Introducing Dog Man: A Tale of Two Kitties
The Dog Man book series is written and illustrated by Dav Pilkey. It is a spin-off of Pilkey’s Captain Underpants series. The books follow the adventures of Dog Man, a crime-fighting superhero with the head of a police dog and the body of a policeman. Dog Man was created when a police dog named Greg’s head was grafted onto the body of Officer Knight after both were injured in an explosion. Together they fight crime as Dog Man.
The Dog Man series currently has 10 books, starting with Dog Man in 2016 and most recently Dog Man: Mothering Heights in 2021. Some of the other titles include Dog Man: Lord of the Fleas, Dog Man: Brawl of the Wild, and Dog Man: For Whom the Ball Rolls. The books are illustrated comic-style narratives targeted at young readers ages 7-10.
The Dog Man books combine cop adventure stories with silly humor. They explore themes of friendship, empathy, standing up to bullying, and more. Dav Pilkey aims to encourage reluctant readers through his engaging stories and fun art.
About A Tale of Two Kitties
A Tale of Two Kitties is the seventh book in the popular Dog Man graphic novel series by author and illustrator Dav Pilkey. It was released on August 7, 2018 by Scholastic Corporation. The main characters are the part-dog, part-man crime fighter Dog Man, his canine officers Lil Petey and 80-HD, and the villainous cats the Cat Clones.
The basic premise of A Tale of Two Kitties follows Dog Man as he tries to take down the Cat Clones, who continue to wreak havoc in the city. The Cat Clones, who were created when Petey accidentally cloned evil Cat Lady, have all of her villainous traits but now there are an army of them. Dog Man and the canine police force have to find a way to stop the mischievous kitties. The book combines Pilkey’s humorous comic style with themes of friendship, teamwork and perseverance.
Page Count for A Tale of Two Kitties
Dog Man: A Tale of Two Kitties by Dav Pilkey contains 256 pages. According to the Amazon product listing, the book’s print length is 256 pages and the dimensions are 5.75 x 0.75 x 8.5 inches.
As a graphic novel aimed at elementary school aged children, the book is not overly long but contains enough content and illustrations to tell a compelling story that keeps young readers engaged. With 256 pages, Pilkey is able to develop the plot, characters, and themes in more depth than would be possible in a shorter book.
The page count positions A Tale of Two Kitties as a significant installment in the popular Dog Man series. Long enough to satisfy fans but not daunting for reluctant young readers, the length hits the sweet spot for the target audience. Reviews indicate that readers find the 256 pages to be just right for the story being told.
Story and Plot Summary
Dog Man: A Tale of Two Kitties follows the adventures of Dog Man, who is half dog and half man. In this book, Dog Man faces off against Petey, an evil cat who creates a clone of Lil Petey, the kitten version of himself. Petey plans to use Lil Petey to help him take over the city with cuteness and chaos.
The story starts when Petey uses a cloning kit to create Lil Petey. However, the cloning doesn’t go exactly as planned and Lil Petey ends up being cute and harmless instead of evil like Petey wanted. Meanwhile, Dog Man is struggling with his own issues. He wants to be a good police chief but his impulsive dog instincts make that difficult.
When Lil Petey runs away from Petey, Dog Man finds him and takes him to the police station. Petey comes searching for Lil Petey and a chase ensues. Eventually, Dog Man realizes Lil Petey just wants a home and family. He convinces Petey to care for Lil Petey. In the end, Petey becomes protective of Lil Petey and loses interest in taking over the city.
The book explores themes of family, friendship, and balancing different aspects of one’s personality. Dog Man learns he can be a good police chief if he slows down and thinks before acting. Petey learns to care about someone other than himself. Overall, it’s a humorous story about overcoming differences. (Source: https://www.diabolicalplots.com/book-review-dog-man-a-tale-of-two-kitties-by-dav-pilkey/)
Themes and Takeaways
Dog Man: A Tale of Two Kitties contains several important themes and lessons. The major themes explored in the book include friendship, teamwork, and perseverance.
One of the central themes is the value of friendship and loyalty. Despite their differences, Dog Man and his friends work together to stop evil and make the world a better place. Their teamwork and friendship helps them overcome challenges. The story shows how friendship requires seeing pastsurface differences.
Another key theme is perseverance and determination. Even when things look bleak, the characters keep trying and refuse to give up. Dog Man and others overcome obstacles through hard work and unrelenting effort. Their determination ultimately pays off.
Additional themes involve understanding different perspectives, the importance of kindness, and using one’s abilities for good. Overall, the book emphasizes positivity, redemption, and believing in oneself and others.
The main takeaways include: the power of teamwork and friendship; the importance of determination and hard work; looking beyond appearances; and using talents constructively. Readers learn that helping others and working together can accomplish great things.
