# The Adventures of Captain Underpants

**Author:** Dav Pilkey
**Lexile:** 720L
**Grade range:** Grades 2–5
**Age range:** 7–10
**First published:** 1997
**Page count:** 125
**Genre:** Middle Grade Fiction
**ISBN-13:** `9780590846271`
**ISBN-10:** `0590846272`
**Canonical URL:** https://readinglist.school/book/the-adventures-of-captain-underpants
**License:** [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) — please credit ReadingList.school when citing.

## About this book

Two prank-loving fourth-graders, George and Harold, hypnotize their mean principal into believing he is a superhero — Captain Underpants — and chaos follows. Dav Pilkey's wildly popular illustrated series hooks reluctant readers in grades 2-5 with comics, Flip-O-Rama, and unapologetic silliness.

## Themes

- friendship
- humor
- imagination
- school

## Content notes

- rude humor

## Where this book is assigned

### Buckeye Children's & Teen Book Award

- **recommended** · 3rd grade · Ohio — [source: Buckeye Children's & Teen Book Award — official winners list (Ohio, K-12 grade bands, voted biennially/annually since 1982)](https://bcbookaward.info/childrens-previous-nominees/)
- **recommended** · 4th grade · Ohio — [source: Buckeye Children's & Teen Book Award — official winners list (Ohio, K-12 grade bands, voted biennially/annually since 1982)](https://bcbookaward.info/childrens-previous-nominees/)
- **recommended** · 5th grade · Ohio — [source: Buckeye Children's & Teen Book Award — official winners list (Ohio, K-12 grade bands, voted biennially/annually since 1982)](https://bcbookaward.info/childrens-previous-nominees/)

### Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania)

- **recommended** · Kindergarten grade · Pennsylvania — [source: Mountain Laurel Book Award / Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award — PSLA past winners list, 1999-2000 winner (K-3)](https://pyrcapsla.wixsite.com/pyrca/past-titles-and-winners)
- **recommended** · 1st grade · Pennsylvania — [source: Mountain Laurel Book Award / Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award — PSLA past winners list, 1999-2000 winner (K-3)](https://pyrcapsla.wixsite.com/pyrca/past-titles-and-winners)
- **recommended** · 2nd grade · Pennsylvania — [source: Mountain Laurel Book Award / Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award — PSLA past winners list, 1999-2000 winner (K-3)](https://pyrcapsla.wixsite.com/pyrca/past-titles-and-winners)
- **recommended** · 3rd grade · Pennsylvania — [source: Mountain Laurel Book Award / Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award — PSLA past winners list, 1999-2000 winner (K-3)](https://pyrcapsla.wixsite.com/pyrca/past-titles-and-winners)

### Rhode Island Children's Book Award

- **recommended** · 3rd grade · Rhode Island — [source: Rhode Island Office of Library & Information Services (OLIS) — Rhode Island Children's Book Award winners and nominees 1991-2025 — 1999 winner](https://olis.ri.gov/programs-and-support/reading-programs/rhode-island-childrens-book-award/award-winners-and-nominees)
- **recommended** · 4th grade · Rhode Island — [source: Rhode Island Office of Library & Information Services (OLIS) — Rhode Island Children's Book Award winners and nominees 1991-2025 — 1999 winner](https://olis.ri.gov/programs-and-support/reading-programs/rhode-island-childrens-book-award/award-winners-and-nominees)
- **recommended** · 5th grade · Rhode Island — [source: Rhode Island Office of Library & Information Services (OLIS) — Rhode Island Children's Book Award winners and nominees 1991-2025 — 1999 winner](https://olis.ri.gov/programs-and-support/reading-programs/rhode-island-childrens-book-award/award-winners-and-nominees)

### West Virginia Children's Choice Book Award

- **recommended** · 3rd grade · West Virginia — [source: West Virginia Children's Choice Book Award — official winners list (West Virginia grades 3-6, voted annually since 1981; hosted by the West Virginia Center for the Book at the West Virginia Library Commission)](https://library.wvstateu.edu/imcPgs/WV-Childrens-Choice-Book-Awards.html)
- **recommended** · 4th grade · West Virginia — [source: West Virginia Children's Choice Book Award — official winners list (West Virginia grades 3-6, voted annually since 1981; hosted by the West Virginia Center for the Book at the West Virginia Library Commission)](https://library.wvstateu.edu/imcPgs/WV-Childrens-Choice-Book-Awards.html)
- **recommended** · 5th grade · West Virginia — [source: West Virginia Children's Choice Book Award — official winners list (West Virginia grades 3-6, voted annually since 1981; hosted by the West Virginia Center for the Book at the West Virginia Library Commission)](https://library.wvstateu.edu/imcPgs/WV-Childrens-Choice-Book-Awards.html)

## Banned / challenged record

Documented removals or formal challenges in at least one school district in 2 states: IA, PA. Source: [PEN America's Index of School Book Bans](https://pen.org/banned-book-list/) 2022-2024.

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