Biography
Dav Pilkey was born in Cleveland, Ohio to Barbara and David Pilkey, Sr. He has one older sister, Cindy. In elementary school in Elyria, Ohio, he was diagnosed with and suffers from ADHD and dyslexia. Pilkey was frequently reprimanded for his behavior in class and, thus, usually sat at a desk in the school hallway, where he created the Captain Underpants character. Pilkey entered his first book, World War Won, in a national competition for student authors and won in his age category. The book's publication in 1987 was included in the award.
The odd spelling of his first name came from a period of employment in a Pizza Hut, when the "e" was omitted from his nametag. Even though it is spelled Dav, it is pronounced "Dave" (rhyming with cave and brave).
Pilkey took a break from writing for a few years to care for his terminally ill father, but as of March 19, 2010, has signed a deal with Scholastic to release four new books. The first, a graphic novel, The Adventures of Ook and Gluk, Kung-Fu Cavemen From the Future, was released on August 10, 2010. The second, another graphic novel, which had been anticipated for 9 years, Super Diaper Baby 2: Invasion of the Potty Snatchers, was released on June 28, 2011.
"Considered one of the most popular contemporary authors for readers in elementary school, is also regarded as a talented artist and inventive humorist as well as a subtle moralist...He underscores his works—even at their most outrageous—with a philosophy that emphasizes friendship, tolerance, and generosity and celebrates the triumph of the good-hearted." – The Educational Book & Media Association
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