Background
Dav Pilkey was born on March 4, 1966, in Cleveland, Ohio. His mother is Barbara and father is David Pilkey Sr. He has one older sister as a sibling.
1997
Dav received the Caldecott Honor Award for The Paperboy.
1998
Dav received the California Young Reader Medal, Dog Breath!: The Horrible Trouble with Hally Tosis, published in 1994.
2013
Dav Pilkey (left) & Jeff Kinney (right) at Scholastic Webcast. Photo Courtesy Scholastic.
2016
Children's Author Dav Pilkey Visits the SiriusXM Studios for a Special Interview and Performance on SiriusXM's Kids Place Live Channel.
2016
Dav was a recipient of the Milner Award as a favorite children's book author.
2017
Author Dav Pilkey seen at DreamWorks Animation and Twentieth Century Fox "Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie" Los Angeles Premiere at Regency Village Theater on Sunday, May 21, 2017. (Eric Charbonneau/ AP)
2017
Author Dav Pilkey attends the premiere of 20th Century Fox's "Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie" at the Regency Village Theatre, in Los Angeles, California, on May 21, 2017.
2017
Dav Pilkey, the author of the “Captain Underpants” book series, meets with kids at Overland Avenue Elementary on May 19. He was accompanied by David Soren, the director of “Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie”. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
2019
Author Dav Pilkey spoke to students and gave each student one of his books.
Dav himself holding his book Dog Breath
Greenwich International Film Festival, Greenwich, Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States
Dav at the Greenwich International Film Festival.
The Corral, 4940 Willow Springs Rd, Western Springs, IL 60558, United States
Captain Underpants author Dav Pilkey, left, signs books for young fans Jake Smith, 9, and his brother Will Smith, 7, of Lisle, at The Corral in Western Springs (Michael Tercha, Tribune)
Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, United States
Dav is a graduate of Kent State University.
(Lonely Dragon has made a friend, and he loves spending ti...)
Lonely Dragon has made a friend, and he loves spending time with his new buddy! He enjoys telling scary stories, cracking funny jokes, and fixing a midnight snack for them to share. But when his friend appears to be ill, Dragon demonstrates what it means to be a true friend. In this warmhearted friendship story of love and loss.
https://www.amazon.com/Friend-Dragon-Acorn-Book/dp/1338341057/?tag=2022091-20
1990
(Dragon is very responsible, but sometimes he makes mistak...)
Dragon is very responsible, but sometimes he makes mistakes. When he's tired, he accidentally reads an egg and fries his morning newspaper! When he sweeps his dirt floor, he can't seem to sweep away all of the dirt and ends up sweeping a hole into the center of his living room! And when Dragon goes grocery shopping, he buys more food than he can fit into his car! Using his trademark humor and heart, Dav Pilkey illustrates the fun side of chores and responsibility.
https://www.amazon.com/Dragon-Gets-Acorn-Book/dp/1338347500/?tag=2022091-20
1991
(Dav Pilkey's gentle blue Dragon (from the hit TV series) ...)
Dav Pilkey's gentle blue Dragon (from the hit TV series) will charm beginning readers with the adventures of a mixed-up day! Award-winning author/illustrator of the Captain Underpants series, Dav Pilkey's gentle blue Dragon (from the hit TV series) will charm beginning readers with the adventures of a mixed-up day!
https://www.amazon.com/Dragon-Gets-Dragons-Dav-Pilkey/dp/0531070816/?tag=2022091-20
1991
(When Dragon finds a stray cat in his yard, he brings it i...)
When Dragon finds a stray cat in his yard, he brings it inside to escape the cold. He likes living with his new feline friend, but Dragon soon realizes that he doesn't know how to take care of it. He doesn't know how to train the cat, what to feed the cat, and what to do about all the yellow puddles the cat leaves behind! Using his trademark humor and heart, Dav Pilkey illustrates the highs and lows of having a new pet in this tender story about care and responsibility.
https://www.amazon.com/Dragons-Fat-Cat-Acorn-Dragon/dp/1338347462/?tag=2022091-20
1992
(The endearing blue Dragon is back in bestselling author D...)
