My kids started reading chapter books by themselves after they started reading the Captain Underpants series; they love them! They think the books are hilarious, and we own all of them because they love them so much. There is, however, humor that some may find "crude," such as jokes about potties and things of that nature. For example, one of the "bad guys" in one book is named "Professor Pippy Pee-Pee Poopypants;" also known as "Professor Tinkletrousers." You know, stuff that parents think are inappropriate and annoying, but kids find very funny.
So, out of curiosity, do your kids read these books? (They are probably 1st or 2nd grade reading level). If you don't let your kids read them, why not?
Thanks everyone for your answers; they were very interesting. The reason I asked is because I've occasionally recommended them to other moms who ask for book suggestions, but then I think that maybe not all moms would like the type of humor that he uses. As for me, I think they are hilarious! :-) They make me laugh, too. Both my daughter and my son still love them and are eagerly awaiting his other books. I especially loved hearing about Dav Pilkey's success story, and how he tries to encourage kids to write and draw and not worry about being perfect all the time.
Mamazita, that is really cool that you've gotten to meet him! I would love to have the opportunity for my kids to meet him, they love his books so much. I'll have to check his website and see if he'll be doing any book signings anytime soon.
Happy reading, everyone! :-)
I don't censor my children's reading at ALL. And yes, all of my kids loved them when they were younger, even my daughter :)
yes they do. they are totally crude. but, they don't talk about actual poop and pee. I am all about what ever works to get them reading. seriously. and they find the books hilarious! Dav Pilkey has a website with games and stuff the kids liked.
My son loved them, he read them all over and over. Boys and their potty humor!
We actually met Dave Pilkey at a book signing. He was awesome! He told us that his teachers gave him a hard time for doodling and writing "silly" stories, that he would never get anywhere if he didn't get serious about his schoolwork.
I guess he showed them :)
Ah, yes. Captain Underpants..I am so fond of Dav Pilkey. He has captured my sons attention and desire to read. He was given the whole series by my mother-in-law ( who is a teacher, mind you). He reads them daily, and also draws his own comic strip from the book. It gives a child an outlet to read and speak all of those silly things you never want them to say in public. Having a sense of humor goes a long way.
My daughter wasn't exposed to them so she didn't read them. Honestly, I was kinda a snob so steered her away from her, and she was such a huge reader that it was easy. My son... well that's a bit different! He found them and LOVED them! I was so thrilled that he was reading that I didn't mind. The books are funny and my son would laugh and have fun reading them. He did know that we don't talk potty humour at our house so would talk about the books, but not dwell over the potty talk.
Yes, I allowed my son to read these. He thought they were so funny and he would create his own comic strips using Pilkey's books as encouragement. There's nothing wrong with that! Plus, potty talk comes by third grade whether they read these books or not.
My son LOVED those in Kindergarten and for half of 1st grade. He thought they were hilarious and he loved reading them all. We believe anything that encourages independent reading is GREAT! He has now moved on to other books that he loves. :)
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My goal with my kids for reading was to develop readers who WANT to read and will read for pleasure. Captain Underpants was the first book to do this for my older son. He was five when he discovered these books and was obsessed with them for a year or 2. It didn't matter to me that I thought they were crude if they could elicit the love of reading in him at such an early age they were as good as a 'classic' in my eyes. And the truth is there is NOT that much for little boys out there. Treehouse, Junie Jones, Boxcar-these are all geared more towards little girls. My boys like the more edgy books...Wimpy Kid was great for this. Luckily I have found that as they get older there are better choices for boys as well.
My seven year old went through a phase last year when she read a bunch of them. She would belly laugh when reading them and it helped her to love reading so I say why not? She was six and being a kid. She also understands that it's fiction, not fact, the same way Wacky Wednesday is fiction. We didn't see her name calling or being disrespectful after reading the books, they were simply entertaining. Something else that your kids might like are the Shel Silverstein (The Giving Tree) poetry books. Falling Up, Where the Sidewalk Ends, and A Light in the Attic are wonderful and she loves the poems AND his fabulous illustrations. I also hear her belly laughing while reading these as well :)
My oldest brought home one and after reading us a selection of this wonderful new style of literature for kids, we said no more. Call us stuffy, call it censorship, call it what you like. I see no reason to allow my kids to wallow in the lowest common form of humor when there are so many great books out there. What happened to encouraging boys towards wholesome, uplifting, and inspiring characters?
My daughters never read them. Although I let them read what they wanted, I always pointed them in the direction of what I considered more appropriate literature.
My son's only 3 so we're more into Walter the Farting Dog!
I'm a complete snob. I freely admit it. If it doesn't have either a positive message, useful information or stimulating art work, I don't see the point. My daughter 4.5 reads the Magic Tree House books which at least talk about going to different places and research (but has atrocious punctuation) so I don't need to get her to read.
