The Dog Man books in order are laugh-out-loud funny and approachable for younger readers. The series is written by Dav Pilkey, an American author and illustrator who is also well-known for his equally comedic children’s series, Captain Underpants.
If you or your kids enjoy superhero comic books and comedy, the Dog Man books will be the perfect series to pick up next.
The reading level for the Dog Man books is Grades 1 to 3 in the USA and 6+ years old in the UK.
Who is Dav Pilkey?
As we mentioned, Dav Pilkey is the bestselling author and illustrator of beloved series such as Dog Man and Captain Underpants. What has helped make his books so popular and long-lasting is the way in which Pilkey speaks to children.
He knows how to grab their attention with color and humor, but he also understands that reading, for many, can be a struggle.
The origin story of Dog Man begins when Pilkey was in the second grade and frequently sent out into the hallway for disrupting the class. He used that time to draw and make up stories, which led him down the path to becoming a popular children’s author.
In August 2023 Pilkey said that while Dog Man began as a character he created in the second grade, the series has turned into a love letter to his parents. Pilkey says that as a kid growing up with dyslexia and ADHD, his parents were his best advocates. That’s because they let him choose whatever books caught his interest with no judgement.
That support and love helped Pilkey become the reader, author, illustrator, and man that he is today. Pilkey, in turn, has become an author that many children with ADHD and dyslexia immediately gravitate to with his captivating writing and illustrations.
There are more than 60 million copies of the Dog Man series in print and it has been translated into 45 languages.
What is the Dog Man Series About?
Dog Man is a graphic novel series about a superhero dog that you will find incredibly fun. If you have read the Captain Underpants books then it should come as no surprise that Dav Pilkey delivers the same amount of humor in his Dog Man series.
The Dog Man story begins with an explosion by a bomb assembled by Petey, the evil cat. In the blast, Officer Knight and his police dog Greg get seriously injured. To save them, the doctors put Greg’s head on Knight’s body, and that’s how he becomes Dog Man. Now he operates as part canine, part human, as he fights against crime and his nemesis, Petey, the evil cat.
As the series progresses Dog Man teams up with two friends, a curious kitten and a robot, and they call themselves the Supa Buddies. The series is beloved for how Pilkey approaches compassion and kindness. Amidst the humor in his prose and illustrations are also lessons that are beneficial to readers of all ages.
So, now that we know a bit more about the books, let’s take a look at the best way to read the Dog Man books in order.
Dog Man Books in Order of Publication
The best way to read Dog Man books in order is by following the publication order. That’s because by reading the Dog Man series in order of publication, you will not miss any details. Each book does contain a standalone adventure, but the books naturally build upon one another by following a chronological timeline.
- Dog Man (2016)
- Dog Man Unleashed (2017)
- Dog Man: A Tale of Two Kitties (2017)
- Dog Man and Cat Kid (2018)
- Dog Man: Lord of the Fleas (2018)
- Dog Man: Brawl of the Wild (2019)
- Dog Man: For Whom the Ball Rolls (2019)
- Dog Man: Fetch-22 (2019)
- Dog Man: Grime and Punishment (2020)
- Dog Man: Mothering Heights (2021)
- Dog Man: Twenty Thousand Fleas Under the Sea (2023)
- Dog Man: The Scarlet Shedder (2024)
Is There a Dog Man Movie?
There isn’t an adaptation yet, but a Dog Man film is in development with DreamWorks Animation. No further information, such as casting or a potential launch date, has been released so far.
But this is not the first time Dav Pilkey has collaborated with DreamWorks for an adaptation of his works. In 2017, the studio released Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie.
Peter Hastings, an Emmy Award and Peabody winner, will spearhead the Dog Man project. Hastings and Pilkey worked together on The Epic Tales of Captain Underpants tv series and Hastings has said he is a big fan of the author.
A Summary of the Dog Man Books
Finally, since you know that the best way to read the Dog Man books in order is by following the publication order, let’s take a look at the 11 books in the series that have been published so far.
1. Dog Man
George and Harold have created a new breed of justice. With the head of a dog and the body of a human, this heroic hound digs into deception, claws after crooks, rolls over robbers, and scampers after squirrels. But will he be able to resist the call of the wild to answer the call of duty?
Dav Pilkey’s wildly popular Dog Man series appeals to readers of all ages and explores universally positive themes, including empathy, kindness, persistence, and the importance of being true to one’s self.
