Dav Pilkey: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search
 
 
(2 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown)
Line 4: Line 4:
{{Use American English|date=May 2023}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox writer <!-- for more information see [[:Template:Infobox writer/doc]] -->
{{Infobox writer <!-- for more information see [[:Template:Infobox writer/doc]] -->
| pseudonym        = Dan Pilkey<br>George Beard<br>Harold Hutchins<br>Sue Denim
| pseudonym        = Dav Pilkey<br>George Beard<br>Harold Hutchins<br>Sue Denim
| name            = Dav Pilkey
| name            = Dav Pilkey
| image            = Dav Pilkey at a book event in 2018.jpg
| image            = Dav Pilkey at a book event in 2018.jpg
Line 13: Line 13:
| occupation      = {{flatlist|
| occupation      = {{flatlist|
* Comic book writer
* Comic book writer
* author
* illustrator
}}
}}
| years active    = 1987–present
| years active    = 1987–present
Line 23: Line 25:
{{Listen|pos=center|embed=yes|filename=National Book Festival Presents Dav Pilkey.wav|title=Dav Pilkey's voice|type=speech|description=Pilkey talking about his childhood experiences, recorded 2019}}
{{Listen|pos=center|embed=yes|filename=National Book Festival Presents Dav Pilkey.wav|title=Dav Pilkey's voice|type=speech|description=Pilkey talking about his childhood experiences, recorded 2019}}
}}
}}
'''David Murray''' "'''Dav'''" '''Pilkey Jr.''' ({{IPAc-en|d|eɪ|v}}; born March 4, 1966)<ref>[http://www.pilkey.com/adv-text.php Pilkey.com<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080204141612/http://www.pilkey.com/adv-text.php |date=February 4, 2008 }}</ref> is an American comic book writer of children's fiction. He is best known as the author and illustrator of the children's book series ''[[Captain Underpants]]'' and its spin-off children's [[graphic novel]] series ''[[Dog Man]]'', the latter published under the respective writer and illustrator [[pen name]]s of '''George Beard''' and '''Harold Hutchins''', which are also the names of the two protagonists of the ''Captain Underpants'' series.
'''David Murray "Dav" Pilkey Jr.''' ({{IPAc-en|d|eɪ|v}}; born March 4, 1966)<ref>[http://www.pilkey.com/adv-text.php Pilkey.com<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080204141612/http://www.pilkey.com/adv-text.php |date=February 4, 2008 }}</ref> is an American comic book writer, author, and illustrator of children's fiction. He is best known as the author and illustrator of the children's book series ''[[Captain Underpants]]'' and its spin-off children's [[graphic novel]] series ''[[Dog Man]]'', the latter published under the respective writer and illustrator [[pen name]]s of '''George Beard''' and '''Harold Hutchins''', which are also the names of the two protagonists of the ''Captain Underpants'' franchise.


