About This Book
Reach for this book when you want to bridge the gap between silly, slapstick humor and deeper conversations about nature versus nurture and the power of kindness. While on the surface it is a hilarious graphic novel about a part dog, part policeman hero, the heart of the story focuses on the villainous Petey the Cat and his unexpected clone, Li'l Petey. It is a fantastic choice for reluctant readers who enjoy fast paced action but would benefit from seeing a character choose to be good despite their origins. The book explores themes of responsibility and redemption as Petey tries to train his mini-clone to be evil, only to find that the kitten's innate goodness and empathy are contagious. It is perfect for children aged 6 to 10, offering a safe space to discuss how our choices, rather than where we come from, define who we are. Parents will appreciate the clever literary references and the underlying message that even the 'baddest' characters can find a path to love and family.
What Parents Should Know
Sensitive Topics
This book contains frequent slapstick violence and a climactic battle against a giant building-sized robot that may cause mild peril for younger readers. Parents should also be aware of the emotional distress caused by Petey’s repeated attempts to force Li'l Petey to be "evil" or "bad," which may be upsetting for sensitive children.
Ideal Reader
A 7-year-old who loves gross-out humor and cartoons but is secretly a big softie who cares about animals and wants to see the 'bad guy' be loved.
Parent Prep
Be prepared to discuss feelings of family expectations (such as a child feeling they have to be "perfect" or "bad" because of their family) or the arrival of a new sibling or "double" in the house. Additionally, it is helpful to know that Dav Pilkey uses 'misspelled' words in the intros to mimic a child's writing, which is a stylistic choice, not a lack of editing. None.
Age Experience
Younger readers (6-7) will focus on the 'Flip-O-Rama' action scenes and the potty humor. Older readers (9-10) will pick up on the Dickensian parodies and the deeper philosophical debate between Petey and Li'l Petey regarding whether people are born evil or choose to be.
What Makes It Special
Unlike many graphic novels that rely solely on gags, this book uses absurdist humor as a Trojan horse for a very sophisticated discussion about moral agency and the redemptive power of love.
Read plot summary
Dog Man, the half-dog, half-human police officer, continues his slapstick battle against the villainous Petey the Cat. In this installment, Petey attempts to clone himself to have a partner in crime, but the machine produces a kitten, Li'l Petey, who is sweet, innocent, and entirely uninterested in evil. As Petey tries to corrupt the kitten, Dog Man and his friends provide a counter-example of kindness. The plot culminates in a battle against a giant building-sized robot, but the emotional core is the budding father-son relationship between Petey and his clone.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Petey expected Li'l Petey to be just like him. Why do you think Li'l Petey chose to be kind instead of being a villain?
2
Dog Man has some 'bad' habits like rolling in dead fish, but he is still a hero. Does having flaws make someone a bad person?
3
Petey gets very frustrated when Li'l Petey asks 'Why?' all the time. Why is it important to ask questions instead of just following orders?
4
At the end of the book, Petey shows a tiny bit of kindness. Do you think even the biggest villains can change their minds?
