Super Diaper Baby Sequel!

Dav Pilkey fans, this one's for you: the long-awaited sequel to the bestselling novel Super Diaper Baby is almost here, and here is a SUPER sneak preview of the book's cover!

Super Diaper Baby 2: Invasion of the Potty Snatchers by George Beard and Harold Hutchins (the fourth grade creators of Captain Underpants) will be published on June 28, 2011­­—just in time for summer reading! But that's not all. . . Dav Pilkey created an awesome video showing exactly how he created the book — in a breathtaking, dizzying two and a half minutes!

June 28 may feel very far away, so to pass the time, why not brush up on the world of Harold and George with The Adventures of Super Diaper Baby or The Adventures of Ook and Gluk, Kung-Fu Cavemen From the Future? And of course, you can always read the book that started it all: The Adventures of Captain Underpants.

Captain Underpants Scavenger Hunt Answers

Last week I posted a Scavenger Hunt based on the hilarious Captain Underpants series by Dav Pilkey. Could you find all the answers? Or did it leave you pooped out? (I had to say it!!) Answers are below: 

Captain Underpants Scavenger Hunt

A comic book superhero based on undergarments. An army of carnivorous toilets. Naughty cafeteria ladies from outer space. A diapered baby superhero who fights a villain named Deputy "Doo Doo." I can only be talking about one thing: the Captain Underpants series by Dav Pilkey.

How well do you know one of the most popular potty humor series of all time? Find out with our Scavenger Hunt! All the answers can be found by exploring the Online Adventures of Captain Underpants (ie the Captain Underpants website).

1. What happens when you press the red button that says DO NOT PUSH?
2. In which Arcade Game can you turn up your speakers to create a symphony of belches?
3. When you watch the Captain Underpants Movie – what does the billboard say gym teachers smell like?
4. What is your silly name according to Professor Poopypants' Name Change-o-Chart 2000?
5. In the Click-o-Rama "George Saves Harold" what does George do?
6. Under the Games section, what can you "Make Your Own" of?
7. What happens when you click on "Romance?"
8. In the "Epic Novels" section, the anniversary edition of The Adventures of Captain Underpants is celebrating how many years?

So scavenge around, and let us know your answers in the Comments. Then check back next week for answers. Until then!

—Ratha, Stacks Writer

Dav Pilkey Ook & Gluk Game

Hi! You may know by now that Dav Pilkey, the creator of the Captain Underpants series has a new book out called The Adventures of Ook and Gluk: Kung Fu Cavemen From the Future. There were some hilarious comments about the book cover when we previewed it a few months ago. And now Dav Pilkey created this Spot the Difference game with an image from the book. There are 26 differences between the two images. Can you find them all? 

A New Book for Captain Underpants Fans!

Dav Pilkey, the author of the Captain Underpants series, is working on a new book coming out on August 10, 2010. The title of the book is — are you ready for this — The Adventures of Ook and Gluk, Kung-Fu Cavemen From the Future.

OK, with a title like that, I don't think I even need to say any more. It goes without saying the book is going to be every bit as hilarious as Captain Underpants. I'm laughing just looking at the cover!

Speaking of the cover, what do you think is going on there? Leave a comment telling us what you think Ook and Gluk are doing and saying!

— Sonja, STACKS Staffer

Meet Tony Hawk

Imagine playing the Tony Hawk Ride video game with Tony Hawk, the real life pro skateboarder! Well, Scholastic Kid Reporter, Christopher Campbell got to do just that! If it were me, I would have been so nervous, I think I would have tripped over my feet, but Christopher was awesome! In the Kids Press Corps blog, Christopher writes " . . . when Tony showed me how to play his new game, it was a whole new experience to me. I thought I would mess up and fall, but I even did better than Tony himself!" Read the rest of Christopher's article to hear all about his experience meeting Tony Hawk.

While he was here, Tony also stopped by the STACKS. What book series does he recommend for you? Captain Underpants! Watch the video to find out why.

— Sonja, STACKS Staffer

Skateboarder Tony Hawk taught Kid Reporter Christopher Campbell how to play his new video game, Tony Hawk Ride, and how to use the game's skateboard "controller." (Photo: Jennifer Boggs)

Bored in the Car -- Part Two

Last week I posted Bored in the Car - Part One. Did you miss reading that post? I'll catch you up: you've either read all of your books, have no one to play the license plate game with, keep getting headaches while trying to read, or your parents can't take any more of you asking, "Are we there yet?"

