But despite today’s new e-book version, Scholastic isn’t giving up on paper. This week also marks the release of the 10th book in the series: “Captain Underpants and the Revolting Revenge of the Radioactive Robo-Boxers.” The first printing is 1 million copies. That’s a whole lot of laundry.
The Underpants app contains the original story in color for the first time and an audio narration. Interactive games allow users to create their own avatars to help Harold and George hypnotize the principal, chase Captain Underpants and fight Dr. Diaper. And, not to be missed: Captain U delivers a “gut-busting symphony.”
This will get worse before it gets better. DreamWorks Animation is developing a feature film adaptation.
Parents whose elastic bands are a little too tight, may turn up their noses, but Pilkey, who lives in Seattle, is one of the country’s most popular grade school authors, and librarians know how much he’s done to get youngsters reading. In addition to his Underpants franchise, he has published additional series about dragons, dumb bunnies and robots. His picture book “The Paperboy” won a Caldecott Honor Award in 1997.