Will I love The Adventures of Captain Underpants?

Toilet humor, superhero, slapstick, science fiction—all genres I would have expected I’d be allergic to.

A book like that would appeal to boys who love gross stuff, not my cultured granddaughters, right? Captain Underpants has repeatedly been “the most banned book in America.” Among the characters are Professor Poopypants, Wicked Wedgie Woman, Tippie Tinkletrousers, and Dr. Diaper.

The plot itself—the mean principal can be turned into comic superhero Captain Underpants whenever one of the two fourth-grade pranksters snaps his fingers—is plenty silly; however, it has amused children around the world and gotten them interested in reading.

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No list of funny, easy chapter books would be complete without Captain Underpants! This first book in the series introduces us to best buddy mischief makers George and Harold who hypnotize their principal, turning him into Captain Underpants. George and Harold are good kids. Really. I mean it. They just happen to have a mile-long "silly streak". While not every adult approves of these books because the kids are cheeky, this is humor that gets kids reading. It's an honorable goal with exemplary execution. (Note: Author-illustrator Dav Pilkey was diagnosed as a kid with ADHD and dyslexia. At school,… show more.

Oh, really, do you have to ask “why this book?” I mean, how can I make a list of funny middle school books and not include Captain Underpants? Frankly, this list could just consist of Dav Pilkey books and I’d be fine with it, from Dog Man to Super Diaper Baby. The whimsical yet simplistic drawings make his absurd stories that much funnier. And really, any book featuring drawings of an adult in diapers is going to be funny.