However, if you did read last week's post and those activities either didn't strike your fancy or you've already gone through all of them, then you'll want to check out my next five picks for the ultimate boredom busters for the car (or bus or plane or anywhere you find yourself bored — school not included).

The All New Captain Underpants Extra-Crunchy Book O' Fun 2 by Dav Pilkey

• Get ready to laugh your pants off, giggle profusely, and hoot at the hilarious antics of Captain Underpants.
• This isn't just any book. This book is filled with crossword puzzles, word finds, mazes, and more.
• Plus, learn how to draw your favorite characters, tell cheesy jokes, and even make your own silly Captain Underpants story! 
• But that's not all! You get a brand-new 56-page comic called The Night of the Terror of the Revenge of the Curse of the Bride of Hairy Potty, featuring Captain Underpants, Super Diaper Baby, and Diaper Dog!

Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader? Word Search by John Samson

• If you love word searches and you think you're smarter than the average 5th grader, then you'll want to try out these challenging — or maybe not so challenging — word searches.
• Filled with word searches even the smartest genius might not be able to solve! 
• Will you be saying, "I'm smarter than a 5th grader — at word searches!"?

Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader? Crossword Puzzles by John Samson

• After you're done testing out your word search skills, try your hand and brain at crossword puzzles.
• From 1st-grade science to 3rd-grade math to 5th-grade social studies, test out your knowledge with these tricky puzzles! 
• These puzzles would even leave the brainiest kid in your class scratching his or her head.

Road Trip Trivia: A Big Book of Backseat Brainteasers by the editors of Klutz

• Get ready for the best goofball trivia ever!
• Put your thinking cap on and get ready to reflect on questions like: Does pondering useless information make the miles fly? Do bedbugs bark? (Answers: Yes and, believe it or not, yes.)
• Stump your parents with pages and pages of ridiculous trivia.

Secret Language of Birthdays by Gary Goldschneider

• Do you ever wonder whether the day you were born determined your personality or the way you do certain things? Time to find out!
• This book describes in detail the characteristics and quirks of personality associated with being born on a particular day of the year. 
• Learn which famous personalities share your birthday. 
• Discover and realize your strengths and weaknesses. 
• Find out what makes your family, friends, and favorite celebrities tick just by knowing their birthdays!

Those are my choices for some quick boredom solutions. What books, puzzles, and activities do you like to partake in on the road?

— Carly M., STACKS Staffer

Captain Underpants the movie...

Last week in my Captain Underpants soundtrack posting, I mentioned that I would absolutely love to see Captain Underpants hit the silver screen. However, at the time I was suffering a complete brain fart and couldn't think of the perfect actors to star in this film. Fortunately, a few days after coming up with the soundtrack, the most ideal and yet obvious actor to star as Captain Underpants came to me — just like all of a sudden finding that piece of clothing that's been sitting right atop a pile of clothes in your room! After realizing who could play Captain Underpants, the rest of the cast trickled into view.

So if Captain Underpants were made into a movie, it would star . . .

Will Ferrell as Captain Underpants/Principal Krupp
After laughing hysterically at his films (such as Blades of Glory, Elf, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, and many more), one realizes that Will Farrell is one of the funniest actors of our time and could easily pull off an underpants-wearing, cape-toting, bully-fighting super hero.

2nd choice:
Seth Rogen as Captain Underpants/Principal Krupp
Due to Will Farrell's extremely busy schedule, the film would have to call for the perfect backup — otherwise known as Seth Rogen. This comedic actor has starred in a slew of blockbuster hits ranging from the hilarious adult comedy Superbad, to the voice of Mantis in the funny animated film Kung Fu Panda, and he is also going to star as Britt Reid/the Green Hornet in the upcoming superhero flick The Green Hornet.

Jake T. Austin as George Beard
This actor is on the rise. Not only is he one of the main stars on the hit Disney show Wizards of Waverly Place, but he also recently starred the movie Hotel for Dogs. Though I haven’t seen his latest movie, I do find him extremely funny alongside his co-stars Selena Gomez and David Henrie. While some actors have to actively strive to be funny and humorous, I think that comedy comes naturally to Austin.

Bobb'e J. Thompson as Harold Hutchins
You may have seen him as the annoying Stanley on Disney channel's That's So Raven or in the more recent movie Fred Claus, starring Vince Vaughn. However, if neither one of those ring a bell, you'll be hearing of and seeing Thompson in his comedic roles in the future films Imagine That and Snowmen.