2. Dog Man Unleashed
Dog Man is still learning a few tricks of the trade. Petey the Cat is out of the bag, and his criminal curiosity is taking the city by storm.
But something fishy is going on! Can Dog Man unleash justice on this ruffian in time to save the city, or will Petey get away with the purr-fect crime?
3. Dog Man: A Tale of Two Kitties
He was the best of dogs; he was the worst of dogs. It was the age of invention; it was the season of surprise. It was the eve of supa sadness; it was the dawn of hope.
Dog Man hasn’t always been a paws-itive addition to the police force. While he can muzzle miscreants, he tends to leave a slick of slobber in his wake.
This time, Petey the Cat’s dragged in a tiny bit of trouble. A double in the form of a kitten clone. Dog Man will have to work twice as hard to bust these furballs and remain top dog.
4. Dog Man and Cat Kid
Dog Man is back. And this time he’s not alone.
The heroic hound with a real nose for justice now has a furry feline sidekick, and together they have a mystery to sniff out. When a new kitty sitter arrives and a glamorous movie starlet goes missing, it’s up to Dog Man and Cat Kid to save the day.
Will these heroes stay hot on the trail, or will Petey, the World’s Most Evil Cat, send them barking up the wrong tree?
5. Dog Man: Lord of the Fleas
When a fresh bunch of baddies bust up the town, Dog Man is called into action and he’s got help this time.
With a cute kitten and a remarkable robot by his side, our heroes must save the day by joining forces with an unlikely ally: Petey, the World’s Most Evil Cat.
But can the villainous Petey avoid vengeance and venture into virtue?
6. Dog Man: Brawl of the Wind
Is Dog Man bad to the bone?
The canine cop is sent to the pound for a crime he didn’t commit. While his pals work to prove his innocence, Dog Man struggles to find his place among dogs and people. Being a part of both worlds, will he ever fully fit in with one?
7. Dog Man: For Whom the Ball Rolls
The Supa Buddies have been working hard to help Dog Man overcome his bad habits. But when his obsessions turn to fears, Dog Man finds himself the target of an all-new supervillain.
Meanwhile, Petey the Cat has been released from jail and starts a new life with Li’l Petey. But when Petey’s own father arrives, Petey must face his past to understand the difference between being good and doing good.
8. Dog Man: Fetch-22
Petey the Cat is out of jail, and he has a brand-new lease on life. While Petey’s re-evaluated what matters most, Li’l Petey is struggling to find the good in the world.
Can Petey and Dog Man stop fighting like cats and dogs long enough to put their paws together and work as a team? They need each other now more than ever. Li’l Petey, and the world, is counting on them!
9. Dog Man: Grime and Punishment
Dog Man’s really done it this time! He hands over his badge and clears out his desk, but while he may be out of a job, he’s not yet out of hope. With his friends at his side, can Dog Man dig himself out of this hole and paw his way back onto the force?
10. Dog Man: Mothering Heights
Petey confronts his not so purr-fect past, and Grampa is up to no good as Dog Man is down on his luck. The world is spinning out of control as the new villains spill into town. Though everything seems dark in despair, hope is not lost. Can the incredible power of love save their day?
Dog Man is down on his luck, Petey confronts his not so purr-fect past, and Grampa is up to no good. The world is spinning out of control as new villains spill into town. Everything seems dark and full of despair. But hope is not lost. Can the incredible power of love save the day?
11. Dog Man: Twenty Thousand Fleas Under the Sea
Piggy is back, and his newest plot is his most diabolical yet. Dog Man and the rest of your favorite characters must join together in this heroic and hilarious, all new adventure.
What new villains are on the horizon? Where are they all coming from? And who will step forward to save the city when scoundrels sabotage our Supa Buddies?
12. Dog Man: The Scarlet Shedder
Finally, the twelfth Dog Man book has a scheduled publication date of March 19, 2024.
In this installment, Dog Man has been sprayed by a skunk. Then, after being dunked in tomato juice, the stink is gone but the scarlet red color remains. So Dog Man is now exiled, and this spunky superhero must struggle to save the citizens who shunned him.
Will the ends justify the means for Petey, who’s reluctantly pulled back into a life of crime in order to help Dog Man? And who will step forward when an all-new, never-before-seen villain unleashes an army of A.I. robots?
Final thoughts on Dog Man books in order
Now that you know all about how to read the Dog Man books in order, it’s the perfect time to start reading these books immediately. These books by Dav Pilkey will have you laughing out loud at Dog Man’s antics.