I’m excited to introduce guest post number five from Margo L. Dill of Editor-911 Books where Margo shares her thoughts on the Captain Underpants and Bad Guys series. My kids are huge fans of both these series, so I’m super excited to share this post with you. Take it away, Margo!
“They sound like bad guys, they look like bad guys . . . and they even smell like bad guys. But Mr. Wolf, Mr. Piranha, Mr. Snake, and Mr. Shark are about to change all of that...Mr. Wolf has a daring plan for the Bad Guys' first good mission. They are going to break two hundred dogs out of the Maximum Security City Dog Pound. Will Operation Dog Pound go smoothly? Will the Bad Guys become the Good Guys? And will Mr. Snake please stop swallowing Mr. Piranha?!”
That above is the plot of the first Bad Guys book (currently, there are 14 books in all) by Aaron Blabey, and my daughter, when she was in first and second grade, wanted every and all Bad Guys books that were written then. And you know what? I bought them for her, and I read them to her, even though, and no offense Mr. Blabey because I’m not your target audience, I was rolling my eyes and wondering: Does this author have magic powers to convince kids to love this book? It is absolutely crazy to me!
Yes, he does have magic powers that are otherwise known as understanding what kids find funny, exciting, and want to read.
Dav Pilkey, the famous Captain Underpants author, also has this magic power, and so do so many wonderful authors who put potty humor, outrageous storytelling, slapstick comedy, and heroes with ridiculous powers into their books.
Look, parents and teachers, it’s a fact—we are competing with screens. Gone are the Dick and Jane days. Ramona and Beezus have had a makeover; so have Judy Blume’s characters. Kids want these new, exciting books that parents don’t understand; and please, please, parents and teachers, let’s give them these books and create a lifelong love of reading. Because that’s what we are really trying to do at this age.
It’s something I think we get wrong in education, sometimes, from our youngest readers to seniors in high school. Yes, there’s a time and place to study classics and understand all the remarkable work out there from our oldest storytellers in books, TV, and movies. But let’s hook the kids on reading first before we try to teach them something.
As soon as kids can smell the lesson we are trying to teach, they are out. And guess what? Blabey and Pilkey have this figured out. You think there aren’t themes and lessons in Captain Underpants and Bad Guys?
There are! There are!
Friendship. Heroes. Imagination. Teamwork. Learning from mistakes. Good vs. evil. Making choices. Suffering consequences, and so much more.
But also, remember, as much as Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram Super Parents make us feel that if our children aren’t learning and building their futures every minute of every day that they will be doomed, this just isn’t true. Laughing yourself silly over Captain Underpants adventures and Bad Guys missions is just as important as studying for your private school entrance exam. Maybe more so.
Here are some more benefits to these popular book series:
- Children will read the books more than once, and they will ask you to read with them.
- They will share these stories with their family and friends because they are funny.
- They might even have books on their holiday and birthday lists because they will be excited about the new ones coming out.
- Pinterest boards are FULL of ideas to go with these books. If you are a family who embraces themes and crafts, search Pinterest for these book titles and have fun!
- You can get these books at most libraries (you might have to be on a wait list). They are available through Scholastic Book Orders, too, which generally means they are cheaper than some other books.
- Your children will learn new vocabulary; story elements, such as problems and resolutions, rising action, climax; comprehension skills; and characterization, just like they will in other children’s books that tell a story.
I remember reading Bad Guys to my daughter and thinking, What is this? Then she told me there were more—back then I think maybe four or five. We bought one at a book fair at the library because she had to have it. She was reading them herself, too, and telling me the plots, and I was starting to sympathize with the characters (okay, maybe I’m also a fan).
Bottom line: Captain Underpants and Bad Guys are not the first thing ever that parents don’t understand why their kids like them so much (ummm, slime, anyone?), and they won’t be the last. But if you have a reluctant reader or a kid who won’t touch a book, but loves potty humor, try one of these series—after all, these authors are writing them for our kids, and that’s why they are so popular!
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