Are you ready to go on a fun-filled journey filled with silly villains and lots of adventure? Look no further – here are 20 of the best children’s books like Captain Underpants so that you can fight crime in no time.
Dinotown is a place where nothing can go wrong…right? But when Teri-Dactyl gets word that the Golden Egglettes are in danger, he knows it’s no time to mess around. He gathers his team of Dinomighties to unite and save the Egglettes before it’s too late!
This graphic novel is action-packed and filled with humor, and you get to follow heroes on their journey to save the town. It’s perfect for lovers of Captain Underpants and guaranteed to have you chuckling.
Mr. Wolf, Mr. Piranha, Mr. Snake, and Mr. Shark definitely look like bad guys. Nobody who sees them thinks that they would be good…but they are about to change that. Mr. Wolf has constructed a plan for their first heroic mission, where they will save 200 imprisoned dogs from the city’s maximum security dog pound. It’s all up to them to make sure it goes smoothly and according to plan.
This book is the first in The Bad Guys series, and it has even been turned into a movie! Dav Pilkey, the author of Captain Underpants, says that it’s a hilarious book, which means that it’s definitely a great option for all of the Captain Underpants lovers out there.
Danny Dragonbreath is the only mythical creature in a school for reptiles and he can barely breathe fire like other dragons, but he is fearless nonetheless. One day, he gets a bad grade at school and it inspires him to do something wild. Danny gets the help of his sea-serpent cousin, and with his best friend, they all go on an underwater adventure.
Dog Man is—well, you guessed it-–half dog, half man. His job is to fight crime and do what’s right, all while battling with his nemesis, a conniving cat named Petey. Follow Dog Man as he makes a name for himself and tries not to be too dog-like in his tendencies.
This graphic novel is written by the author of Captain Underpants himself, so you already know it will be good. It features hilarious and heartwarming adventures, filled with fun illustrations and a story that’s exciting to read.
Claude is the beloved house cat of a 12-year-old boy, but the cat has a secret: He was raised by a ninja master, and when he hears of trouble he breaks out his ninja mask to protect the streets. Follow Claude’s journey as he goes on crazy adventures to fight crime and evil villains.
This is an epic graphic novel that will have you laughing as you wait to see what Cat Ninja does next. It’s even a series, so you don’t have to stop the adventure after finishing the first book.
Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute by Jarrett J. Krosoczka
Hector, Terrence, and Dee are three kids who are curious about their school lunch lady. Where does she go when she isn’t serving lunch? Little do they know, the lunch lady has a wild life of her own, and she fights crime and serves justice all the time. The lunch lady is a hero who is afraid of no villain.
Follow the lunch lady on her crazy adventures fighting off bad guys! This book is funny and suspenseful, ready to take you on a unique journey of fun and excitement.
You can read Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute by Jarrett J. Krosoczka here.
Franny K. Stein: Lunch Walks Among Us by Jim Benton
All of the kids in Franny K. Stein’s class think that she is weird and creepy. After all, she is a mad scientist who jumps rope with her pet snake and does crazy things. Now Franny is done with being the odd one out, so she attempts to fit in. But when a giant, threatening monster attacks the class, Franny and her peers know that it’s up to her to save the day.
This book is witty, action-packed, and guaranteed to be an exciting story for all. And the fun doesn’t have to stop after the first book, because Franny K. Stein is a series!
You can read Lunch Walks Among Us by Jim Bentonhere.
Bowling Alley Bandit by Laurie Keller
Arnie is a doughnut dog, and he’s happy to be Mr. Bing’s new pet. Mr. Bing takes Arnie to his bowling practices, and Arnie loves being there. But when Mr. Bing mysteriously starts rolling gutter balls, Arnie knows something is behind it, so he and his friends get together to put a stop to the madness.
This chapter book is charming, silly, and exciting, and you uncover something new with every flip of the page.
You can find Bowling Alley Bandit by Laurie Keller here.
The Adventures of Super Diaper Baby by Dav Pilkey
George and Harold are in trouble yet again, and they are being forced to write a comic that is NOT about the famous Captain Underpants. So they create Super Diaper Baby, a heroic baby with a mission to defeat Deputy Dangerous, AKA Super Diaper Baby’s sworn enemy.
This is yet another book by the creator of Captain Underpants, and it has a lot of similarities. For starters, the main characters of the two books are both wearing underpants! It also features George and Harold, the two boys from Captain Underpants. It’s super funny, adventurous, and entertaining to read.
You can find The Adventures of Super Diaper Baby by Dav Pilkey here.
Marty Pants: Do Not Open! by Mark Parisi
Marty Pants is a middle schooler who has an artistic soul, and he can’t help but notice that he sees things differently than his peers. When he gets a note that says he’s being watched by an alien, Marty can’t ignore it. But nobody believes him, so it’s up to Marty himself to go with his gut and save the world.
Marty is a quirky and loveable character who is fearless in what he does. This book is super fun to read and guaranteed to give you a few laughs, and it’s the first in the Marty Pants series, so you can go on more adventures with Marty after the book is over.
