Dav Pilkey’s Dog Man will have a moment—more accurately multiple moments—in the year ahead, when Scholastic unleashes a global campaign featuring this canine superhero and celebrating reading and heroes around the world. Events kick off today with the publication of Dog Man: Big Jim Begins, relaying the character’s origin story, which will be released simultaneously in the U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand with a first printing of five million. Since its 2016 debut, Pilkey’s graphic novel series has entertained young readers all over the globe, with more than 60 million books in print in 47 languages. And Dog Man’s universe will expand again with Scholastic worldwide’s launch of Dog Man: Big Jim Believes in fall 2025, the 14th title in the series.

Dog Man and his creator’s upcoming agenda extends far beyond the page. On January 31, DreamWorks Animation and Universal Pictures will release the Dog Man movie in theaters worldwide, directed by Peter Hastings and featuring the voices of Pete Davidson, Isla Fisher, Ricky Gervais, and Lil Rel Howery. Pilkey has created a “Supa Special Collector’s Comic” showing how animators brought his characters to life on the big screen for the Dog Man film. Scholastic will provide nearly four million copies of this free minicomic through its school channels in the U.S., U.K., Canada, India, Australia, and New Zealand.

January also marks the launch of Pilkey’s international tour, “Join the Hero Party: Celebrating Heroes Around the World!” inspired by his series’ recurrent theme that ordinary people can do extraordinarily good deeds. Tour events will spotlight everyday heroes who make a positive impact in their communities. The multi-city U.S. tour will begin in January with Pilkey’s appearance at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. The following month, the author-illustrator will travel to the U.K., appearing at the Royal Festival Hall on February 22 as part of the Imagine Children’s Festival in London, followed by an event in Dublin.

Let the Parties Begin

Scholastic has plans afoot to help booksellers and librarians stage their own on-site celebrations of Dog Man and everyday heroes. Beginning this month and continuing through spring, more than 100 Dog Man costume characters will appear at bookstores, libraries, and community-wide events across the U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Thousands of “Join the Hero Party” Dog Man displays and giveaways will be available to retailers in the U.S. and Canada, and Scholastic will distribute event kits and Dog Man hero badges to bookstores and libraries. News of events and activities to download for free can be found online.

Forthcoming international Dog Man events include a costume character tour in Spain organized by Grupo SM. In Brazil, where Dog Man sales doubled in 2023 over the prior year, publisher Companhia das Letras is sending a Dog Man costume character on a promotional tour of bookstores in various cities including São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.

Underway domestically are literacy programs organized by Scholastic collaborators Book Trust and the Scripps Howard Fund, which promote book access and the joy of reading. In an initiative fully funded by Pilkey, nearly 50,000 students across the U.S. will each receive a free copy of Dog Man: Big Jim Begins. In addition, one school from each program will receive a “Join the Hero Party”-themed Scholastic Book Fair. Participating schools will also recognize everyday heroes who make a difference in their own communities.

Starting today, the pub date of Dog Man: Big Jim Begins, Dog Man is donning his costume to help host a variety of celebrations. This morning, at Copperfield’s Books in Petaluma, Calif., Patty Norman hosted a riff on a midnight release party, so that kids could pick up a copy of the book, along with donut holes and hot chocolate, on their way to school. Also hosting a Dog Man visit today is bookseller Dylan Conmy at Prairie Fox Books in Ottawa, Ill., where the event will have “a double celebrity factor,” with Dog Man sharing top billing with Santa.

On December 7, bookseller Jamie Anderson reported, Dog Man will appear in the annual Christmas parade in Manteo, N.C., along with a Dog Man float created by Downtown Books, before attending an in-store event. Visiting Prosperity, S.C. that same day, Dog Man will be the guest of honor at GG’s Library – Children’s Bookstore and More and will participate in the town’s Christmas tree lighting with the mayor “to help flip the switch,” said owner Gina Mays.

Pilkey’s 2025 milestones will also include Scholastic’s release of a full-color edition of his first-ever graphic novel, 2002’s The Adventures of Super Diaper Baby, in August. Calling Pilkey “a pioneer in the world of children’s comics and graphic novels,” Ellie Berger, president of Scholastic Trade, noted that his books “have captured the hearts and minds of readers around the world with their playful and visual approach to storytelling and endearing characters who triumph over adversity by using their imaginations. Dav has been open about his real-life struggles growing up as a kid who had behavioral and learning challenges and he sees his ADHD as his superpower. His books resonate with readers who think and learn differently, who appreciate new and different perspectives, and who in the end are inspired to embrace their creativity and show empathy to others.”

Asked about his expectations for his busy, travel-filled year ahead, Pilkey expressed gratitude to those who have supported his career. “One of my favorite parts about being a children’s book author and illustrator is getting to meet readers in person, and I’m excited to have the opportunity to do that next year,” he said. “I am grateful to the many people who have helped get my stories out into the world—all the passionate booksellers, librarians, teachers, reading specialists, parents and caregivers, the many committed volunteers, as well as the team at Scholastic, Writers House, JLG, TheaterWorksUSA, and Dreamworks Animation. There are many everyday heroes within each community who help make this world an extraordinarily better place, and I look forward to celebrating them.”

Dog Man: Big Jim Begins by Dav Pilkey. Scholastic, $14.99 Dec. 3 ISBN 978-1-338-89645-9