If your child can’t get enough of the Dog Man series by Dav Pilkey, they’ll love these action-packed, laugh-out-loud chapter books and graphic novel read-alikes! Featuring quirky humor, daring adventures, and engaging illustrations, these books are perfect for fans of fast-paced, amusing storytelling. Whether your reader is looking for another heroic animal, a zany escapade, or just a good dose of silly fun, this list has something to keep them entertained.
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CHAPTER BOOK READ ALIKES
Monday in the Cave of Thieves by Ralph Lazar
This delightfully weird tale about a boy named Dash Candoo who faces dangerous mayhem at every corner had my son laughing out loud. Whether it’s the expressive illustrations or zany text, this action-packed chapter book is fast-paced fun!
The Bad Guys by Aaron Blabey
Fans of funny stories are not going to be able to resist this one! When four traditional villains attempt to lead better lives and help people, hilarious hijinks ensue. The black and white illustrations are full of expression and the comical text has tons of kid appeal!
Real Pigeons Fight Crime by Andrew McDonald, illustrated by Ben Wood
When a pigeon named Grandpouter, invites an enthusiastic pigeon named Rock to join his squad of crime-fighting pigeons, he has no idea of the silly hijinks that await him in the big city. Comical illustrations mixed with lovable illustrations and an exciting storyline make this one engaging series for kids.
My Kingdom of Darkness (Pets Rule series) by Susan Tan, illustrated by Wendy Tan Shiau Wei
Ember may appear to be an adorable Chihuahua, but in reality, he is an evil overload who wants to rule the world! This hysterical book follows Ember as he befriends other pets and takes on a sinister squirrel as his first adversary. My daughter absolutely loved this one and can’t wait to read the rest of the series!
Inspector Flytrap by Tom Angleberger, illustrated by CeCe Bell
Prepare for pure silliness as a Venus Flytrap Plant and a hungry goat team up to solve “Big Deal Mysteries”. My kids especially loved the expressive art from CeCe Bell.
Game Over, Super Rabbit Boy (series) by Thomas Flintham
Video game lovers will immediately be attracted to this action-packed transitional chapter book. When a singing dog is abducted by the evil King Viking in a video game, it is up to Super Rabbit Boy to save the day. The bright colors and fast-past storyline, makes this an excellent choice for reluctant readers.
Cat on the Run in Cat of Death by Aaaron Blabey
When social media star, Princess Beautiful, is accused of a heinous crime, she must go into hiding to prove her innocence. This is pure silliness and fun.
The Underdogs by Tracey West, illustrated by Kyla May
Nova and her friends have failed their K-9 Agility test at Barksdale Academy three years in a row—but this year, they’re determined to pass and maybe even win Best in Show! All they have to do is stay focused and avoid pesky distractions. Filled with humor, this engaging book features illustrations on every page and short, accessible text, making it perfect for growing readers gaining confidence with chapter books.
Stick Dog by Tom Watson
This surprisingly clever and entertaining story follows Stick Dog and his friends on a quest for the perfect hamburger while battling squirrels and any other obstacles that stand in their way.
Tales of Bunjitsu Bunny by John Himmelmann
Short chapters follow the escapades of the wise and brave Isabel, the most talented bunjitsu around. Though she can kick the hardest and the highest, she only uses her skills when she needs them and often uses her brains to solve problems. Red pops of color adorn the black and white illustrations of this enchanting story
The Under Dogs Catch a Cat Burglar by Kate Temple, illustrated by Jol Temple
A pack of bumbling dog detectives do their best to solve the case of a troublesome cat burglar.
Two Dogs in a Trench Coat Go to School by Julie Falatko, illustrated by Jack Celin
Concerned that their boy, Stewart, is struggling at school, pet dogs Waldo and Sassy don disguises to join his class. As expected, their undercover mission leads to plenty of hilarious encounters and mishaps, making for one wildly entertaining story.
CHAPTER BOOK READ ALIKES – 3rd grade and up
The 13-Story Treehouse by Andy Griffiths; illustrated by Terry Denton, 2013
Two young boys are living their best lives creating comic books and lodging in a mind-blowing tree house. With an approaching deadline for their latest and greatest comic, they need to focus, but with so many zany distractions it’s not easy. My old students were obsessed with this series and I could never keep it on the shelves of my school library.
Mac Undercover (Mac B. Kid Spy series) by Mac Barnett; illustrated by Mike Lowery, 2018
In this quirky story, acclaimed author Mac Barnett, reveals that he was actually a super spy as a child. Set in the 1980’s, the humorous tale takes readers on a hysterical adventure of Mac flying to London to aid the queen in the mystery of her missing Crown Jewels. While some of the humor may go over kids’ heads, they won’t care because they will be having so much fun reading about Mac’s exciting escapade traveling the world in this comical story.