I also don't understand reading books where people in authority are made fun of or or called "idiots." Teaching name calling? Really?
My boys got hooked on them when their aunt sent one for a birthday gift. They loved them. I think the aunt who was about 60 at the time read them all, too. She loves that kind of humor. Me not so much, but I love seeing the boys laugh.
My son was 3 when Captain Underpants came into our home. I babysat my bff's 7-8 year old son before we moved away, and to practice reading aloud I got those books from a garage sale for him. He would read them aloud to my son while I was there folding clothes or preparing snacks, and both boys loved it. I caught myself rolling my eyes sometimes, laughing others. Whatever. It wasn't "bad" or "harmful" and it's all stuff little boys giggle about when together anyway, so I figured it was great that my charge was enjoying reading and practicing reading to others. (That's 2 separate skills in my opinion: I loved reading but dreaded being called on to read in front of the class because my eyes always went faster than my mouth....it's good for them to read to themselves and have comprehension, but also good for them to read to others and be confident in it). Captain Underpants is dorky, but served its purpose and I was actually entertained watching the boys laugh and really enjoy it. They did move on to Diary of a Wimpy Kid after about a year.
I was actually looking into this series for my soon to be 7 year old son as a birthday gift. I have also heard good things about how it gets the kids to read because they are so silly. I might just try it out with him and see what happens. I also suggest another series for boys which he enjoyed it is called "Dinosaur Cove" if your kids (more geared to boys) are into Dinosaur adventures.
Yes,my boys loved them. They are "edgy" for a 1st grader and it's all stuff they're familiar with anyway. I thought they were hilarious!
Yes, my boys even though they are older now, 11 and 9 - still read these and laugh....they are reading - that's the important thing to me and ENJOYING it!
My 2.5 year old picked one of the books out when we were at hte used book store--we all love it! He's actually recognizing a lot of the words in it and is starting to be able to read a bit from it. I think it's adorable hearing him and daddy reading and cracking up together--haven't males always bonded over fart jokes? :)
I'm kind of a book snob. My kids are "required" to read/be read (required in quotes because they love it, so there's no forcing needed) classic literature.
That said, my eldest has read Captain Underpants. And Goosebumps. And other such brain junk food. ;-) Everyone deserves an occasional treat, lol.
My nephew (10 and starting 5th grade next month) read them in second and third grade, had the books for awhile then tired of them and traded with a friend for some different books. He's an avid reader, has read all the Harry Potter books, the Wimpy Kid series, and is reading classics this summer. My sister had no problem with the crude humor, but I don't care for it so really hope my little guy won't want to read them when he's old enough...but being a boy he probably will :-/
My son is 8. He reads constantly. We haven't run across these in an easily displayed place at the library so i don't think he is aware of them much. One of the ways, i am choosing to let him have some independance, is by not conrtolling what he reads, IF i question it, i read it too and then try to bring up the good points and not so good points about the book.
My kids LOVE Juinie B jones book on CD. Oh my goodness, They know we don't really talk baby talk and say potty words. but it's almost that they see how bad (immature) she is an take it as a lesson to never act like that.
I didn't love the diary of a wimpy kid books either, but i read them over his shoulder at a ball game and we talked about how great our family is and how nice we are to each other. My son loves the chapter books of batman episodes our library has. I question the violence but again we talk about it.
If i didn't want him to read captian underpants, I would make a big deal of buying him something else instead. Can't suggest anything great right now, all i have on my mind are potty books. Maybe A to Z mysteries. not as funny though, how about a joke book??
Yeah, my 2nd grader LOVED them. Totally funny to him. He also loved the "Nate" series, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, and this other book about learning how to be a super hero. He thinks they are funny and they ARE to a 2nd grader!
L.
Whatever inspires kids to read is great. Dav Pilkey is one of the best and humorous children's book authors/illustrators. If your kids love these check out his other books. Captain Underpants books are technically around 4th grade reading level by the way.
Reading is for enjoyment!
my 7yo read a few of them. i don't mind. she thinks they are funny and my 5yo liked the pictures. i can say though, my kids have that kind of humor. the potty kind. the only thing i don't like about the series, is the horrible spelling that they have in the books. doesn't really teach kids proper spelling.
My daughter read and loved them in elementary school.
Ofcourse, it's hilarious for little kids. Also get the series , about "Grampa and Wiley", Author is Kirk Scroggs and the series is incredibly funny, they'll love you for getting them for you !
V.. mother of 2 voracious little readers
My 22 yo loved them around 8ish, then moved into Goosebumps, blech!!
My 10 yo doesn't care for those kinds of books and would rather read historical fiction or nonfiction.
My girls thought they were tasteless, they also thought Junie B Jones was tasteless and ill-written.
I thought they were funny.