And what if the movie industry wants to go with a couple actors a few years older than the respective characters in the books? Not to worry! Hollywood and I have got that covered! So who else could play the parts of George and Harold? Well, I'll give you a couple a hints. They already star as friends in a hit Disney channel show. Each has proven himself as an excellent comedic actor. And they have both been acting since they were young. Which two actors am I referring to? Kyle Massey and Jason Dolly of Corey in the House!

So, what do you think of my character picks? Have someone else mind for the potential Captain Underpants Movie? Leave me a comment! And if this hypothetical movie never actually becomes a reality, you can always go play the Captain Underpants games.

— Carly M., STACKS Staffer

If Captain Underpants had a soundtrack . . .

Okay, so who thinks Captain Underpants should be made into a movie? I do! How hysterically funny, completely great, and insanely awesome would that be? I'm still racking my brain and digging through my arsenal of actors who could play the characters in the movie (George, Harold, Mr. Krupp, and Captain Underpants himself), but I am certain of the perfect soundtrack!

Here it is:

What's My Age Again? - Blink 182
(The PERFECT theme song)

Pocket Full of Sunshine - Natasha Beddingfield

Mmmbop - Hanson
(MMMbop tick a ta ba do ba dubi da ba do ba)

Beat It - Michael Jackson
(A new catch phrase for Captain Underpants, perhaps? "Showin' How Funky Strong Is Your Fight")

Kryptonite – 3 Doors Down
(Captain Underpants' kryptonite is water)

Time To Dance – Panic At The Disco

What Are You Waiting For? – Gwen Stefani
("Tick-tock, tick-tock . . . ")

Hero – Chad Kroeger

When I Come Around – Green Day
("No time to search the world around, 'cause you know where I'll be found . . .")

The Middle – Jimmy Eat World
(Song for dancing around in your underwear)

Hey Ya – Outkast
("Shake it like a polaroid picture")

What about you? Which songs would YOU choose for a Captain Underpants soundtrack?

— Carly M., STACKS Staffer

The FIVE: Ultimate Male Superheroes

Last week I gave you my top five female superheroes, so now for all you boys out there who like to read about the "man" saving the day, here are my top five favorite male superheroes.

5. Captain Planet: Captain Planet and the Planeteers created by Ted Turner
He is strong, smart, and is the ultimate "green" superhero of all time. Captain Planet first arrived on the scene in the early 1990s on the television show Captain Planet and the Planeteers, way before the creation of hybrid cars or celebrity environment initiatives. It was up to Captain Planet to save Earth from those villains and companies trying to destroy the rainforests, contaminate the water, pollute the air, and harm the planet with hazardous contaminates and dangerous poisons.

4. Captain Underpants: Captain Underpants series by Dav Pilkey
This superhero makes the #4 spot not only because his alias is the school principle, but also because he is the only hero on this list with the most basic but yet the best outfit. In addition, Captain Underpants has defeated some of the world's most disgusting and vile villains: Dr. Diaper, The Turbo Toilet 2000, Professor Pippy Pee-Pee Poopypants, Wedgie Woman, and the Bionic Booger Boy, just to name a few.

3. Cypher: Marvel Comics
Imagine having the ability to go anywhere in the world and still to be able to communicate. Or envision having the capability to decipher any computer program out there. This is why Cypher makes it onto the list in the #3 spot. This mutant character from Marvel comics also goes by the name of Doug Ramsey, his human alias. As a member of the X-Men team, Cypher can translate, understand, decipher, and speak all languages ranging from human to alien to digital. Cool, huh?

2. Multiple Man: Marvel Comics
Ever feel like you need to be in two or even three places at once? Well, if you were James Arthur Madrox of Marvel's X-Men, then you'd be in luck. Not only can he create up to 40 duplicates of himself, but since all the dupes are telepathically and emphatically linked to the "real" Madrox, any information or actions that they absorb, he will as well. You know what that means? You could finish your math, science, history, and writing homework all in just a couple of hours!

1. Superman: DC Comics
This American icon has been around since the late 1930s. Superman — also referred to as "the Man of Steel," "the Man of Tomorrow," and "the Last Son of Krypton" in the comic book world — has set the standard for all superheroes we see today. From his patriotic outfit and symbolic emblem to his unbeatable powers (he's "faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, and able to leap tall buildings in a single bound"), Superman — though known as Clark Kent to regular everyday people — has been pronounced as a cultural icon in America as well as throughout the world.

These are just five of the hundreds of superheroes created by comic books, television shows, movies, books, and other media sources. So who would you have added to the list and why?

— Carly M., STACKS Staffer