Reading order

Dog Man books in order

Dav Pilkey’s Dog Man has 14 books out. Here is the order, a checklist that remembers where you are, and what to read when you finish.

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Dog Man is a graphic novel series by Dav Pilkey, the author of Captain Underpants, published by Scholastic’s Graphix imprint. It follows a police officer and his dog who were stitched together into one hero, and it is presented as if two kids made the comic themselves. The jokes are loud and the pages move fast, which is why it is the series many children read first on their own.

Fourteen books are out in the main series, and the fourteenth, Big Jim Believes, was released on 11 November 2025. A fifteenth, A Sprinkle in Time, is scheduled for 3 November 2026 according to retailer listings. The checklist below lists the books in the order they came out and keeps your progress in your own browser.

Does the order matter?

Yes, mostly. The books continue the same story and its running jokes, so reading them in number order is the safest route. If a child grabs book 5 first, nothing breaks, but they will meet characters and gags that were set up earlier. If you are buying a first book, start with Dog Man (book 1).

Cat Kid Comic Club is a separate series by the same author with its own numbering. It is a good next stop, and the Dog Man read-alikes page lists more.

Age and what to expect

We place Dog Man in our ages 6 to 8 band, which fits a child who is reading short chapters or graphic novels on their own. The humor is slapstick and silly. Because age ranges are the publisher’s call and children differ, flip through a copy first.

Scholastic and retailers have listed box sets that bundle several early books. Their contents differ from listing to listing, so check which numbers are inside before you buy. Search Amazon for a Dog Man box set.

Tip

A child who has finished the series often wants more of the same jokes. Try Cat Kid Comic Club next, then pick from the Finder by age.

Questions people ask

How many Dog Man books are there?

There are 14 books in the main Dog Man series, and the newest, Big Jim Believes, came out on 11 November 2025. A fifteenth book, A Sprinkle in Time, is scheduled for 3 November 2026 according to retailer listings. Cat Kid Comic Club, activity books and coloring books are separate from the numbered run.

What order do I read the Dog Man books in?

Read them by number: Dog Man, Unleashed, A Tale of Two Kitties, Dog Man and Cat Kid, Lord of the Fleas, Brawl of the Wild, For Whom the Ball Rolls, Fetch-22, Grime and Punishment, Mothering Heights, Twenty Thousand Fleas Under the Sea, The Scarlet Shedder, Big Jim Begins and Big Jim Believes.

Do I have to read Dog Man in order?

It is best to. The books continue the same story and carry running jokes from one volume to the next. A child who starts in the middle will still enjoy the pictures and slapstick, but they will meet characters whose background was explained earlier. If you are unsure where to begin, start with book one.

What age is Dog Man for?

We place Dog Man in our ages 6 to 8 band: short chapters, big pictures and silly jokes suit a child who is reading on their own. Publishers give their own age range on each book page, and children vary, so check the listing and flip through a copy before buying for a younger reader.

Is there a Dog Man box set?

Box sets that bundle several Dog Man books have been listed by retailers, but their contents change, so read the product description for which numbers are included. Single volumes are the simplest way to buy in order. Our checklist links each book separately, and you can search Amazon for a box set from this page.

What should my child read after Dog Man?

Cat Kid Comic Club by the same author is the closest match. Other funny series at a similar level include Babymouse, Squish and Narwhal and Jelly. For a longer adventure, try Bone or Amulet once your reader is ready. The Comic Finder can filter by age and genre to find more.

Dog Man books in order

Does the order matter?

Dog Man checklist

Age and what to expect

Read next

Cat Kid Comic Club

Babymouse: Queen of the World!

Squish: Super Amoeba

Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea

Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute

Hilo: The Boy Who Crashed to Earth

Questions people ask

Keep reading

Books like Dog Man

Graphic novels for 8-year-olds

Comic Finder

Cat Kid Comic Club in order