The endearing blue Dragon is back in bestselling author Dav Pilkey's humorous story about friendship and taking care of pets. When Dragon finds a stray cat, he brings it home and learns to take care of it through many silly mishaps. Then Dragon is in for a big surprise when Cat has a litter of kittens!
https://www.amazon.com/Dragons-Fat-Cat-Dav-Pilkey/dp/0531070689/?tag=2022091-20
1992
(Dragon is so excited for Halloween! He plans to carve a b...)
Dragon is so excited for Halloween! He plans to carve a big, scary jack-o'-lantern and create a creepy costume. Unfortunately, Dragon can't find a big pumpkin, and he can't decide which costume to wear. Plus, when Dragon goes for a walk through the woods, he hears some unexpected growling - yikes! Will Dragon's Halloween be filled with more tricks than treats?
https://www.amazon.com/Dragons-Halloween-Acorn-Dav-Pilkey/dp/1338347489/?tag=2022091-20
1993
(Hally Tosis is a great family dog, but there is one rotte...)
Hally Tosis is a great family dog, but there is one rotten thing about her: her breath! It is so smelly, Hally's pet parents want to find a new home for her. The children, desperate to keep their beloved pet, try everything to rid Hally of her stinky stench. They take her for a breathtaking view, a movie that would leave her breathless, and a ride on a roller coaster that would make her lose her breath, but Hally's putrid panting persists! Only a miracle could save her now!
https://www.amazon.com/Dog-Breath-Horrible-Trouble-Hally/dp/133853923X/?tag=2022091-20
1994
(Oscar is a little dog with a big problem - he gets more t...)
Oscar is a little dog with a big problem - he gets more tricks than treats because other dogs tease him all the time. But one brave act on Halloween makes Oscar a Grade-A hero, proving that a little wiener can be a real winner! From Dav Pilkey, creator of the New York Times bestselling Dog Man and Captain Underpants series, comes Oscar, a little dog with a big bullying problem. Oscar is a little dog with a big problem - he gets more tricks than treats because other dogs tease him all the time. But one brave act on Halloween makes Oscar a Grade-A hero, proving that a little wiener can be a real winner!
https://www.amazon.com/Hallo-Wiener-Dav-Pilkey/dp/0439079462/?tag=2022091-20
1995
(Meet Ricky Ricotta, a little mouse with a big problem! Ri...)
Meet Ricky Ricotta, a little mouse with a big problem! Ricky Ricotta lives in Squeakyville with his mom and dad. Ricky has a hard time making friends at school, and the neighborhood bullies are always picking on him. If only Ricky could find someone to be his best buddy and keep those creepy bullies away! Meanwhile, on the other side of town, a mad scientist named Dr. Stinky McNasty has created a Mighty Robot who is as gentle as he is powerful. Dr. Stinky plans to make the Robot destroy Squeakyville, but there's one little thing in his way: Ricky Ricotta!
https://www.amazon.com/Ricky-Ricottas-Mighty-Robot/dp/0545630096/?tag=2022091-20
2000
(They trampled the terrible Talking Toilets! They crushed ...)
They trampled the terrible Talking Toilets! They crushed the crazy Cafeteria Ladies from outer space! And they prevented preposterous Professor Poopypants from pulverizing the planet! Now George and Harold are back for more fun and games with their wedgie-powered superhero, Captain Underpants! Join George and Harold as they play hilarious pranks on clueless Mr. Krupp and get caught in some very puzzle-ing situations. And they'll show you how to make your very own comic books - complete with that world-famous cheesy animation technique, Flip-O-Rama! They defeated Dr. Diaper!
https://www.amazon.com/Captain-Underpants-Extra-Crunchy-Book-Fun/dp/0439267617/?tag=2022091-20
2001
(Oh, no! It looks like George and Harold are in trouble ag...)
Oh, no! It looks like George and Harold are in trouble again. As punishment, the boys have to write a 100-page report on "good citizenship," and they have been specifically ordered NOT to make another comic about Captain Underpants. So what do they do? They create an all-new superhero. Super Diaper Baby! Super Diaper Baby's archenemy, Deputy Dangerous, wants to steal his powers and take over the planet. Will the diaper-wearing dynamo defeat the deputy, or is the entire Earth doomed?
https://www.amazon.com/Adventures-Super-Diaper-Captain-Underpants/dp/0545665442/?tag=2022091-20
2002
(You'll laugh! You'll cry! You'll wet your pants with joy ...)
