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3.87 AVERAGE
3.87 AVERAGE
Captain Underpants was an essential book series to my childhood. I strongly believe I have it to thank for my love of graphic novels and my sense of humor.
Recently there’s been a lot of talk about Dog Man, a popular book series by the same author that's sort of a spin-off of Captain Underpants. The release of its movie trailer was a reminder that I never actually finished the Captain Underpants series so I decided, with all the knowledge I have acquired since, it was time to go back and face the Terrifying Return of Tippy Tinkletrousers!
My initial impression of this book is that that Pilkey's still got it. The first few chapters had me laughing a lot. These books that many parents would consider lowbrow are self-aware enough to know they can’t rely on toilet humor alone. A lot of the humor of Captain Underpants would fit right in with a modern children’s cartoon.
As the book progressed it took a sharp turn into a different narrative, examining George and Harold’s origin. I can tell that Dav Pilkey must have struggled with knowing what to do with the 9th book in the series, hence the long hiatus between this one and book 8 (Six years! That’s how long it took, which is essentially an eternity if you’re a child). I like that Pilkey uses this book to tell a story about standing up to bullies. It’s a story I’m sure was cathartic to many young readers who may have been victims of bullying growing up.
Does some of the content come off as homophobic (namely using dresses and bracelets to insult the bullies)? Yes. A bit. But it’s clear to see Pilkey had good intentions that were just misguided.
This may be one of the lesser Captain Underpants books, it’s certainly not as funny as some of those earlier books, but it’s a fun read, and one I’m sure plenty of kids will still enjoy.
Recently there’s been a lot of talk about Dog Man, a popular book series by the same author that's sort of a spin-off of Captain Underpants. The release of its movie trailer was a reminder that I never actually finished the Captain Underpants series so I decided, with all the knowledge I have acquired since, it was time to go back and face the Terrifying Return of Tippy Tinkletrousers!
My initial impression of this book is that that Pilkey's still got it. The first few chapters had me laughing a lot. These books that many parents would consider lowbrow are self-aware enough to know they can’t rely on toilet humor alone. A lot of the humor of Captain Underpants would fit right in with a modern children’s cartoon.
As the book progressed it took a sharp turn into a different narrative, examining George and Harold’s origin. I can tell that Dav Pilkey must have struggled with knowing what to do with the 9th book in the series, hence the long hiatus between this one and book 8 (Six years! That’s how long it took, which is essentially an eternity if you’re a child). I like that Pilkey uses this book to tell a story about standing up to bullies. It’s a story I’m sure was cathartic to many young readers who may have been victims of bullying growing up.
Does some of the content come off as homophobic (namely using dresses and bracelets to insult the bullies)? Yes. A bit. But it’s clear to see Pilkey had good intentions that were just misguided.
This may be one of the lesser Captain Underpants books, it’s certainly not as funny as some of those earlier books, but it’s a fun read, and one I’m sure plenty of kids will still enjoy.
This was a great book! My son loved it and could not wait to read it at night. We will be going back and reading all of them.
I recommend these books!
I recommend these books!
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Reviewed at: http://www.teachmentortexts.com/2012/07/captain-underpants.html
I love the back story in this one that shows how Harold and George met and how their friendship grew. Although all of the Captain Underpants book have some aspect of bullying, in this one bullying plays a bigger role.
This Captain Underpants book is different than the others, but I really liked it and it sets up for the final book in the series very well.
Teacher thoughts:
-Paradox
-Grammar (pg. 36)
-Rhyming
I love the back story in this one that shows how Harold and George met and how their friendship grew. Although all of the Captain Underpants book have some aspect of bullying, in this one bullying plays a bigger role.
This Captain Underpants book is different than the others, but I really liked it and it sets up for the final book in the series very well.
Teacher thoughts:
-Paradox
-Grammar (pg. 36)
-Rhyming
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Real Rating: 4.5
This book picks up where the last book has left off. George and Harold are being arrested for the crimes that their evil counterparts did before returning to their own time. It is then that Professor Tippy Tinkletrousers (aka Professor Poopypants) appears in a giant trousers robot. He chases after the boys.
