Review Number 7

[John]

A friend of mine recommended the Captain Underpants books, and it has taken me a while to get into them, but now both my daughter and I are well and truly converted. This book is, as it says on the cover, the fourth epic novel by Dav Pilkey (which I assume should be written and pronounced, Dave). And, as always the story revolves around two boys; George and Harold, who attend Jerome Horwitz Elementary School. Which is ran by the mean, Mr. Krupp; who they have hypnotised into thinking he is a superhero called Captain Underpants. When ever someone clicks or snaps their fingers near Mr Krupp he turns into the Waistband Warrior (Captain Underpants). And, whenever water is splashed on his head he returns back to being a mean-spirited elementary school principal.
In each novel Harold and George go on an adventure to save their deluded principal from disaster. Also during each novel they create a comic book that mirrors the action playing out in the book itself. This episode of the Captain Underpants is no different.
In this, the fourth Captain Underpants novel, a scientific genius, unfortunately named Professor Pippy. P Poopypants,who graduated at the head of his class at Chunky Q. Boogernose University, is snubbed by the greater science community in spite of his wonderful and amazing inventions because of his silly name, and is laughed into obscurity. He invented, by the way, a Shrinky-Pig 2000 and the Goosy-Grow 4000; the former shrinks stuff and the latter increases the size of whatever it zapps. Later he crosses paths with George and Harold, and Captain Underpants at Jerome Horwitz Elementary School. As foolishly Pippy P. Poopypants thinks that a school will be the place where he can finally be free of the laughter and finger pointing that accompanies him every where, and signs up to be a science teacher. He introduces himself to his new class, and the students cannot stop laughing at his name. This leads to Professor Poopypants inventing a Gerbil Jogger 2000, a miniature robot, thinking that this will distract the class from his name, and win them over. This almost works, until one student asks the professor what his middle name is. Which turns out to be Pee-Pee, which of course the students find hilarious, and start laughing again. Professor Poopypants can stand it no longer,and leaves the classroom. walking along a corridor he finds a discarded copy of George and Harold's latest comic masterpiece; which is all about him, becomes enraged and decides to use his amazing inventions to take over the world. He increases the size of a Gerbil Jogger 2000, climbs inside, and then shrinks the school, and the all the staff and students. Of course this is the cue for George, Harold and Captain Underpants to come to the (eventual) rescue.
I think the Captain Underpants books are perfect for KS2 classes. The main protagonists are two eight year old boys with issues with authority. The story usually revolves around everyday events at school. Bad teaching and bad teachers are a target. There are frequent grammar and spelling errors within the comic books written and illustrated by George and Harold.
These mistakes can be written on the board and corrections can be proposed by the class. Similarly appropriate words can be brain stormed and/or written down.
George and Harold make comic books and this is a gift horse not to be overlooked as a teacher. I have read about making readers in 'A Literate Classroom', having students respond to books and reading with collaborative writing; writing that echoes the ideas and forms of the class reader. And, that can be collated, written, bound and placed on the shelves of the class (or school) library, is an invaluable resource. And, an invaluable lesson for the students: that they too can write books.
Dav Pilkey's Captain Underpants books are written with humour and an understanding of what it means to be a child in school. Kind of. There is much toilet humour. There are outlandish twists and turns in the plot.
The book could be read to a class. By the teacher or by students reading the parts. A KS2 class could be asked to find and correct all spelling mistakes (and correct them) in the book. This could be done in pairs or small groups. Creative writing activities or exercises could be prepared; first the book would be deconstructed on the board line by line or page by page by the teacher. Then, the characters would be analysed. Finally, the plot or story line would be looked at. Following this the class, in small groups or pairs would beginning to prepare to write, design and illustrate their own comic book. With themes or topics related to or from work done previously in class.