You'll laugh! You'll cry! You'll wet your pants with joy when you join George and Harold for more fun 'n' games with the amazing Captain Underpants and the world's smallest superhero, Super Diaper Baby. Learn how to draw your favorite characters, tell cheesy jokes, and even make your own silly Captain Underpants story. Best of all, this book includes a brand-new comic-book adventure starring Captain Underpants, Super Diaper Baby, and the amazing Diaper Dog!
https://www.amazon.com/All-Captain-Underpants-Extra-Crunchy-Book/dp/0439376084/?tag=2022091-20
2002
(Meet Ook and Gluk, the stars of this sensationally silly ...)
Meet Ook and Gluk, the stars of this sensationally silly graphic novel from the creators of Captain Underpants! It's 500,001 BC, and Ook and Gluk's hometown of Caveland, Ohio, is under attack by an evil corporation from the future. When Ook, Gluk, and their little dinosaur pal Lily are pulled through a time portal to 2222, they discover a future world that's even more devastated than their own. Luckily, they find a friend in Master Wong, a martial arts instructor who trains them in the ways of kung fu. Now all they have to do is travel back in time 502,223 years and save the day!
https://www.amazon.com/Adventures-Kung-Fu-Cavemen-Captain-Underpants/dp/0545385776/?tag=2022091-20
2010
(George and Harold (the co-stars of the enormously popular...)
George and Harold (the co-stars of the enormously popular Captain Underpants series) are in big trouble again! Their mean principal, Mr. Krupp, has had it with their comic books. But the boys aren't giving up, and they decide to create an all-new epic novel about a subject they've never tackled before! Dr. Dilbert Dinkle started his career as an ordinary, everyday evil genius/inventor/bank robber. But when he awakens one day transformed into a walking, talking puddle of pee, he vows to destroy every toilet in town. Will the devious Dr. Dinkle and his conniving cat, Petey, ruin restrooms for the rest of us? Or could this be a job for the death-defying duo of Super Diaper Baby and Diaper Dog?
https://www.amazon.com/Super-Diaper-Baby-Invasion-Snatchers/dp/0545175321/?tag=2022091-20
2011
(Dog Man is still learning a few tricks of the trade. Pete...)
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. 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 purrfect crime? 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. 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.
https://www.amazon.com/Dog-Man-Unleashed-Creator-Underpants/dp/0545935202/?tag=2022091-20
2016
(George and Harold have created a new breed of justice - o...)
George and Harold have created a new breed of justice - one that is part dog, part man, and ALL HERO! 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. Will he be able to resist the call of the wild to answer the call of duty?
https://www.amazon.com/Dog-Man-Creator-Captain-Underpants/dp/0545581605/?tag=2022091-20
2016
(Dog Man is back - and this time he's not alone. The heroi...)
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?
https://www.amazon.com/Dog-Man-Cat-Kid-Underpants/dp/0545935180/?tag=2022091-20
2017
(He was the best of dogs... He was the worst of dogs... It...)
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 pawsitive 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 super-cute kitten. Dog Man will have to work twice as hard to bust these furballs and remain top dog!
https://www.amazon.com/Dog-Man-Kitties-Creator-Underpants/dp/0545935210/?tag=2022091-20
2017
(Is Dog Man bad to the bone? The heroic hound is sent to t...)
Is Dog Man bad to the bone? The heroic hound 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? The heroic hound 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?
https://www.amazon.com/Dog-Man-Creator-Captain-Underpants/dp/1338236571/?tag=2022091-20
2018
(When a new bunch of baddies bust up the town, Dog Man is ...)
When a new bunch of baddies bust up the town, Dog Man is called into action - and this time he isn't alone. 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?
https://www.amazon.com/Dog-Man-Creator-Captain-Underpants/dp/0545935172/?tag=2022091-20
2018
(Petey the Cat is out of jail, and he has a brand-new leas...)
Petey the Cat is out of jail, and he has a brand-new lease on life. While Petey's reevaluated 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!
https://www.amazon.com/Dog-Man-Fetch-22-Creator-Underpants/dp/1338323210/?tag=2022091-20
2019
(The Supa Buddies have been working hard to help Dog Man o...)