==Life and career==
==Life and career==
[[File:Dav Pilkey 2019.jpg|thumb|Pilkey in 2019]]
[[File:Dav Pilkey 2019.jpg|thumb|Pilkey in 2019]]
Pilkey was born in [[Cleveland, Ohio]], on March 4, 1966, to the Reverend David Pilkey, Sr. and Barbara, who was the [[Organist|church organist]].<ref name="ohioctb">{{cite web|url=http://www.ohiocenterforthebook.org/OhioAuthors.aspx?id=125&mode=detail |title=Dav Pilkey |access-date=August 8, 2007 |year=2003 |work=Ohio Authors Online |publisher=Ohio Center for the Book at Cleveland Public Library |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928065256/http://www.ohiocenterforthebook.org/OhioAuthors.aspx?id=125&mode=detail |archive-date=September 28, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=5 things you may not know about 'Captain Underpants' author Dav Pilkey|url=https://www.today.com/parents/dav-pilkey-captain-underpants-adhd-his-childhood-t130399|access-date=January 1, 2021|website=TODAY.com|date=June 6, 2018 |language=en}}</ref> He has one older sister. Pilkey was brought up in a conservative [[Christianity|Christian]] household and went to [[Christian schools]] throughout his life.
Pilkey was born in [[Cleveland, Ohio]], on March 4, 1966, to the Reverend David Pilkey, Sr. and Barbara, who was the [[Organist|church organist]].<ref name="ohioctb">{{cite web|url=http://www.ohiocenterforthebook.org/OhioAuthors.aspx?id=125&mode=detail |title=Dav Pilkey |access-date=August 8, 2007 |year=2003 |work=Ohio Authors Online |publisher=Ohio Center for the Book at Cleveland Public Library |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928065256/http://www.ohiocenterforthebook.org/OhioAuthors.aspx?id=125&mode=detail |archive-date=September 28, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=5 things you may not know about 'Captain Underpants' author Dav Pilkey|url=https://www.today.com/parents/dav-pilkey-captain-underpants-adhd-his-childhood-t130399|access-date=January 1, 2021|website=TODAY.com|date=June 6, 2018 |language=en}}</ref> He has one older sister. Pilkey was brought up in a conservative [[Christianity|Christian]] household and went to [[Christian schools]] throughout his life. Pilkey was diagnosed with [[attention deficit hyperactivity disorder]] (ADHD) and [[dyslexia]] as a child.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/writer-dav-pilkey-says-having-dyslexia-was-a-blessing|title=Writer Dav Pilkey says having dyslexia was a blessing |newspaper=The Straits Times|language=en|access-date=February 29, 2020}}</ref> While attending elementary school in [[North Ridgeville, Ohio]], Pilkey was frequently reprimanded for his behavior in class and thus usually sat at a desk in the school hallway, where he created the ''Captain Underpants'' character.<ref name="CNNStraightPoop">{{cite news|first=Beth|last=Nissen|title=Captain Underpants: The straight poop on a grossly entertaining series of children's books|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2000/books/news/07/11/captain.underpants/|work=CNN|date=July 11, 2000|access-date=August 8, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030730065321/http://edition.cnn.com/2000/books/news/07/11/captain.underpants/|archive-date=July 30, 2003}}</ref>


Pilkey was diagnosed with [[attention deficit hyperactivity disorder]] (ADHD) and [[dyslexia]] as a child.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/writer-dav-pilkey-says-having-dyslexia-was-a-blessing|title=Writer Dav Pilkey says having dyslexia was a blessing |newspaper=The Straits Times|language=en|access-date=February 29, 2020}}</ref> In elementary school in [[North Ridgeville, Ohio]], Pilkey was frequently reprimanded for his behavior in class and thus usually sat at a desk in the school hallway, where he created the ''Captain Underpants'' character.<ref name=CNNStraightPoop>{{cite news|first=Beth|last=Nissen|title=Captain Underpants: The straight poop on a grossly entertaining series of children's books|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2000/books/news/07/11/captain.underpants/|work=CNN|date=July 11, 2000|access-date=August 8, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030730065321/http://edition.cnn.com/2000/books/news/07/11/captain.underpants/|archive-date=July 30, 2003}}</ref> In 1987, Pilkey wrote his first book, ''World War Won'', an allegorical fable inspired by the [[nuclear arms race]] between the United States and the [[Soviet Union]], in a [[National Kids-in-Print Book Contest for Students|national competition for student authors]] and won in his age category. The book's publication in 1987 was included in the award.<ref name="ohioctb"/>
In 1987, Pilkey wrote his first book, ''World War Won'', an allegorical fable inspired by the [[nuclear arms race]] between the United States and the [[Soviet Union]]. The book won an award in a [[National Kids-in-Print Book Contest for Students|national competition for student authors]].<ref name="ohioctb"/>


