Dog Man: Big Jim Begins

Big Jim and Grampa escape Cat Jail to track down an old mystery from their past -- the location of a mysterious ring supposed to be given by aliens to "the chosen one." But when another set of aliens start zapping down on Earth, the pair -- along with trusty friend Dog Man -- have to deal with that problem first.

The Dog Man series is wildly popular with young children, and this book is no exception. I have to say I didn't love it quite as much as a previous title I read, but I haven't been keeping up with the series and it seems like a lot more characters were introduced in the meantime. I did appreciate that there was a helpful "Meet the Cast" page spread at the beginning of the book. Still, I felt a little like I had missed a step and show more I'm not sure a silly series like this should feel that way. To be honest, I'm not sure if this is even the first book with Big Jim or not, nor if we really know the reason he's in jail to begin with or not.

There's surprisingly some good messaging tucked in here about the power of positive thinking and the virtues of imagination. In addition, there are references to pop culture ranging from Mister Rogers' Neighborhood to Monty Python as well as direct quotes or paraphases from thinkers from Lao Tzu to Voltaire. Backmatter calls these out and explains them, so these are not there just to amuse adults reading with their children but also to actually help children learn.

Big Jim tacking "Amen" to each of his quotes or aphorisms did strike me as a little odd, but the backmatter also explains that Big Jim's entire character was based on a Bible verse. Some parents might like this small bit of religion creeping into these books while others might not. The final pages of backmatter are standard fare of "how to draw" certain characters seen in the previous pages.

There is a lot in this book that's obviously appealing to kids, such as the "flip-o-rama" low-tech animation, which even I got a chuckle out of every time. The energetic illustrations and ridiculous scenarios are entertaining. The book very explicitly ends without tying up any loose threads so that it can lead into a "sequel" adding on to the Dog Man universe. No doubt kids will be clamoring for that one too once it's published. show less

this story is fun and adventurous, its a fast graphic novel that combines outragous humor with meaningful lessons about friendship, responsibility, and second chances. the bold illustrations, playful flip o rama pages, and engaging storytelling make it perfect for young and reluctant readers alike.

Independent Reading Level: 3-5
Awards/Honors: N/A

#1 in Children's Action & Adventure Comics & Graphic Novels
#1 in Children's Superhero Comics
#2 in Children's Humorous Comics & Graphic Novels
Independent Reading Level: (Grades 2-3)