‘Captain Underpants’ author interacts with local students
Students from eight local elementary schools, numbering 2,000, had the opportunity to interact with children’s author Dav Pilkey during the Bookmarks Festival of Books & Authors.
Award winning children’s author Dav Pilkey spoke to more than 2,000 students from eight local elementary schools last Friday, Sept. 7.
Pilkey, who has written and illustrated several award-winning books, including the “Captain Underpants” series, the “Dog Man” series, “The Paperboy,” “Dog Breath,” and “Caldecott Honor Book” served as the Kids’ Keynote Author during the Bookmarks Festival of Books & Authors.
While speaking to students from Brunson, Kimberly Park, Cook, Moore, Downtown School, The Arts Based School, Bolton and Ashley, Pilkey told students about how he overcame struggles with reading and writing to became arguably the most popular children’s author in the country. Pilkey was diagnosed with Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and dyslexia, which was often mistaken for bad behavior by his teachers.
He said most of the characters in his most popular books were ideas he had when he had been asked to leave class to sit in the library or the hallway as discipline for his actions.
“I didn’t have nothing else to do out there but draw pictures and write stories. It was actually my way of turning a very bad situation into something that was good,” Pilkey said. “… Having all those challenges inspired me to create characters.”
While interacting with students at the BB&T Ballpark, Pilkey drew pictures and signed autographs for students who answered questions. Students where jumping out of their seats to answer questions about some of their favorite characters. Before leaving, Pilkey announced that every student would receive an official Captain Underpants cape and a copy of his latest book: “Dog Man: Lord of the Fleas.”
After the big announcement, Pilkey told the students, “Remember, choosing your own book and reading is something that gives you super powers.”
Bookmarks is a literary arts nonprofit organization that fosters a love of reading and writing in the community. The annual Festival of Books & Authors is the largest annual book festival in the Carolinas.
For more information about Bookmarks, visit bookmarksnc.org.
