
- Emotional impact: Relatable and funny.
- Difficulty level: Moderate.
- Why read it: Entertaining look at adolescence.
5. Big Nate
- Author: Lincoln Peirce
- About: Follows the misadventures of middle-schooler Nate.
- Style of writing: Comic-strip format, humorous.
- Length: ~10,000 words.
- Year written: 2010.
- Emotional impact: Light and engaging.
- Difficulty level: Moderate.
- Why read it: Relatable humor for young readers.
6. Lunch Lady
- Author: Jarrett J. Krosoczka
- About: Crime-fighting lunch lady saves the day.
- Style of writing: Graphic novel format.
- Length: ~3,500 words.
- Year written: 2009.
- Emotional impact: Fun and action-packed.
- Difficulty level: Easy.
- Why read it: Funny twist on everyday heroics.
7. Amulet
- Author: Kazu Kibuishi
- About: Siblings embark on a magical journey to save their mother.
- Style of writing: Fantasy graphic novel.
- Length: ~10,000 words per book.
- Year written: 2008.
- Emotional impact: Deeply engaging, adventurous.
- Difficulty level: Moderate.
- Why read it: Engages with epic adventure and beautiful art.
8. InvestiGators
- Author: John Patrick Green
- About: Alligator detectives solve quirky mysteries.
- Style of writing: Comic-style, humorous.
- Length: 3,000-5,000 words.
- Year written: 2020.
- Emotional impact: Lighthearted, witty.
- Difficulty level: Easy.
- Why read it: Fun, detective-themed humor.
9. Mighty Jack
- Author: Ben Hatke
- About: Modern retelling of Jack and the Beanstalk with magical twists.
- Style of writing: Graphic novel, adventure.
- Length: ~8,000 words.
- Year written: 2016.
- Emotional impact: Engaging and magical.
- Difficulty level: Moderate.
- Why read it: Action-packed and imaginative.
10. Press Start!
- Author: Thomas Flintham
- About: Super Rabbit Boy’s video game-inspired quests.
- Style of writing: Illustrated, simple language.
- Length: ~1,200 words.
- Year written: 2016.
- Emotional impact: Light and playful.
- Difficulty level: Easy.
- Why read it: Perfect for video game fans.
11. Hilo
- Author: Judd Winick
- About: A space boy crash-lands on Earth and befriends local kids.
- Style of writing: Graphic novel, humor, and sci-fi.
- Length: ~8,000 words.
- Year written: 2015.
- Emotional impact: Fun and heartwarming.
- Difficulty level: Moderate.
- Why read it: Humor with sci-fi adventures.
12. The Yeti Files
- Author: Kevin Sherry
- About: Yeti and friends go on wild adventures.
- Style of writing: Illustrated, adventurous.
- Length: ~2,000-3,000 words.
- Year written: 2014.
- Emotional impact: Fun and quirky.
- Difficulty level: Easy.
- Why read it: Engaging story with mythical creatures.
13. Squish
- Author: Jennifer L. Holm & Matthew Holm
- About: Amoeba Squish navigates school and life challenges.
- Style of writing: Comic-style.
- Length: ~2,500 words.
- Year written: 2011.
- Emotional impact: Light and relatable.
- Difficulty level: Easy.
- Why read it: Combines science with humor.
14. Phoebe and Her Unicorn
- Author: Dana Simpson
- About: A girl befriends a magical unicorn, leading to whimsical adventures.
- Style of writing: Comic strip format.
- Length: ~8,000 words.
- Year written: 2014.
- Emotional impact: Warm and humorous.
- Difficulty level: Moderate.
- Why read it: Fun with themes of friendship.
15. Zita the Spacegirl
- Author: Ben Hatke
- About: Zita’s space adventure to save her friend.
- Style of writing: Graphic novel, sci-fi.
- Length: ~10,000 words.
- Year written: 2011.
- Emotional impact: Adventurous and heartfelt.
- Difficulty level: Moderate.
- Why read it: High-quality storytelling with a strong heroine.
16. Narwhal and Jelly
- Author: Ben Clanton
- About: Silly stories about a narwhal and jellyfish friendship.
- Style of writing: Comic-style, simple language.
- Length: ~1,500 words.
- Year written: 2016.
- Emotional impact: Light and funny.
- Difficulty level: Easy.
- Why read it: Engaging for early readers.
17. Super Turbo
- Author: Edgar Powers
- About: Class pet Turbo secretly becomes a superhero.
- Style of writing: Illustrated, adventure.
- Length: ~2,500 words.
- Year written: 2017.
- Emotional impact: Lighthearted heroism.
- Difficulty level: Easy.
- Why read it: Fun pet superhero tale.
18. The Misadventures of Max Crumbly
- Author: Rachel Renée Russell
- About: Middle schooler Max deals with bullies and school mishaps.
- Style of writing: Diary-style with illustrations.
- Length: ~12,000 words.
- Year written: 2016.
- Emotional impact: Humorous and relatable.
- Difficulty level: Moderate.
- Why read it: Mix of humor and relatable middle-school issues.
19. Comics Squad
- Author: Various Authors
- About: A collection of humorous comics by popular authors.
- Style of writing: Comic strips.
- Length: ~4,000 words.
- Year written: 2014.
- Emotional impact: Fun and varied.
- Difficulty level: Easy.
- Why read it: Offers a range of stories in comic form.
20. Dragonbreath
- Author: Ursula Vernon
- About: Danny Dragonbreath’s comic-strip adventures, blending prose and graphics.
- Style of writing: Hybrid prose and comic style.
- Length: ~5,000 words.
- Year written: 2009.
- Emotional impact: Humorous and adventurous.
- Difficulty level: Moderate.
- Why read it: Unique mix of narrative and visuals.
Conclusion
If your young reader loves Dog Man, I think they’ll enjoy plenty of similar books that keep them hooked and entertained. Captain Underpants, Cat Kid Comic Club, and Bad Guys are my top picks—they’re packed with humor, adventure, and characters that kids can’t get enough of. These books not only make reading fun but also spark creativity, inspire imagination, and lay a foundation for a lifelong love of books. Whether they’re laughing at Captain Underpants’ antics, exploring creative storytelling with Li’l Petey in Cat Kid Comic Club, or joining the hilarious missions of the Bad Guys, I believe young readers will find so much to enjoy and be inspired by in these stories.