The atypical spelling of his first name came when the "e" in "Dave" was left off his name tag while working at [[Pizza Hut]].<ref>{{cite news|date=July 3, 2002|title=Super Humor: Tales of an 'Under' Achiever|page=C18|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/409295767|id={{ProQuest|409295767}}|url-access=subscription}}</ref>
The atypical spelling of his first name came when the "e" in "Dave" was left off his name tag while working at [[Pizza Hut]].<ref>{{cite news|date=July 3, 2002|title=Super Humor: Tales of an 'Under' Achiever|page=C18|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/409295767|id={{ProQuest|409295767}}|url-access=subscription}}</ref>
Line 35: Line 37:
Pilkey graduated from [[Kent State University]].<ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20030417035147/http://www.pilkey.com/adv-text.php Meet Dav]." Dav Pilkey Official Website. April 17, 2003. Retrieved on August 14, 2019.</ref> He married Sayuri Pilkey in 2005.<ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20120903080130/http://www.pilkey.com/adv-text.php The Almost Completely True Adventures of Dav Pilkey]." Dav Pilkey Official Website. September 3, 2012. Retrieved on August 14, 2018.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/dav-pilkey-the-man-behind-captain-underpants/|title=The man behind "Captain Underpants"|work=[[CBS News]]|date=September 17, 2017|access-date=August 18, 2018|quote=Dav dreams up those funny books at the home he shares with his wife, Sayuri, on a picturesque point on Bainbridge Island, Washington. The two have no children of their own. }}</ref>
Pilkey graduated from [[Kent State University]].<ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20030417035147/http://www.pilkey.com/adv-text.php Meet Dav]." Dav Pilkey Official Website. April 17, 2003. Retrieved on August 14, 2019.</ref> He married Sayuri Pilkey in 2005.<ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20120903080130/http://www.pilkey.com/adv-text.php The Almost Completely True Adventures of Dav Pilkey]." Dav Pilkey Official Website. September 3, 2012. Retrieved on August 14, 2018.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/dav-pilkey-the-man-behind-captain-underpants/|title=The man behind "Captain Underpants"|work=[[CBS News]]|date=September 17, 2017|access-date=August 18, 2018|quote=Dav dreams up those funny books at the home he shares with his wife, Sayuri, on a picturesque point on Bainbridge Island, Washington. The two have no children of their own. }}</ref>


“Captain Underpants” was published in 1997. Later,  
''Captain Underpants'' was published in 1997. Later, ''[[The Adventures of Super Diaper Baby]]'' was published in 2002 and was Pilkey's first full complete graphic novel. It appeared at No. 6 on the ''USA Today'' bestseller list for all books, both adult and children's, and was also a ''New York Times'' bestselling book for Children's Middle Grade. The first ''Super Diaper Baby'' graphic novel was published with Scholastic years before Scholastic created the Graphix imprint.<ref>Publishers Weekly September 9, 2020, "The World of Dav Pilkey: Reigning Dogs and Cats" by Sally Lodge.</ref>
''[[The Adventures of Super Diaper Baby]]'' was published in 2002 and was Pilkey's first full complete graphic novel. It appeared at No. 6 on the ''USA Today'' bestseller list for all books, both adult and children's, and was also a ''New York Times'' bestselling book for Children's Middle Grade. The first ''Super Diaper Baby'' graphic novel was published with Scholastic years before Scholastic created the Graphix imprint.<ref>Publishers Weekly September 9, 2020, "The World of Dav Pilkey: Reigning Dogs and Cats" by Sally Lodge.</ref>


