Are your kids fans of Captain Underpants? If they aren’t, they should be. Geared for kids ages 7 and up, Captain Underpants and the Revolting Revenge of the Radioactive Robo-Boxers is the latest book from the hilarious Dav Pilkey and it’s in stores now. We had an opportunity to talk to Pilkey and get a little insight on the origins of Captain Underpants.
“He was a character I created in 1974 when I was in the second grade,” explains Pilkey. “I got in trouble constantly for making Captain Underpants comic books at school and disrupting the classroom with them. In 1988, I did a lot of ‘author visits’ at schools. During these presentations, I told children about my childhood, and how I invented Captain Underpants as a second grader. As I told this story, I would draw a giant picture of Captain Underpants, in all his ‘underpantsy’ glory, and the room would explode with laughter and excitement.
“At the end of my talks, during the question and answer section, the first question I would always get was, ‘Are you going to write a book about Captain Underpants?’ I’d scratch my chin and say, ‘Well, gee, I never thought of that. Do you think I should?’ Again, the room would explode with cheering and clapping — even standing ovations sometimes. I think it was then that I first realized that Captain Underpants might be popular with kids.”
So what is it about the Captain Underpants books that appeals to kids?
“If someone had asked me (as a kid) what I liked to read, I probably would have said: ‘Funny books with lots of pictures, not too many words and lots of short chapters. And they also have monsters and robots in them.’” And Captain Underpants delivers.
In addition to the Captain Underpants series, Pilkey’s Scholastic books include numerous popular, award-winning books for children, such as Dog Breath, winner of the California Young Reader Medal; The Paperboy, a Caldecott Honor Book; The Adventures of Super Diaper Baby, which debuted at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list; and the Dumb Bunnies series. He is also the author of the New York Times bestselling The Adventures of Ook & Gluk: Kung-Fu Cavemen from the Future.
Check out the book trailer for Captain Underpants and the Revolting Revenge of the Radioactive Robo-Boxers below and also take a look at The Adventures of Captain Underpants app ($4.99) at iTunes.
Right now, you have a chance to win a Captain Underpants prize package.
One (1) winner will receive:
- Copy of the latest book Captain Underpants and the Revolting Revenge of the Radioactive Robo-Boxers
- Captain Underpants Boxed Set (Four Books and a Whoopee Cushion)
- $50 Visa gift card to stocks your busy reader’s bookshelf
Head over to SheKnows to enter the Captain Underpants Giveaway. The contest ends March 6, 2013.
We were just at the library last night trying to pick up more of these, and my son just about lost his mind when they were totally out of them. The series is so popular! It’s been completely instrumental in getting my son to love books.
For some reason, Captain Underpants has never appealed to my 10-year-old daughter, but my sons were all about him. I kind of hope Willow takes a liking when she’s older! Dav Pilkey is a genius.
Captain Underpants is very popular in our home! Great contest!
Captain Underpants has not had a following in this house. Maybe my youngest will like the series when she’s reading.
Spiffy swoony.