You can read Marty Pants: Do Not Open! by Mark Parisi here.
George Brown, Class Clown: Super Burp! by Nancy Krulik
On George Brown’s second day at Sugarman Elementary School, he thinks everything is going to go smoothly. But when he gets a bad case of uncontrollable burps, he knows he’s in for a ride, because these are no ordinary burps: These are magic burps! Ones that make him do crazy things and land him in a whole lot of trouble. George knows that he has to stop it, but he just has to figure out how…
Super Burp! isthe first in the George Brown, Class Clown series and it takes you on an exciting adventure of fun and mystery.
Eugene Flystein is just your average nerdy housefly…except for when he isn’t. Because despite Eugene’s carefree attitude at home, he’s actually SUPER FLY!! One of the greatest superheroes fighting for humanity. And with the help of his sidekick, Fantastic Flea, they will battle their enemy Crazy Cockroach and stop crime.
This book is adventurous and charming, sure to wow you with its exciting plot.
Max wants to be a knight, but he knows that his dream is almost impossible to reach. When Max’s uncle is kidnapped by King Gastley, it’s no time to play games. Max has to embark on a journey so that he can save his uncle and restore the realm of Byjovia.
You can purchase Max and the Midknights by Lincoln Peirce here.
Frankie Pickle and the Mathematical Menace by Eric Wight
Frankie has problems in his life, and now he is facing his greatest challenge so far: His math quiz! But as Frankie starts the quiz, it does something highly unexpected. It transports him to Arithmecca, a world with terrible number monsters out to get him! Frankie has only his pencil, but he must persevere if he wants to conquer the monsters and finish his quiz.
This book is the first in the Frankie Pickles series, and it will take you on a wild adventure filled with suspense and laughs.
You can read Frankie Pickle and the Mathematical Menace here.
Klawde: Evil Alien Warlord Cat by Johnny Marciano
Klawde is the high commander of the planet Lyttyrboks, which means he rules an entire world of cats. When he is dethroned, Klawde gets cast away to a small planet called Earth. Raj is a kid who has just been forced to move across the country to Oregon, leaving all his friends behind. But when he meets Klawde, Raj thinks that maybe this new life won’t be so bad after all.
You can find Klawde: Evil Alien Warlord Cat by Johnny Marciano here.
The Rotten Adventures of Zachary Ruthless by Allan Woodrow
Zachary is a very rotten kid, always scheming up some new way of taking over the world. His dream is to join the world’s most diabolical group of supervillains, and he needs to prove himself. So Zachary and his henchman, Newt, battle many people, including Mayor Mudfogg himself!
This book has some pretty crazy adventures, and it is packed with hilarity and excitement.
You can read The Rotten Adventures of Zachary Ruthless here.
Sideways Stories From Wayside School by Louis Sachar
Wayside School isn’t your average school. In fact, it was built with one classroom on top of the other, and it’s 30 stories tall! But the craziness doesn’t stop there. Funny things are always happening in Wayside School, especially on the thirteenth floor.
This book takes you through many incidents that the kids and teachers experience, and there are bound to be many hilarious twists and turns throughout.
You can find Sideways Stories From Wayside School here.
The Chicken Squad by Doreen Cronin
Dirt, Sugar, Poppy, and Sweetie are all part of the chicken squad. These aren’t your average pecking, squawking chickens. These chickens are here to solve mysteries and fight crime! When Squirrel comes to the chicken coop to describe a terrifying and mysterious thing he saw, the chickens know they have a case to solve.
You can purchase The Chicken Squad by Doreen Cronin here.
Matilda by Roald Dahl
When Matilda starts school, she expects it to be different from her life at home, where her parents think she is obnoxious. But Miss Trunchbull, the headmistress, is horrible and hates kids with a vengeance. When Miss Trunchbull attacks her, Matilda discovers that she has secret powers, and these powers might be just what she needs to defeat the evil headmistress for good.
This story is a classic that was even turned into a movie, and it’s charming, witty, and exciting.
King Flashypants and the Evil Emperor by Andy Riley
Edwin isn’t your normal, run-of-the-mill kid. He’s a king who has his own castle, filled with fun waterslides and secret passageways. But he also lives next door to Emperor Nurbison, a man who is evil and wants to take Edwin’s kingdom for himself. When Nurbison spies a chance to take the kingdom, Edwin must go on an adventure to stop the horrible man from stealing what’s his.
You can read King Flashypants and the Evil Emperor by Andy Riley here.
FAQs
What age level are the Captain Underpants books?
Captain Underpants is geared toward kids 7-10 years old, but people of any age can appreciate it.
Should I let my kid read Captain Underpants?
Captain Underpants is a series made for kids, and it’s great for reluctant readers who have a hard time staying interested in chapter books. It’s a fun and silly story that all kids should get the chance to read. It does have some toilet humor, but nothing super inappropriate since it’s made for younger audiences.
Freya grew up in Portland Oregon and still resides there now. She has been reading for as long as she can remember, and loves that books allow you to escape into someone else’s reality for a little while. When she is not writing or reading she enjoys playing piano, baking, and going outside.