Pilkey took a break from writing for a few years to care for his terminally ill father (who died on November 13, 2008), but in 2009 agreed with Scholastic to publish four new books.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scholastic.com/captainunderpants/books/dav_pilkey.pdf|title=Planet Pilkey|website=www.scholastic.com}}</ref><ref name=Books>{{cite web|last=Pilkey|first=Dav|title=Four New Books|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305022908/http://www.scholastic.com/captainunderpants/books/dav_pilkey.pdf}}</ref> The first two are [[graphic novel]]s: ''[[The Adventures of Ook and Gluk: Kung-Fu Cavemen from the Future]]'', released on August 10, 2010; and ''[[Super Diaper Baby 2: Invasion of the Potty Snatchers]]'', released on June 28, 2011. ''[[Captain Underpants and the Terrifying Return of Tippy Tinkletrousers]]'' was released on August 28, 2012, ''[[Captain Underpants and the Revolting Revenge of the Radioactive Robo-Boxers]]'' was released on January 15, 2013, ''[[Captain Underpants and the Tyrannical Retaliation of the Turbo Toilet 2000]]'' was released on August 26, 2014, and ''[[Captain Underpants and the Sensational Saga of Sir Stinks-A-Lot]]'' was released on August 25, 2015. Additionally, thirteen ''[[Dog Man]]'' and [[Cat Kid Comic Club|''Cat Kid Comic Club'']] novels have been published since August 30, 2016.
Pilkey took a break from writing for a few years to care for his terminally ill father (who died on November 13, 2008), but in 2009 agreed with Scholastic to publish four new books.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scholastic.com/captainunderpants/books/dav_pilkey.pdf|title=Planet Pilkey|website=www.scholastic.com}}</ref><ref name=Books>{{cite web|last=Pilkey|first=Dav|title=Four New Books|url=http://www.scholastic.com/captainunderpants/books/dav_pilkey.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305022908/http://www.scholastic.com/captainunderpants/books/dav_pilkey.pdf |archive-date=March 5, 2016 }}</ref> The first two are [[graphic novel]]s: ''[[The Adventures of Ook and Gluk: Kung-Fu Cavemen from the Future]]'', released on August 10, 2010; and ''[[Super Diaper Baby 2: Invasion of the Potty Snatchers]]'', released on June 28, 2011. ''[[Captain Underpants and the Terrifying Return of Tippy Tinkletrousers]]'' was released on August 28, 2012, ''[[Captain Underpants and the Revolting Revenge of the Radioactive Robo-Boxers]]'' was released on January 15, 2013, ''[[Captain Underpants and the Tyrannical Retaliation of the Turbo Toilet 2000]]'' was released on August 26, 2014, and ''[[Captain Underpants and the Sensational Saga of Sir Stinks-A-Lot]]'' was released on August 25, 2015. Additionally, thirteen ''[[Dog Man]]'' and ''[[Cat Kid Comic Club]]'' novels have been published since August 30, 2016.


Pilkey and his wife live on [[Bainbridge Island]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]].
Pilkey and his wife live on [[Bainbridge Island]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]].
Line 53: Line 54:
 
 
The Dragon series was originally published with Orchard Books. Scholastic then reprinted the series in 2019.
The Dragon series was originally published with Orchard Books. Scholastic then reprinted the series in 2019.
Dav Pilkey used [[Watercolor painting|watercolors]] purchased at a local grocery store to paint the illustrations in these books. The series became a [[Dragon (TV series)|stop-motion animation TV show]] with 78 episodes from 2004 to 2007.
Dav Pilkey used [[Watercolor painting|watercolors]] purchased at a local grocery store to paint the illustrations in these books. The series became a [[Dragon (TV series)|stop-motion animation TV show]] with 67 episodes from 2004 to 2007.


===''Dumb Bunnies''===
===''Dumb Bunnies''===
Line 80: Line 81:


===''Captain Underpants'' spin-offs===
===''Captain Underpants'' spin-offs===
{{See|Dog Man}}
* ''[[The Adventures of Super Diaper Baby]]'' (February 5, 2002)
* ''[[The Adventures of Super Diaper Baby]]'' (February 5, 2002)
* ''[[The Adventures of Ook and Gluk: Kung-Fu Cavemen from the Future]]'' (August 10, 2010)
* ''[[The Adventures of Ook and Gluk: Kung-Fu Cavemen from the Future]]'' (August 10, 2010)
Line 86: Line 86:
Pilkey authored the Super Diaper Baby books and Ook and Gluk under the pseudonyms of George Beard and Harold Hutchins, who are two of the main characters in the Captain Underpants series. In that series, George and Harold write and illustrate comic books together respectively and these are claimed in-story to be some of the comics they produced.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Pilkey |first1=Dav |title=THE ADVENTURES OF SUPER DIAPER BABY |url=https://pilkey.com/book/the-adventures-of-super-diaper-baby |website=pilkey.com |access-date=24 November 2024}}</ref>
Pilkey authored the Super Diaper Baby books and Ook and Gluk under the pseudonyms of George Beard and Harold Hutchins, who are two of the main characters in the Captain Underpants series. In that series, George and Harold write and illustrate comic books together respectively and these are claimed in-story to be some of the comics they produced.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Pilkey |first1=Dav |title=THE ADVENTURES OF SUPER DIAPER BABY |url=https://pilkey.com/book/the-adventures-of-super-diaper-baby |website=pilkey.com |access-date=24 November 2024}}</ref>


