In the second grade, Dav Pilkey, author of the popular "Captain Underpants" series, said he feared reading in class. Diagnosed with dyslexia, reading always posed problems as none of the other students faced literary hardships.
"So, when my teacher would say, "OK, boys and girls, let's take out our books and begin to read,' everyone took out their books very happily. But when it came to me, I always got really stressed out. My hair would stand up straight and my teeth would start to chatter, and I would start to shake, and I would start to sweat a bit," Pilkey said Tuesday inside Jefferson City's Scholastic facility. "Actually, there was a lot of sweat, and everyone's feet got wet."
After 22 years as a Scholastic author, Pilkey made a stop in Jefferson City to give those who help distribute his books insight into the series and how it all began. The "Captain Underpants" series, which premiered in 1999, details the adventures of George Beard and Harold Hutchins - two fourth-grade friends growing up in Ohio who hypnotize "the meanest principal" Mr. Krupp and convince him he is a superhero, Captain Underpants.
Though their spell would've been broken, Mr. Krupp drank "alien super power juice" and truly became Captain Underpants. Since, he has battled talking toilets, an incredibly naughty cafeteria lady from outer space, Professor Poopypants and other evil villains with eye-catching titles, amounting to a 12-part series. The latest book, "Captain Underpants and the Sensational Saga of Sir Stinks-A-Lot" was released this year. Scholastic employees received autographed copies after hearing Pilkey speak Thursday.
In his presentation, Pilkey said his reading challenges caused him to focus on an area he excelled in - drawing. He displayed a drawing of his first superhero, Waterman, who was struck by lighting while fishing and turned into a man who could act like water, flattening into a puddle, evaporating into a cloud and hiding in fish tanks.
"He had to be careful around sponges, though," Pilkey said, evoking laughter from the audience. "Sponges and mops were like kryptonite for Waterman."
Pilkey allowed his imagination to explore more characters, including Molecule Man, who could grow large or shrink small; Shape-O, who was a shape shifter; and Frankenfart, who used his gastrointestinal issues to fight crime.
One day in second grade, Pilkey's teacher told a story of people running out of a burning building. They ran so fast, Pilkey recalled of the story, the people couldn't grab their clothes and ran outside in their underwear.
"As soon as she said "underwear,' everybody burst out laughing," Pilkey said.
Angry that the children were laughing, the teacher yelled at the children and told them there was nothing funny about the word "underwear.' Pilkey said the children laughed again. Seeing the power in the word, a young Pilkey had the inspiration for his next character.
He started drawing what has now become Captain Underpants. His classmates, he said, were fans, but his teacher disapproved.
"When my teacher saw my drawing, she grabbed it out of my hands and she ripped it up right in front of me," Pilkey said.
She sent him into the hallway where, with paper and pencil, he continued creating the superhero. The teacher destroyed those illustrations too. Coming home discouraged after facing repeated criticism for Waterman, Molecule Man, Frankenfart and Captain Underpants, Pilkey's mother, who he described as an optimist, told him to change his mindset and something good would come from it all.
"My teacher said, "You need to grow up because you can't spend the rest of your life making silly books,'" he said. "Well, guess what I did? ... I guess I'm not a good listener because I spent the rest of my life making silly books."
Pilkey also faced backlash from the school librarian, who disliked Mad Magazine and Charlie Brown books - some of his favorite pieces of literature. In a library full of educational material picked by adults, Pilkey said there was nothing for him to both read and enjoy. Now, with "Captain Underpants," Pilkey hopes to attract children to reading. In a country where one of four children is illiterate, he said adults shouldn't stifle a child's interest in reading - no matter if it is about a principal-turned-underpants-wearing superhero.
He said he hears time and time again from booksellers that children will walk into their stores, pick out a book and that book will be rejected by their accompanying adults, who tell them to pick something more practical, educational or at a certain reading level. Because of this, Pilkey said children often walk out of the stores empty handed. Studies have shown, he added, children who pick out their own books and read for pleasure often perform better in math and spelling, they read more often and have higher levels of confidence.
"I feel like our jobs as grown-ups is to help children find clues to the universe in what they read," Pilkey said. "Those clues are waiting to be discovered, all we have to do is get out of the way."
Next year, Pilkey will debut his third spin-off series with the book, "Dog Man," which tells the story of a dog with human characteristics working as a police officer. Pilkey told the News Tribune he has enough material for three books and hopes it earns "Captain Underpants" level of success.
Through his writings and illustrations, Pilkey said he re-connects with his childhood. He said his presentations to children help fuel his passion, remembering a girl who cried tears of joy as Pilkey gave away drawings.
"I think it keeps me going, because a lot of times when I'll be up in my studio, it's my 70th 12-hour day where I'm just drawing and drawing and painting, and sometimes my back will be hurting or my wrists will be hurting," he said. "Then, I'll think about those kids and their excitement, enthusiasm and laughter, that perks me right up and reminds me why I do what I do."