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.
https://www.amazon.com/Dog-Man-Creator-Captain-Underpants/dp/1338236598/?tag=2022091-20
2019
(Want to know how George and Harold come up with hilarious...)
Want to know how George and Harold come up with hilarious heroes like Dog Man and Li'l Petey and Chief? And how do they think up such wretched villains, like Petey and Piggy and Philly? Now's your chance to find out! The boys will give step-by-step instructions on how to draw some of their best Dog Man characters. Plus, get advice on how to create your own funny comic-book characters - and bring them to life in 3-D!
https://www.amazon.com/Guide-Creating-Comics-3-D-Dog/dp/1338568841/?tag=2022091-20
2019
artist cartoonist illustrator novelist writer
Dav Pilkey was born on March 4, 1966, in Cleveland, Ohio. His mother is Barbara and father is David Pilkey Sr. He has one older sister as a sibling.
Pilkey received his general education in elementary school in North Ridgeville, Ohio. He later graduated from Kent State University majoring in art.
Dav Pilkey wrote his first book titled ‘World War Won’ as a student. It won a national competition for student authors and was published in 1987. A year later, he illustrated ‘Don't Pop Your Cork on Mondays’. Then in 1990, he released the first book of his “Dragon” book series, titled 'A Friend for Dragon'. This was followed by the sequels 'Dragon Gets By', 'Dragon's Fat Cat', and 'Dragon's Halloween' which were published in the subsequent years.
In 1994, Pilkey started his ‘Dumb Bunnies’ book series with the first book of the series 'The Dumb Bunnies'. The following year, he released 'The Hallo-Wiener', a children’s book employing Oscar the Dachshund as the main character. He next came up with an installment of the ‘Dumb Bunnies’ series called 'Make Way for Dumb Bunnies' which published in 1996.
The year 1997 boosted Pilkey’s writing career. He released the first novel in the ‘Captain Underpants’ series, titled 'The Adventures of Captain Underpants '. The novel became an instant hit with kids across America. That year, the author also released three novels from his ‘Big Dog & Little Dog’ series, namely 'Big Dog and Little Dog', 'Big Dog and Little Dog Going for a Walk ', and 'Big Dog and Little Dog Getting in Trouble.' He followed these with ‘Big Dog and Little Dog Wearing Sweaters’ and ‘Big Dog and Little Dog Making a Mistake’ which were published in 1998 and 1999, respectively.
Pilkey began the year 2000 with 'Captain Underpants and the Perilous Plot of Professor Poopypants', the fourth novel in the ‘Captain Underpants’ series. That year, he also released 'Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot’, a kid’s book involving a mouse who saves the world from evils with the help of his mighty robot. The book generated many sequels, including 'Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot vs. the Voodoo Vultures from Venus' among others.
On August 10, 2010, Pilkey released the graphic novel 'The Adventures of Ook and Gluk: Kung-Fu Cavemen from the Future'. On June 28, 2011, he published another graphic novel titled ‘Super Diaper Baby 2: The Invasion of the Potty Snatchers’.
Pilkey penned the Ricky Ricotta’s Mighty Robot sequence as well as Underpants spin offs The Adventures of Super Diaper Baby and The Adventures of Ook and Gluk. In 2016 Pilkey unveiled Dog Man, another spin off from his most successful series, which looks set to rival the popularity of Captain Underpants himself. In August 2019, the author released ‘Dog Man: For Whom the Ball Rolls’.
(They trampled the terrible Talking Toilets! They crushed ...)
2001(Dav Pilkey's gentle blue Dragon (from the hit TV series) ...)
1991(Want to know how George and Harold come up with hilarious...)
2019(George and Harold have created a new breed of justice - o...)
2016(Meet Ook and Gluk, the stars of this sensationally silly ...)
2010(You'll laugh! You'll cry! You'll wet your pants with joy ...)
2002(Is Dog Man bad to the bone? The heroic hound is sent to t...)
2018(Lonely Dragon has made a friend, and he loves spending ti...)
1990(Hally Tosis is a great family dog, but there is one rotte...)
1994(George and Harold (the co-stars of the enormously popular...)
2011(The endearing blue Dragon is back in bestselling author D...)
1992(Oscar is a little dog with a big problem - he gets more t...)