===''Dog Man''===
====''Dog Man''====
{{Main|Dog Man}}
{{Main|Dog Man}}
''Dog Man'' is also a [[Spin-off (media)|spin-off]] of ''Captain Underpants'', similarly said to be written and illustrated by George Beard and Harold Hutchins.
''Dog Man'' is also a [[Spin-off (media)|spin-off]] of ''Captain Underpants'', similarly said to be written and illustrated by George Beard and Harold Hutchins.
* ''Dog Man'' (August 30, 2016)<ref>{{cite news|last1=Schoenberg|first1=Nara|title=Captain Underpants author Dav Pilkey brings underdog message to Chicago|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/books/ct-prj-captain-underpants-dav-pilkey-20150416-story.html|access-date=May 23, 2015|work=Chicago Tribune|date=April 16, 2015|quote=Pilkey says he's still doing picture books in that vein, even as he follows George and Harold, authors of the upcoming "Dog Man" on new literary adventures.}}</ref>
* ''Dog Man'' (August 30, 2016)<ref>{{cite news|last1=Schoenberg|first1=Nara|title=Captain Underpants author Dav Pilkey brings underdog message to Chicago|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/books/ct-prj-captain-underpants-dav-pilkey-20150416-story.html|access-date=May 23, 2015|work=Chicago Tribune|date=April 16, 2015|quote=Pilkey says he's still doing picture books in that vein, even as he follows George and Harold, authors of the upcoming "Dog Man" on new literary adventures.}}</ref>
Line 104: Line 105:
* ''Dog Man: Big Jim Believes'' (November 11, 2025)
* ''Dog Man: Big Jim Believes'' (November 11, 2025)


===''Cat Kid Comic Club''===
====''Cat Kid Comic Club''====
{{Main|Cat Kid Comic Club}}
 