Art Style and Illustrations
A Tale of Two Kitties features the signature art style of Dav Pilkey, known for his expressive characters and humorous, detailed illustrations. Pilkey’s art utilizes thick outlines, bright colors, and dynamic angles to bring the characters to life. The panel layouts incorporate visual gags and onomatopoeias to complement the zany storytelling. Some notable illustrations include:
- The cover featuring Dog Man holding Li’l Petey while squaring off against 80-HD and Claudia
- The panoramic two-page spread introducing Li’l Petey’s secret lair
- Dog Man comically struggling to read a book upside down
- Petey’s transformation into Li’l Petey as his head enlarges to comic proportions
- The epic battle scene with Dog Man and 80-HD clashing
- The full page reveal when 80-HD’s robot armor falls off
Pilkey’s creative illustrations paired with his funny narratives are a hallmark of the Dog Man series that make the books highly engaging for young readers.
Major Characters
Dog Man is the main protagonist of the book series. He is part dog and part man as his head and body are that of a police dog while he has human arms and legs. Dog Man started out as a regular police dog named Greg but was injured in the line of duty. To save him, Greg’s owner Lyle Topchop spliced his head onto a human body, creating Dog Man. Dog Man fights crime alongside his owner Li’l Petey and is known for his loyalty, wisecracks, and love of bones.
Li’l Petey is Dog Man’s owner and sidekick. Petey is an artistic young boy who created the comic book stories that the Dog Man books are based on. He is Dog Man’s best friend and helps him fight crime. Petey is clever, creative, and always drawing comics.
80-HD is the cyborg cat villain of A Tale of Two Kitties. Formerly known as Cat Ben, 80-HD was Petey’s real cat who ran away. 80-HD was then turned into a cyborg cat by the evil scientist Dr. Scum. As 80-HD, he is Dr. Scum’s evil sidekick trying to take over the city. 80-HD has robot parts that give him special abilities.
Chief is the head of the police department that employs Dog Man. Chief is a tough, no-nonsense boss who gives Dog Man his orders. He is frequently frustrated by Dog Man’s silly antics but knows that Dog Man gets results fighting crime.
Reception and Reviews
Dog Man: A Tale of Two Kitties received positive reviews upon its release in 2017. Critics praised author and illustrator Dav Pilkey’s humor and artwork.
Kirkus Reviews called it “Another winner from the Pilkey laugh factory” and said fans of the Dog Man series would enjoy the book’s “generous sprinkling of giggles, grunts, and groans”.
The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books said “Pilkey’s strength continues to be his ability to build worlds through his drawing” and noted “the abundance of jokes and silliness will entice fans.”
Booklist wrote “Readers will be giggling from the get-go” and Publishers Weekly said the book “brims with silliness and good cheer”.
Common Sense Media praised the book’s positive messages about “redemption, love, and compassion” and gave it 4 out of 5 stars.
Overall, reviewers found A Tale of Two Kitties to be another fun, hilarious addition to the wildly popular Dog Man series that kids and adults alike would enjoy. Its creative plot, quirky characters, and Pilkey’s signature art style made it a hit with fans and critics.
Awards and Recognition
Dog Man: A Tale of Two Kitties has won several major awards, including:
The 2018 Goodreads Choice Award for Best Middle Grade & Children’s Book. This user-voted award is considered one of the most prestigious awards in children’s literature (Source).
The 2019 Children’s Choice Book Award for 3rd to 4th Grade Book of the Year. This award is voted on each year by over 40,000 children across the country (Source).
The 2019 Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children’s Book Award. This prestigious award is voted on by children in Vermont (Source).
These awards demonstrate the immense popularity and acclaim that A Tale of Two Kitties has achieved among young readers, parents, librarians, and the children’s literature community.
Significance and Legacy
Dog Man: A Tale of Two Kitties has had a significant cultural impact as part of Dav Pilkey’s wildly popular Dog Man series. As one of Pilkey’s best-selling titles, the book has reached millions of young readers and helped establish Dog Man as a modern icon of children’s literature.
The Dog Man books have become a gateway into reading for many elementary school kids. With their graphic novel style blending illustrations and text, the Dog Man stories appeal to reluctant readers. The books’ humor and irreverent tone also resonates with kids.
Beyond entertaining children, the Dog Man series promotes themes of empathy, compassion and redemption. The books follow the exploits of Dog Man, a heroic crime-fighting canine who tries to preserve peace and justice in the city. Dog Man often faces moral dilemmas and must make the right ethical choices.
As a reflection of Pilkey’s lively imagination and creativity, Dog Man: A Tale of Two Kitties demonstrates the possibilities of children’s literature to engage young minds. The book shows how kids respond to stories told from a dog’s perspective, with plenty of fart jokes and bathroom humor mixed into the tale. The lasting popularity of Dog Man underscores Pilkey’s storytelling talents.
With the Dog Man series now containing over 20 books and selling tens of millions of copies worldwide, it’s clear these stories have struck a chord. For many teachers, parents and librarians, the Dog Man books are now modern classics of children’s literature.