1995(Meet Ricky Ricotta, a little mouse with a big problem! Ri...)
2000(Dragon is so excited for Halloween! He plans to carve a b...)
1993(When a new bunch of baddies bust up the town, Dog Man is ...)
2018(When Dragon finds a stray cat in his yard, he brings it i...)
1992(The Supa Buddies have been working hard to help Dog Man o...)
2019(Petey the Cat is out of jail, and he has a brand-new leas...)
2019(Oh, no! It looks like George and Harold are in trouble ag...)
2002(Dragon is very responsible, but sometimes he makes mistak...)
1991(Dog Man is still learning a few tricks of the trade. Pete...)
2016(Dog Man is back - and this time he's not alone. The heroi...)
2017(He was the best of dogs... He was the worst of dogs... It...)
2017
Quotations:
"The older I get, the more I find myself trying to honor and celebrate pretty much everything and everyone who delivers - or delivered - joy to me and my family."
"I had these characters and this story line that I loved, and I really wanted to make sure that I told all the stories that I wanted to tell before I let it go."
"I don't remember much about my early childhood, except that I was almost always happy. My parents tell me that I used to laugh in my sleep all the time, even as an infant. When I wasn't laughing, I kept myself busy by drawing. While the other kids in the neighborhood were outside playing baseball and football, I was inside drawing animals, monsters, and super-hero guys. Life was pretty cool when I was little... and then school started."
"Interestingly, I find it more challenging to draw in the simplified, childlike style of Harold than it is to draw in my own, more refined style. I constantly find myself having to erase and re-draw things because Harold can’t draw as well as I can. But even though Harold’s drawings are more primitive than mine, they still have to be very expressive and convey the proper emotions and actions. It’s far more difficult than it looks to draw in such a simple style, but I really love the challenge."
"I wasn’t a big fan of reading when I was a kid. I was one of those kids who chose books based on how many pictures they had in them - more pictures equaled less words - and how many pages they contained. You’d never catch me reading a book with more than 200 pages. I think the books I make today are a direct reflection of what I longed for but almost never found in books as a kid."
"I got inspired to create children’s books from a teacher I had at Kent State University. She walked up to my desk one day and noticed that my notebook was filled with cartoons instead of actual notes, so she asked to see me after class. To my amazement, I wasn’t in trouble. She told me I was a very good writer and encouraged me to consider making books for kids."
"These 'mistakes' occur in my books for a reason. I have an agenda: I'm secretly trying to inspire kids to create their own stories and comics, and I don't want them to feel stifled by 'perfectionism."
"It used to take me forever to read and comprehend stuff, so I decided not to make the 'Captain Underpants' books too challenging. Don't get me wrong - the humor and ideas are often sophisticated - but the books aren't hard to read. I wanted kids who hate reading to find these books irresistible."
"Being an author is fun. It's a great job because I can stay up as late as I want, and if I feel like taking the day off, I do it. Plus, I get to make up silly stories and draw pictures all day."
In school, Dav was so disruptive in class that his teachers made him sit out in the hall every day. Luckily, Dav loved to draw and make up stories, so he spent his time in the hallway creating his own original comic books.
As of today, Pilkey, who is surprisingly soft-spoken and gentle in person, has a way of disappearing, not just halfway around the world, but into nature and behind pseudonyms such as George Beard and Harold Hutchins — his Underpants heroes and "authors" of their own spinoff comic books. "Harold is kind of an introvert. George is a complete extrovert," Pilkey says. "And that's two different sides of my personality. Especially as a kid, you never knew which side you were going to get."
Physical Characteristics: As a child, Dav Pilkey was diagnosed with dyslexia and ADHD. Dav’s age is 53 as of 2019. Pilkey has a height of 6 feet 1 inch. There are no further details about Pilkey’s weight and body measurement. Despite being in his mid-’50s, he has maintained his body to its optimum level. Dav has pepper black hair and blue eyes.
In 2005 Dav was married to Sayuri Pilkey whom he met in Washington. He lived in the Pacific Northwest with his wife. In 1996, Dav moved to Seattle, Washington. He then took a ferry from Seattle to Bainbridge Island, Washington where he has lived since 1999. He divides his time between Bainbridge Island, WA and Minami Izu, Japan.