''Cat Kid Comic Club'' is a spinoff of ''Dog Man.''
* ''Cat Kid Comic Club'' (December 1, 2020)
* ''Cat Kid Comic Club'' (December 1, 2020)
* ''Cat Kid Comic Club: Perspectives'' (November 30, 2021)
* ''Cat Kid Comic Club: Perspectives'' (November 30, 2021)
Line 113: Line 117:
===''Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot''===
===''Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot''===
{{Main|Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot (series)}}
{{Main|Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot (series)}}
* ''[[Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot]]'' (2000)
* ''[[Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot]]'' (2000)
* ''[[Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot vs. the Mutant Mosquitos from Mercury|Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot vs. the Mutant Mosquitoes from Mercury]]'' (2000)
* ''[[Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot vs. the Mutant Mosquitos from Mercury|Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot vs. the Mutant Mosquitoes from Mercury]]'' (2000)
Line 135: Line 140:
* '''Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving'' (1990)
* '''Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving'' (1990)
* ''The Place Nobody Stopped'' (1991) Illustrator only
* ''The Place Nobody Stopped'' (1991) Illustrator only
* ''Julius'' (1993)
* ''Julius'' (1993) Illustrator only
* ''[[Kat Kong]]'' (1993)
* ''[[Kat Kong]]'' (1993)
* ''[[Dogzilla (picture book)|Dogzilla]]'' (1993)
* ''[[Dogzilla (picture book)|Dogzilla]]'' (1993)
Line 154: Line 159:
* 1998: California Young Reader Medal, ''Dog Breath!: The Horrible Trouble with Hally Tosis'', published in 1994<ref>{{Cite web |title=California Young Reader Medal {{!}} Winner {{!}} Primary, Grades K-2 {{!}} 1998 {{!}} Awards and Honors {{!}} LibraryThing |url=https://www.librarything.com/award/614.1.5056.1998/California-Young-Reader-Medal-Winner-Primary-Grades-K-2-1998 |access-date=2025-02-20 |website=LibraryThing.com |language=en}}</ref>
* 1998: California Young Reader Medal, ''Dog Breath!: The Horrible Trouble with Hally Tosis'', published in 1994<ref>{{Cite web |title=California Young Reader Medal {{!}} Winner {{!}} Primary, Grades K-2 {{!}} 1998 {{!}} Awards and Honors {{!}} LibraryThing |url=https://www.librarything.com/award/614.1.5056.1998/California-Young-Reader-Medal-Winner-Primary-Grades-K-2-1998 |access-date=2025-02-20 |website=LibraryThing.com |language=en}}</ref>
* 2007: Disney Adventures Kids' Choice Awards, The ''[[Captain Underpants]]'' series
* 2007: Disney Adventures Kids' Choice Awards, The ''[[Captain Underpants]]'' series
* 2016: Milner Award, The favorite children's book author <ref>{{Cite web |title=Previous Recipients - The Milner Award - Student Voted |url=https://themilneraward.org/about-us/previous-recipients/ |access-date=2025-02-20 |website=The Milner Awards |language=en-US}}</ref>  
* 2016: Milner Award, The favorite children's book author<ref>{{Cite web |title=Previous Recipients - The Milner Award - Student Voted |url=https://themilneraward.org/about-us/previous-recipients/ |access-date=2025-02-20 |website=The Milner Awards |language=en-US}}</ref>  
* 2019: Person of the Year Award from Publishers Weekly<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reid {{!}} |first=Calvin |title=Dav Pilkey Is PW’s Person of the Year for 2019 |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/people/article/82042-dav-pilkey-pw-person-of-the-year-2019.html |access-date=2025-02-20 |website=PublishersWeekly.com |language=en}}</ref>
* 2019: Person of the Year Award from Publishers Weekly<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reid {{!}} |first=Calvin |title=Dav Pilkey Is PW's Person of the Year for 2019 |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/people/article/82042-dav-pilkey-pw-person-of-the-year-2019.html |access-date=2025-02-20 |website=PublishersWeekly.com |language=en}}</ref>
* 2019: Comic Industry Person of the Year<ref>{{Cite web |last=MacDonald |first=Heidi |date=2020-01-06 |title=Syndicated Comics |url=https://www.comicsbeat.com/announcing-the-2019-comics-industry-persons-of-the-year-dav-pilkey-and-tom-spurgeon/ |access-date=2025-02-20 |website=The Beat |language=en-US}}</ref>
* 2019: Comic Industry Person of the Year<ref>{{Cite web |last=MacDonald |first=Heidi |date=2020-01-06 |title=Syndicated Comics |url=https://www.comicsbeat.com/announcing-the-2019-comics-industry-persons-of-the-year-dav-pilkey-and-tom-spurgeon/ |access-date=2025-02-20 |website=The Beat |language=en-US}}</ref>



Latest revision as of 18:26, 13 November 2025

Template:Short description Template:BLP sources Template:Use mdy dates Template:Use American English Script error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Template:Main other David Murray "Dav" Pilkey Jr. (Template:IPAc-en; born March 4, 1966)[1] is an American comic book writer, author, and illustrator of children's fiction. He is best known as the author and illustrator of the children's book series Captain Underpants and its spin-off children's graphic novel series Dog Man, the latter published under the respective writer and illustrator pen names of George Beard and Harold Hutchins, which are also the names of the two protagonists of the Captain Underpants franchise.

