Has a book or a series ever made such a big impression on you that you felt a deep connection to the author? Perhaps you found the writing to be funny, enchanting, inspiring or simply relatable.
Have you ever wished you could sit down with that writer to tell them how much the work meant to you, or to learn about the author’s life story and how he or she became an author?
In “The Man Behind ‘Dog Man’ Is a Pack Leader for Young Readers,” Elisabeth Egan profiles Dav Pilkey, who defied expectations, dyslexia, A.D.H.D and teachers who were not always supportive to create three blockbuster graphic novel series, “Captain Underpants,” “Dog Man” and “Cat Kid.”
Mr. Pilkey recently wrapped up a monthlong, nine-city tour for “Dog Man: Big Jim Believes,” the latest installment in his best-selling series about a crime-fighting canine. The first stop was a visit to an elementary school in New York City. Ms. Egan writes:
On a drizzly Monday in November, three students sat at a round table at P.S. 161 in the Bronx, eating Little Caesars pizza with Pilkey. He was about to give a schoolwide presentation — his first event for the new book, on the eve of its publication — and these earnest girls were his welcome committee.
“I wrote a poem,” a girl named Hannah said, with prompting from an adult.
“Was that hard for you?” Pilkey asked, flashing his gap toothed grin.
“Not really,” Hannah said. “I like to use my imagination.”
Pilkey warmed up the room by chatting about his childhood. Suffice it to say, had a famous author visited his elementary school in suburban Cleveland, Pilkey wouldn’t have been on the shortlist for a celebratory lunch. He had trouble focusing and sitting still. He spent a lot of time in the hallway, exiled by teachers frustrated with his antics. That’s where he first drew Captain Underpants and Dog Man.
The students listened, wide-eyed. One asked Pilkey if he was ready for the assembly.
“I hope I’m ready,” Pilkey said. “I really hope I do a good job!” (He speaks in exclamation points, giving dorky uncle who’s trying hard, endearingly so.)
The same girl advised him to take five deep breaths to help him calm down.
When it was showtime, Pilkey bounded into the spotlight in the school’s dimly lit auditorium, bellowing, “Let’s make some nooooise!” The students obliged, waving Dog Man fans and making a commotion worthy of a Taylor Swift concert. Someone at the back of the room yelled, “I love you!”
The mood shifted when Pilkey launched into a well practiced talk about his struggle to learn to read. Even now, he said, “words bounce all over the page.”
He recalled how his second book, “’Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving,” was rejected by 23 publishers. How the four P’s he learned from his mom — positivity, practice, persistence, purpose — paid off. “It doesn’t matter how small we are, we can make a big difference,” he reminded the students.
Then he drew pictures of his characters on an easel, passing out prizes to students who correctly identified each one.
Pilkey appeared at ease, with or without breathing exercises. But even during a second wave of hysteria when teachers rolled in carts piled with free hardcovers, Pilkey concentrated on pleasing others. Having spent the first decade of his life absorbing negative feedback, he doesn’t take success for granted.
“I’m writing for the kid I used to be,” Pilkey said in an interview. “I had such a tough time; I was so ashamed. It was a different era.”
Students, read the entire article and then tell us:
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What author would you most like to meet, and why?
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If you had the chance to sit down with this writer, what would you want to say about what the work has meant to you? What questions would you want to ask?
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What’s your reaction to the article and the story of Mr. Pilkey’s writing career? Were you surprised to hear that the best-selling author has dyslexia and A.D.H.D, and that he created some of his famous characters while exiled in the school hallway?
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Are you a fan of Mr. Pilkey’s books and series, like “Captain Underpants” or “Dog Man”? Why do you think they are so popular? If you haven’t read any, does the article make you want to check them out now?
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Mr. Pilkey said, “I’m writing for the kid I used to be.” If you became a published author in the future, what kind of books would you write for the person you are right now? How might your own experiences or struggles inform your subject matter and writing style?
Students 13 and older in the United States and Britain, and 16 and older elsewhere, are invited to comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public and may appear in print.
Find more Student Opinion questions here. Teachers, check out this guide to learn how you can incorporate these prompts into your classroom.
Jeremy Engle is an editor of The Learning Network who worked in teaching for more than 20 years before joining The Times.
The post What Author Would You Most Like to Meet? appeared first on New York Times.
