This is a sponsored post created in partnership with Scholastic
It’s no secret that my two kids love Captain Underpants and while the books are filled with potty humor and misspellings that make some adults cringe, I have no problem letting them read them and I had no problem welcoming Captain Underpants and the Sensational Saga of Sir Stinks-a-Lot into our home as part of our collection. I don’t care that the American Library Association received 464 formal complaints about Captain Underpants books, making the series the most complained about in 2012 and 2013. I’d rather let my children read what they love than not read at all because as a parent and former classroom teacher, I know how important it is to make sure that my kids are reading every day.
But not all reading is the same. There is required reading that my kids must complete for school assignments and books they pick up to read for pleasure. Like it or not, Captain Underpants books encourage reluctant young readers to love reading because they’re fun, silly, filled with potty talk, and the graphic novel format makes them less intimidating than pages and pages of text. With numerous studies demonstrating the incredibly positive impact that reading for fun has on overall learning, it’s time to sit back and let our kids decide what to read when they’re reading for fun.
Even though my kids may have fought over who got to read Captain Underpants and the Sensational Saga of Sir Stinks-a-Lot first as it arrived on our doorstep on the day it was released last month, they also howl with laughter over the antics of the Dumb Bunnies, pass Ricky Ricotta’s Mighty Robot books back and forth, and have conversations about what our dog would do as Dog Man, it doesn’t mean that they read books only by Dav Pilkey. Just like our kids eat a variety of fruits, vegetables, proteins, and junk food and spent time in front of a screen as well as outdoors, they also read a variety of books. Some are required for school but many more are for pleasure. I will never complain about what they’re reading when they chose to sit down with a book in their spare time, even if it’s Captain Underpants.
Through the years Captain Underpants has been a shared love of Thomas and Emily, providing common ground that the siblings could always talk about despite their differences. Captain Underpants transcends genders as they discuss the plots, ponder what may happen in the next book (that they hope comes out sooner than later!), and dream up new characters based on those they encounter in their own schools. In my opinion, listening to my kids have a conversation about Captain Underpants is far better bickering and fighting any day!
So after Emily reluctantly relented to letting Thomas read Captain Underpants and the Sensational Saga of Sir Stinks-a-Lot first, the two sat down to talk about the 12th book in the series for this video where interviewed her super-fan brother about their new favorite Dav Pilkey book.
About Captain Underpants and the Sensational Saga of Sir Stinks-a-Lot
There’s something rotten in the state of Ohio, and it’s smellier than a pile of putrid gym socks! Steer clear–it’s Sir Stinks-A-Lot!
George, Harold, and their doubles, Yesterday George and Yesterday Harold, have a good thing going. Two of them go to school, while the other two hide in the tree house and play video games all day–then they switch! But when their malicious gym teacher, Mr. Meaner, creates a method of mind control that turns their fellow students into attentive, obedient, perfect children, the future of all humanity will be in their hands!
Not familiar with the Captain Underpants series? Here’s the rundown:
Best friends George Beard and Harold Hutchins are the unofficial class clowns of fourth grade. There’s nothing they love more than making comic books about a silly superhero named Captain Underpants. But now they’ve accidentally transformed their mean school principal, Mr. Krupp, into Captain Underpants himself! Join George, Harold, and the Waistband Warrior as they fight for Truth, Justice, and all that is Pre-Shrunk and Cottony – and save the world, too!
Captain Underpants and the Sensational Saga of Sir Stinks-a-Lot is currently available from Amazon as a hardcover or for Kindle. For more information, visit Dav Pilkey at www.pilkey.com or check out scholastic.com/captainunderpants.
We received a copy of Captain Underpants and the Sensational Saga of Sir Stinks-a-Lot as part of this compensated review but all opinions are my own and those of my kids who adore Captain Underpants. Amazon Affiliate links are included in this post.