Life and career

File:Dav Pilkey 2019.jpg
Pilkey in 2019

Pilkey was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on March 4, 1966, to the Reverend David Pilkey, Sr. and Barbara, who was the church organist.[2][3] He has one older sister. Pilkey was brought up in a conservative Christian household and went to Christian schools throughout his life. Pilkey was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and dyslexia as a child.[4] While attending elementary school in North Ridgeville, Ohio, Pilkey was frequently reprimanded for his behavior in class and thus usually sat at a desk in the school hallway, where he created the Captain Underpants character.[5]

In 1987, Pilkey wrote his first book, World War Won, an allegorical fable inspired by the nuclear arms race between the United States and the Soviet Union. The book won an award in a national competition for student authors.[2]

The atypical spelling of his first name came when the "e" in "Dave" was left off his name tag while working at Pizza Hut.[6]

Pilkey graduated from Kent State University.[7] He married Sayuri Pilkey in 2005.[8]

Captain Underpants was published in 1997. Later, The Adventures of Super Diaper Baby was published in 2002 and was Pilkey's first full complete graphic novel. It appeared at No. 6 on the USA Today bestseller list for all books, both adult and children's, and was also a New York Times bestselling book for Children's Middle Grade. The first Super Diaper Baby graphic novel was published with Scholastic years before Scholastic created the Graphix imprint.[9]

Pilkey took a break from writing for a few years to care for his terminally ill father (who died on November 13, 2008), but in 2009 agreed with Scholastic to publish four new books.[10][11] The first two are graphic novels: The Adventures of Ook and Gluk: Kung-Fu Cavemen from the Future, released on August 10, 2010; and Super Diaper Baby 2: Invasion of the Potty Snatchers, released on June 28, 2011. Captain Underpants and the Terrifying Return of Tippy Tinkletrousers was released on August 28, 2012, Captain Underpants and the Revolting Revenge of the Radioactive Robo-Boxers was released on January 15, 2013, Captain Underpants and the Tyrannical Retaliation of the Turbo Toilet 2000 was released on August 26, 2014, and Captain Underpants and the Sensational Saga of Sir Stinks-A-Lot was released on August 25, 2015. Additionally, thirteen Dog Man and Cat Kid Comic Club novels have been published since August 30, 2016.

Pilkey and his wife live on Bainbridge Island, Washington.

On March 25, 2021, Dav Pilkey announced on his YouTube channel that he and Scholastic would cease further publication of the book The Adventures of Ook and Gluk, and would remove it from retailers and libraries due to some characters in the book being stereotypes. Pilkey stated that he intended to showcase diversity, equality, and non-violent conflict resolution. He also stated that even unintentional and passive stereotypes are harmful to everyone. Pilkey will donate his entire advance, past, and future royalties from the book to organizations promoting diversity that are designed to stop violence against Asians.[12][13][14]

Publications

Dragon series

  • Dragon Gets By (1991)
  • A Friend For Dragon (1991)
  • Dragon's Merry Christmas (1991)
  • Dragon's Fat Cat (1992)
  • Dragon's Halloween (1993)

The Dragon series was originally published with Orchard Books. Scholastic then reprinted the series in 2019. Dav Pilkey used watercolors purchased at a local grocery store to paint the illustrations in these books. The series became a stop-motion animation TV show with 67 episodes from 2004 to 2007.

Dumb Bunnies

  • The Dumb Bunnies (1994)
  • The Dumb Bunnies' Easter (1995)
  • Make Way for Dumb Bunnies (1996)
  • The Dumb Bunnies Go to the Zoo (1997)

Pilkey authored The Dumb Bunnies series using the pseudonym, Sue Denim. The Dumb Bunnies were made into a television series by Canadian animation studio Nelvana in 1998 and 1999. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0472245/

Captain Underpants

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote".

Captain Underpants spin-offs

Pilkey authored the Super Diaper Baby books and Ook and Gluk under the pseudonyms of George Beard and Harold Hutchins, who are two of the main characters in the Captain Underpants series. In that series, George and Harold write and illustrate comic books together respectively and these are claimed in-story to be some of the comics they produced.[16]

Dog Man

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote".

Dog Man is also a spin-off of Captain Underpants, similarly said to be written and illustrated by George Beard and Harold Hutchins.

