A Tale of Two Kitties
Dav Pilkey's graphic novel, "Dog Man: A Tale of Two Kitties," is the third installment in the popular Dog Man series, aimed at young readers aged 7-10. This humorous and action-packed book follows Dog Man, a half-dog, half-policeman hero, as he faces Petey the Cat and his new kitten clone, Li'l Petey, along with the resurrected villain Flippy the fish and his army of sentient buildings. The narrative is characterized by its engaging comic book style, silly situations, and emphasis on positive themes like empathy, kindness, and self-identity. While featuring cartoonish conflict and some intense moments, the overall tone is lighthearted and suitable for its target audience.
Concerns
Violence
MediumThe book contains frequent, cartoonish violence typical of Dav Pilkey's style, including slapstick action, threats, and exaggerated combat without graphic detail. Key villains engage in destructive acts, and the hero, Dog Man, "muzzles miscreants."
Petey the Cat, the main antagonist, creates an evil clone, and Flippy the fish uses telekinetic powers to bring "demonic apartment buildings" to life to attack the city. Flippy explicitly states, "It's time to DIE!" while using his powers to lift a character. Dog Man's origin involves a "surgery of success" where a dying cop's head is sewn onto a dying dog's body.
Witchcraft & Occult
MediumThe narrative includes elements of fantastical technology and mild supernatural abilities, such as cloning and telekinesis. These are presented within a comedic, sci-fi framework rather than a traditional occult context.
Petey the Cat utilizes a "cloning kit" to create Li'l Petey, an unnatural creation within the story. The villain, Flippy the fish, possesses "telekinetic powers" and is brought back to life as a robot with the ability to animate buildings using "Living Spray gas," creating an "army of demonic apartment buildings."
Scary & Intense Content
MediumThe book contains several intense situations and elements that could be mildly frightening for sensitive young readers, though these are typically resolved happily and presented with a humorous, exaggerated tone.
Flippy the villain declares, "It's time to DIE!" to a character he lifts with his powers. The plot involves Flippy's "army of demonic apartment buildings that try to destroy the town." A character, 80-HD, is "broken" and falls to the ground during a fight.
Disrespect & Rebellion
MediumCharacters exhibit comedic disobedience and villainous rebellion, which are typically portrayed negatively or as part of the antagonist's role. Positive themes of personal growth and kindness are ultimately emphasized.
Petey the Cat, a recurring villain, "escaped from jail" and aims to "take over the world," demonstrating significant rebellion against authority. Dog Man occasionally displays disruptive behavior, such as "chewing one stand of Chief's chair" and jumping on Chief, leading to Chief yelling "BAD DOGGY, BAD DOGGY!".
LGBTQ & Gender Identity
LowThere is no explicit LGBTQ+ content within "Dog Man: A Tale of Two Kitties" itself. However, a non-binary character, El, who uses they/them pronouns, is introduced in the broader *Dog Man* universe in the spin-off series *Cat Kid Comic Club: Perspectives*.
Within "Dog Man: A Tale of Two Kitties," no characters or plotlines directly address LGBTQ+ or gender identity themes. For the wider series, a later character, El, in *Cat Kid Comic Club: Perspectives* is identified as non-binary and uses they/them pronouns.
Romance and Sexual Content
LowThere is no explicit romantic or sexual content in the book. Relationships are generally platonic or familial, reflecting the young target audience. The closest is a parental gesture of affection.
The book does not feature any romantic relationships or sexual content. Dog Man expresses affection for Li'l Petey in a paternal manner, such as when he "kisses him a good night's sleep."
Profanity
LowThe language in the book is consistently mild and appropriate for young children. There is no strong profanity or offensive language, though some mild, childish humor is present.
No instances of profanity were identified. Humor remains lighthearted, such as Petey referring to Li'l Petey as "poo poo head" during an attempt to pawn him off, which is childish rather than profane.
Substance Use
LowThere is no depiction or mention of substance use, including alcohol, drugs, or smoking, within the book.
The book's content focuses on heroic adventures and comedic situations, with no instances of characters engaging in or referring to the use of alcohol, drugs, or tobacco.
Anti-Christian Themes
LowThe book does not contain any explicit anti-Christian themes, religious mockery, or sacrilegious content. Its themes are secular and generally focus on universal values such as empathy and kindness.
The narrative does not engage with religious topics or themes. There are no characters or plot points that promote anti-Christian messages or depict disrespect toward Christian beliefs or symbols.
Other Notes
Target Demographic
Ages 7-10. The book is specifically designed for early grade school children, featuring graphic novel format, simple language, and universally positive themes, making it accessible and engaging for this age group.
Additional Notes
Parents should be aware that while the violence and intense content are cartoonish and intended for humor, younger or highly sensitive children might find some moments, such as villains threatening to 'die' or the animation of 'demonic' buildings, mildly unsettling. The overall message, however, remains positive, focusing on empathy and good triumphing over evil.
Related Reviews
Big Jim Begins
by Dav Pilkey
Brawl of the Wild
by Dav Pilkey
Captain Underpants and the Attack of the Talking Toilets
by Dav Pilkey
Captain Underpants and the Big, Bad Battle of the Bionic Booger Boy, Part 1
by Dav Pilkey
Captain Underpants and the Big, Bad Battle of the Bionic Booger Boy, Part 2
by Dav Pilkey
Captain Underpants and the Invasion of the Incredibly Naughty Cafeteria Ladies
by Dav Pilkey
Is A Tale of Two Kitties right for your family?
These concerns are a starting point — what many Christian parents care about. Want to screen for other themes? Define your own concerns.
Screen any book, movie, or show — even titles no one else has reviewed.
“StoryScanner gives us clarity and confidence. It's become our go-to for checking books at the library and movies on family night.”
— Cristi & Brian, Dallas TX
“StoryScanner has been such a BLESSING for researching books for our children. You can set filters for your concerns, enter a book title, and it lets you know what's present.”
— Christian Book Reviews for Families (Facebook)
No credit card required