The Terrible Two (series) by Mac Barnett
Miles Murphy couldn’t be less excited about moving to Yawnee Valley, a town famous for their large number of cattle. The only saving grace is that he can start his 5th grade year as the school’s new prankster. When he arrives on the first day to find the principal’s car blocking the entrance to the school, however, he realizes Yawnee may already have a prankster that needs to be dethroned. We read this book aloud as a family and it had everyone cracking up. Between the comical writing and hysterical illustrations, this one is perfect for reluctant readers or anyone who enjoys a funny story.
GRAPHIC NOVEL READ ALIKES
Cat Kid Comic Club by Dav Pilkey
This hysterical new series stars a cat and his sidekick who form a club to teach a class of young frogs how to make a comic. While it is completely zany, it is also packed with kid appeal and helpful advice about the creative process.
The teacher advising the club is initially shocked and disappointed with some of ridiculous story lines of some of the comics, but he comes to understand that kids need a little freedom to create and explore topics that interest them. With a variety of comic formats and inspirational ideas, I have no doubt that this humorous graphic novel will inspire budding writers to pick up their own pencils and get writing!
The Greatest in the World (Tator Tales series) by Ben Clanton
We love Ben Clanton’s picture books Rot, The Cutest in the World and Rot, the Bravest in the World, so we were thrilled to see a new chapter book starring this lovable character. This silly story about the sibling rivalry between two mutant potatoes is absolutely hilarious. Filled with funny puns, this book is spudtacular!
Agent Moose by Mo O’Hara, illustrated by Jess Bradley
When animals start disappearing at the South Shore Special Agent Anonymoose and his star sidekick Owlfred are on the case! Agent Moose may be a bit clueless, but he’s all heart, and this story is full of fun!
InvestiGators by John Green
With its fast-paced plot, slapstick humor, and pun-filled dialogue, kids won’t be able to resist this comical tale of two alligator spies! Armed with super cool spy technology, Mango and Brash work for S.U.I.T. (Special Undercover Investigator Teams) and are challenged with finding a missing chef in their first adventure. Lexile 390
Max Meow Cat Crusader by John Gallagher
After accidentally eating a radioactive meatball, Max Meow goes from ordinary podcaster to full-fledged superhero. Now, he must mend his friendship with his best pal, Mindy, and take down the city’s most dastardly villains.
CatStronauts: Mission Moon by Drew Brockington
Prepare for cute cats and comical hijinks in this adventure series starring fearless feline astronauts tasked with setting up solar power 
stations in space to save the earth from an energy crises. With puns galore and a cast of lovable heroes including Major Meowser, Navigator Waffles, an Officer Pom Pom, this funny series is out of this world.
Don’t miss the spinoff series Waffles and Pancake Planetary Yum, which uncovers Navigator Waffles’ origin story.
Narwhal and Jelly series by Ben Clanton
The cheerful Narwhal and no-nonsense Jelly Fish are two unlikely friends who could not be more adorable. Upon meeting, they each believe the other is imaginary and the comical hijinks continue from there. Both my children enjoyed listening to this series as a read aloud and my son couldn’t wait to start reading these delightful books on his own.
These charming books use a graphic novel format with large panels and dialogue to draw the reader in. There are three short stories in each book that are full of humor that both adults and children will appreciate. As a bonus, there are fun facts about sea creatures in between each chapter. Lexile: 490L
Cranky Chicken by Katherine Battersby
This seriously silly story has been on repeat at our house. Both my 7 year-old daughter and 10 year-old son can’t get enough of the hilarious hijinks of Cranky Chicken! In the classic case of opposites attracting, a friendly outgoing worm befriends a very grumpy chicken. It is so downright entertaining to watch their friendship bloom over three comical chapters. Buy It Here
Simon and Chester Super Detectives (series) by Cale Atkinson
Sir Simon, a ghost with a big personality, teams up with his friend, Chester, a boy with a big imagination, to solve mysteries around their house. Cale Atkinson’s expressive illustrations are absolutely hysterical and my son loved the droll text so much that he started quoting funny lines from the book. This is such a fun one with tons of kid appeal! Lexile 530
The First Cat in Space Ate Pizza by Mac Barnett; illustrated by Shawn Harris
Silly shenanigans ensue as a courageous cat enters space to stop a group of evil rats from eating the moon. Our family loves Mac Barnett’s sense of humor, so my son couldn’t wait to get his hands on this new graphic novel and it did not disappoint. This one is a ton of fun!
Max and the Midnights by Lincoln Peirce
Max and her loyal band of friends embark on an epic quest to save her Uncle Budrick and become the hero she always knew she was destined to be. Full of magic and adventure, this one has a ton of kid appeal.
Click HERE for more Dog Man Graphic Novel Read Alikes
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