Publications & Sites 
Captain Underpants author meets fans in Winnetka
Dav Pilkey jokes with Jackson Macejko of Winnetka, 7 and his brother Quinn, four, as their mother, Amanda, snaps a photo. | Rob Dicker~Sun-Times Media
Article Extras
Updated: September 14, 2012 1:46PM
WINNETKA — Fans of all ages visited The Book Stall at Chestnut Court eager to meet the man behind the best-selling Captain Underpants series.
In the midst of a tour promoting his first new Captain Underpants book in nearly a decade, Dav Pilkey stopped by the Winnetka bookstore to meet and greet his readers Tuesday, Sept. 11.
“The last three years I’ve been cooped up in my studio and unable to meet my fans,” Pilkey said. “It’s great to meet the kids, see the smiles on their faces and hear their laughter.”
Brothers Jake, 9, and Max Ruben, 7, of Wilmette, came across the Captain Underpants series while browsing an area bookstore one day and became hooked on the superhero series.
“We really like the author,” Jake said. “The books are really funny.”
After spending some time meeting Pilkey at the autograph table, Michelle Litchman, of Glencoe, and her son Jason showed off their signed book and poster.
“I like how he fights the bad people,” Jason, 8, said. “They’re so funny and he pulls all those pranks.”
Pilkey spent several minutes greeting each fan individually as they approached the table and was not hesitant to take questions, tell stories or offer advice to his readers.
Pilkey said the inspiration for his writing comes from his own childhood. Admittedly, a librarian’s “worst nightmare,” he began writing his own works and thinks back to his own youth as he pens his books.
“I’m really writing for myself as a child,” Pilkey said. “I write about things I would love as a kid. My books are stories that are funny, have monsters and have a high picture to text ratio.”
Six year-old Grace Funke and her mother Lisa, both of Wilmette, spent plenty of time meeting one of their favorite authors and came away with several autographed books.
“I told him I like his books and they are so funny,” Grace said.
Lisa, a librarian at Glenview’s Glen Grove School, was just as excited as her daughter to meet the award-winning author.
“Grace just read Captain Underpants yesterday,” Lisa said. “Our first grade students read them and we have a fifth grade teacher who reads all of his books. He was really listening to my comments and he was so nice and genuine.”~.