It is then we get a small interlude explaining the Banana Cream Pie Paradox.
The story returns where Tippy Tinkletrousers did not return and the kids are taken to Juvie. The police also pick up Mr. Krupp and he is sentenced to prison. While in prison, Mr. Krupp comes across Professor Tippy Tinkletrouser who is working on a secret project. The project is suppose to be a statue of the Warden but it is actually trouser robot that the professor uses to break out of prison. Along the way, the professor kidnaps Mr. Krupp.
We find Harold and George seemingly enjoying Juvie when the professor appears. He demands the boys be turned over, which the Warden does willingly after being threatened. Of course, Mr. Krupp enjoys the notion of the end of the two boys until bring out Captain Underpants in front of the professor. This drives the professor insane and sets of a hilarious fight between the two until Captain Underpants pulls part of the robot from the ice the professor accidentally placed himself in. This causes a lightning storm and we are sent back to a time to see how George and Harold meet as children and the tale of the Wedgie Magee.
This book was a bit longer than the others but it was just as fun. I love how we see the beginning of George and Harold's friendship. It was a nice little story and I even enjoyed how the two boys gave the school bully, a nephew of Mr. Krupp, a lesson he would never forget.
These books still keep getting better with each story and always there is a lesson to learn but George and Harold never have that chance to learn it because Captain Underpants always appears at the end. This time it was the professor who appeared and helped change a lot of the past but he also brought forth the apocalypse as well but before he could go back and change all that, something bad happens to him. I won't spoil it for you but you will have to read it.
Still I like that George and Harold taught the bullies a lesson they deserve. It was a nice change. It may not happen entirely in such a fashion in real life but it does help children to understand that bullying is not always the best course to take because there will always be that someone to make sure they get their comeuppance.
This book picks up where the last book has left off. George and Harold are being arrested for the crimes that their evil counterparts did before returning to their own time. It is then that Professor Tippy Tinkletrousers (aka Professor Poopypants) appears in a giant trousers robot. He chases after the boys.
It is then we get a small interlude explaining the Banana Cream Pie Paradox.
The story returns where Tippy Tinkletrousers did not return and the kids are taken to Juvie. The police also pick up Mr. Krupp and he is sentenced to prison. While in prison, Mr. Krupp comes across Professor Tippy Tinkletrouser who is working on a secret project. The project is suppose to be a statue of the Warden but it is actually trouser robot that the professor uses to break out of prison. Along the way, the professor kidnaps Mr. Krupp.
We find Harold and George seemingly enjoying Juvie when the professor appears. He demands the boys be turned over, which the Warden does willingly after being threatened. Of course, Mr. Krupp enjoys the notion of the end of the two boys until bring out Captain Underpants in front of the professor. This drives the professor insane and sets of a hilarious fight between the two until Captain Underpants pulls part of the robot from the ice the professor accidentally placed himself in. This causes a lightning storm and we are sent back to a time to see how George and Harold meet as children and the tale of the Wedgie Magee.
This book was a bit longer than the others but it was just as fun. I love how we see the beginning of George and Harold's friendship. It was a nice little story and I even enjoyed how the two boys gave the school bully, a nephew of Mr. Krupp, a lesson he would never forget.
These books still keep getting better with each story and always there is a lesson to learn but George and Harold never have that chance to learn it because Captain Underpants always appears at the end. This time it was the professor who appeared and helped change a lot of the past but he also brought forth the apocalypse as well but before he could go back and change all that, something bad happens to him. I won't spoil it for you but you will have to read it.
Still I like that George and Harold taught the bullies a lesson they deserve. It was a nice change. It may not happen entirely in such a fashion in real life but it does help children to understand that bullying is not always the best course to take because there will always be that someone to make sure they get their comeuppance.
adventurous
fast-paced
Very typical Captain Underpants. But I did feel a bit Bobby Ewing ish at the end? Is it all a dream? Looking forward to the next installment. I read the book thanks to Net Galley, since then have purchased the book for my library and it has a waiting list several students long. The captain has not lost his touch for attracting readers :)
As usual this book was fun. I'm super glad I bought for my niece.