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Photos courtesy of Scholastic.
Author Dav Pilkey
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Some teachers and parents would rather go commando than stock their bookshelves with titles from author Dav Pilkey’s controversial “Captain Underpants” series. Indeed, titles featuring the unlikely superhero clad only in “tighty whities” and a red cape often land on the American Library Association’s annual list of most-frequently challenged books because some find their language offensive and unsuited for the books’ target age group.
That hasn’t stopped the series from growing to more than 70 million books in print worldwide since its introduction in 1997. And Pilkey hasn’t built his career as an author and illustrator on the back of a single underdressed superhero. His other books include “Dog Breath,” winner of the California Young Reader Medal and “The Paperboy,” a Caldecott Honor Book.
But it’s Pilkey’s latest “Underpants” installment, “Captain Underpants and the Sensational Saga of Sir Stinks-a-Lot” (Scholastic, 205 pages, $9.99), that brings him to the St. Louis County Library’s headquarters, 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd., at 6:30 p.m. Sunday for a free author event. (Doors open at 6 p.m. and seating is limited, so the library website recommends getting there early.)
Pilkey shares some thoughts on what inspires and influences him, and how adults can help struggling readers discover a lifelong passion for books.
How has your work influenced other graphic novelists and impacted the popularity of the form?
I still owe so much to the artists who influenced me (Charles M. Schulz [“Peanuts”], Ernie Bushmiller [“Nancy”], George Herriman [“Krazy Kat], Don Martin [Mad magazine], etc.) that I don't think I can ever take credit for influencing anybody else. Any influence I might have is merely an extension of the influence that those great artists had on me.
You've personally dealt with dyslexia and ADHD. How did that impact your choice to become an artist and author?
My bad behavior in school, which was directly related to my ADHD, got me sent out into the hallway for extended periods of time. It was during these times in the hallway that I began writing stories and drawing comics, so I suppose ADHD gave me an opportunity to practice and hone my craft as a storyteller.
I'm not sure that ADHD or dyslexia influenced my choice to become an artist or an author, but they do both influence my work today. My ADHD inspires me to write and draw as efficiently as possible. I don't want to get bored or worse, be boring. My dyslexia has influenced and helped shape the format of my books. It is my hope that all the cartoons, flip-pages, and comic strips that break up those big blocks of text will make my books less intimidating to children who may be struggling to read.
Did you find it hard to discover reading material that was interesting and accessible to you when you were young?
The only things I was interested in reading were comic strip collections (mostly “Peanuts”), Mad magazine, and joke books. I could sit and read these things all day long. Alas, my teachers thought those things were not real books, and sometimes they even took them away from me. Back then, they didn't know about all the research that would be done this century about the value of reading for fun. Kids who choose their own books and regularly read for fun are more motivated, read more, and do better in spelling, vocabulary, and math. The amazing thing is that in these studies it didn't matter what the kids were reading, or whether it was in their reading level or not. The only thing that mattered is that they were reading for fun, and making a habit of it. When it comes to kids and reading, there's no such thing as a guilty pleasure!
You've done some things with Guys Read, a web-based literacy organization spearheaded by author Jon Scieszka. Why do you think it's sometimes difficult to turn boys into self-motivated, lifelong readers?
I'm not so sure that's only a 'boy' thing. I've met plenty of girls who didn't like to read, too -- until they found the right book. The right book can change everything for a kid. A reluctant reader is just a kid who hasn't found the right book yet.
What advice would you offer to parents and teachers who struggle with kids who are reluctant readers? How can we avoid making reading seem like punishment for some kids?
Let kids choose their own books, and try not to criticize their choices. Let them read whatever they want and encourage them to do so often. Remember, reading doesn't have to be educational to be valuable. It just has to be fun -- and be a habit. So if all your kid wants to do is read romance novels, or books based on video games, don't worry. Be thankful that they want to read at all, and that this reading – even if it doesn't match with your tastes – is good for their brains.
Charlene Oldham is a writer and teacher. She lives in Crestwood.
