Dog Man and Cat Kid (Dog Man #4)

GR 1–4 George and Harold, the (fictional) elementary schoolers who created Captain Underpants, present their fourth "Dog Man" comic book, this time with a Hollywood twist. Dog Man, a cop with a canine's head, is assigned to the security detail of the new superhero movie The Dog-Man, based on his own daring deeds. Unfortunately, he is quickly banned because of his canine tendencies: napping, eating the props, and chewing costumes. Meanwhile, bad guy Petey, fresh out of Cat Jail, along with the kitten clone he created in A Tale of Two Kitties, L'il Petey, is intent on bringing the movie down. Elements of George and Harold's reading assignment, John Steinbeck's East of Eden, find their way into the plot and into visual gags. The drama centers on the question of destiny and free will, a surprisingly moving theme for a work that features as many fart jokes as this one does. Petey insists that his clone must follow in his footsteps: "I'm evil, so you have to be evil, too! You don't have any choice in the matter!" L'il Petey agrees to wear a supervillain costume but chooses his own path, helping to save the day as Cat Kid. While the format and humor make this a natural choice for new or reluctant readers, even those who feel they may have outgrown the series will come back for the groan-worthy puns, thrills, and "laffs." VERDICT Enthusiastically recommended for all collections.-Jennifer Costa, Cambridge Public Library, MA

High-intensity, heartwarming, and, above all, hysterically funny. 

An utter, unfettered delight.