  • Dog Man (August 30, 2016)[17]
  • Dog Man: Unleashed (December 27, 2016)
  • Dog Man: A Tale of Two Kitties (August 29, 2017)[18]
  • Dog Man and Cat Kid (December 26, 2017)
  • Dog Man: Lord of the Fleas (August 28, 2018)
  • Dog Man: Brawl of the Wild (December 24, 2018)
  • Dog Man: For Whom the Ball Rolls (August 13, 2019)
  • Dog Man: Fetch-22 (December 10, 2019)
  • Dog Man: Grime and Punishment (September 1, 2020)
  • Dog Man: Mothering Heights (March 23, 2021)
  • Dog Man: Twenty Thousand Fleas Under The Sea (March 28, 2023)
  • Dog Man: The Scarlet Shedder (March 19, 2024)
  • Dog Man: Big Jim Begins (December 3, 2024)
  • Dog Man: Big Jim Believes (November 11, 2025)

Cat Kid Comic Club

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote".

Cat Kid Comic Club is a spinoff of Dog Man.

  • Cat Kid Comic Club (December 1, 2020)
  • Cat Kid Comic Club: Perspectives (November 30, 2021)
  • Cat Kid Comic Club: On Purpose (April 12, 2022)
  • Cat Kid Comic Club: Collaborations (November 29, 2022)
  • Cat Kid Comic Club: Influencers (November 28, 2023)

Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote".

Big Dog & Little Dog

  • Big Dog and Little Dog Getting in Trouble (1997)
  • Big Dog and Little Dog Wearing Sweaters (1998)
  • Big Dog and Little Dog Making a Mistake (1999)
  • The Complete Adventures of Big Dog and Little Dog (1999)

Other books

  • World War Won (1987)
  • Don't Pop Your Cork on Mondays (1988) Illustrator only
  • 'Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving (1990)
  • The Place Nobody Stopped (1991) Illustrator only
  • Julius (1993) Illustrator only
  • Kat Kong (1993)
  • Dogzilla (1993)
  • Dog Breath!: The Horrible Trouble With Hally Tosis (1994)
  • The Moonglow Roll-O-Rama (1995)
  • The Hallo-Wiener (1995)
  • When Cats Dream (1996)
  • God Bless the Gargoyles (1996)
  • The Paperboy (1996)
  • The Silly Gooses (1998)
  • Comics Squad: Recess! (2014) contributor as author/illustrator for this anthology
  • Guys Read: Terrifying Tales (2015) contributor as author/illustrator for this anthology[19]
  • One Today (2015) illustrator only[20]

Awards

  • 1986: The National Written and Illustrated by... Awards Contest for Students, ages 14–19 category, World War Won[21]
  • 1997: Caldecott Honor Award, The Paperboy[22]
  • 1998: California Young Reader Medal, Dog Breath!: The Horrible Trouble with Hally Tosis, published in 1994[23]
  • 2007: Disney Adventures Kids' Choice Awards, The Captain Underpants series
  • 2016: Milner Award, The favorite children's book author[24]
  • 2019: Person of the Year Award from Publishers Weekly[25]
  • 2019: Comic Industry Person of the Year[26]

References

Template:Reflist

Further reading

External links

Template:Sister project Script error: No such module "Portal".

Interviews

  • Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  • "Interview with Dav Pilkey." - Scholastic Kids' Club. N.p., n.d.
  • Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  • Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  • Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

Script error: No such module "Navbox". Template:Authority control

  1. Pilkey.com Template:Webarchive
  2. a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  3. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  4. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  5. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  6. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  7. "Meet Dav." Dav Pilkey Official Website. April 17, 2003. Retrieved on August 14, 2019.
  8. "The Almost Completely True Adventures of Dav Pilkey." Dav Pilkey Official Website. September 3, 2012. Retrieved on August 14, 2018.Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  9. Publishers Weekly September 9, 2020, "The World of Dav Pilkey: Reigning Dogs and Cats" by Sally Lodge.
  10. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  11. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  12. Archived at GhostarchiveTemplate:Cbignore and the Wayback MachineTemplate:Cbignore: Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".Template:Cbignore
  13. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  14. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  15. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  16. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  17. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  18. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  19. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  20. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  21. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  22. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  23. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  24. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  25. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  26. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".