Your child finished Dog Man. Now comes the important question: “What should I read next?” Start with the part they want more of: ridiculous jokes, strange heroes, big action, or pictures that carry the story.
These five books and series offer different ways to keep that interest going. Choose one to sample rather than buying a whole new series immediately.
Publisher disclosure: this guide is written by RoboKid author Mark Chapman. RoboKid is our book; the other series are independent titles. No affiliation or endorsement is implied.
The quick pick: match the fun
| If your reader wants… | Try… | What to check in a sample |
|---|---|---|
| Schoolyard superhero action and inventions | RoboKid | The alien zombie premise and the friends’ teamwork |
| Making comics and visual jokes | Cat Kid Comic Club | The stories-within-a-story format |
| Spy silliness and mysteries | InvestiGators | The alligator agents and comic timing |
| An unlikely crew trying to do good | The Bad Guys | The illustrated chapter-book format |
| A mysterious boy and science-fiction adventure | Hilo | The action, characters, and page density |
1. RoboKid: when school needs an upgrade
For a reader who likes an ordinary setting interrupted by extraordinary trouble, A Schoolyard Legend is Born: RoboKid in The Invasion of the Alien Zombie Bullies brings the adventure to school. Koda, Samone, and Senny face an alien-powered emergency with friendship, programming, engineering, and robotic abilities in the mix.
RoboKid is written for ages 6–10. That is a starting point for choosing, not a reading-level score: look at the sample together and decide whether independent or shared reading feels right.
Meet your next schoolyard hero
Alien zombie bullies. Inventive friends. One very unusual upgrade. Try RoboKid Book 1 before choosing your next adventure.
2. Cat Kid Comic Club: for the comic creator
Dav Pilkey’s series puts comic-making inside the story. Its young creators experiment with their own ideas and formats. It is a useful next title to browse if your child enjoys not just reading jokes, but inventing characters and drawing their own strips.
3. InvestiGators: for the mystery fan
John Patrick Green’s Mango and Brash are alligator secret agents. The detective setup gives readers a different kind of adventure to explore. Choose it to sample when your child asks for spies, clues, and a comical duo rather than another school story.
4. The Bad Guys: for the unlikely team
Aaron Blabey’s illustrated chapter-book series follows an animal crew trying to do good. Its format differs from a full-color comic page. Let your reader browse that difference: some children welcome a change in page style, while others want a closer visual match to their last favorite.
5. Hilo: for the science-fiction adventurer
Judd Winick’s Hilo: The Boy Who Crashed to Earth begins with a mysterious arrival. Browse it with a child who wants unusual abilities, friendship, and science-fiction action. Check the intensity and reading demands together instead of assuming that every illustrated adventure feels the same.
Let your reader make the final choice
Offer two samples and ask, “Which character do you want to follow?” If neither clicks, ask what is missing. Their answer is more useful than a longer list of recommendations. Borrowing from the library or reading a publisher preview keeps that first decision small.
Want to test the schoolyard-superhero option? Get the free RoboKid sneak peek, or buy Book 1 on Amazon if it already sounds like your reader’s kind of adventure.
Explore the other series
Publisher information: Cat Kid Comic Club · InvestiGators · The Bad Guys · Hilo Book 1.
Still deciding whether RoboKid fits your reader? Check the RoboKid parent guide for age, tone, and what to look for in the preview.