Captain Underpants and the Invasion of the Incredibly Naughty Cafeteria Ladies from Outer Space by Dav Pilkey

From the Publisher

An alien spaceship has landed on the roof of Jerome Horwitz Elementary School. Three tall aliens plan to overtake the Earth using schoolchildren as their zombie nerd henchmen. Disguised as gigantic lunch ladies, they begin their evil plot. Another job for Captain Underpants!

Publishers Weekly

Fourth-grade cut-ups Harold and George and their principal-turned-superhero are as funny as ever in Pilkey's third Captain Underpants caper. (For those in the dark, the superhero in question is an underwear-clad, toilet-paper-toting crusader for "Truth, Justice, and ALL that is Preshrunk and Cottony"). As in the earlier installments, this zany tale adopts a variety of formats, including sprightly illustrated text; reproductions of the two boys' homemade comic books; and "flip-o-rama" pages that replicate "world-famous cheesy animation technique." Captain Underpants and his errant students here go up against a trio of aliens posing as lunch ladies. Suddenly students begin turning into "zombie nerds": "Look," says George, "They're all wearing broken eyeglasses held together with masking tape... and they've got vinyl pocket protectors!!!" It's all part of the aliens' quest to take over the world: "It won't be long now," says the evil Klax. "Tomorrow we'll feed them Super Evil Rapid-Growth Juice! Then they will grow to the size of Zleqxisfp trees." Those with a limited tolerance for the silly need not apply to the Captain Underpants fan club, yet its legion members will plunge happily into his latest bumbling adventure. Ages 7-10. (Sept.) Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.

Children's Literature

Here comes the third in the incredibly silly and amazingly popular series by Dav Pilkey. A space ship disgorges three aliens who, disguised as cafeteria ladies, turn the kids into zombies and take George and Harold prisoners. The boys save the day, however, with quick thinking, some label switching on the alien potions, and the help of their principal who changes into Captain Underpants when someone snaps fingers. To reach his audience, Pilkey uses a straightforward narrative, plus cartoons, some clever and silly double-page flip book machinations, asides to the reader, and contemporary references which may be lost on adults of a certain age. The appeal of this series seems to be to boys, older reluctant readers, and those who like to read together while pointing out the humor to each other. School librarians will want several copies--parents could wait for the paperback if their readers will let them.

Library Journal

Gr 3-6-Captain Underpants is back (and stronger than ever thanks to some "extra-strength super power juice"). Jerome Horwitz Elementary School is invaded by three "incredibly naughty cafeteria ladies" who are really hideously evil aliens in disguise. Their dastardly plan is to take over Earth by turning its inhabitants into giant zombie nerds starting with the children of Piqua, OH. Harold, George, and Captain Underpants once again save the day with quick thinking and Wedgie Power. Pilkey's hilarious black-and-white pencil cartoons complement the comic humor of the text. Added to the fun are the ever-present Flip-O-Rama pages and a zany Captain Underpants comic. Whether first-time readers of this series or avid fans, children will enjoy this outrageously funny adventure.-Krista Grosick, Cuyahoga County Public Library, OH Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews

Once again, it's Wedgie Power to the rescue, in a book subtitled "And the Invasion of the Incredibly Naughty Cafeteria Ladies from Outer Space (and the Subsequent Assault of the Equally Evil Lunchroom Zombie Nerds)." When aliens Zorx, Klax, and Jennifer launch their invasion of Earth by converting the students and teachers of the Jerome Horwitz Elementary School into an army of zombies with pocket protectors, it's up to inveterate troublemakers George and Harold, with their feckless ally Captain Underpants (he's the mean principal's alter-ego), to save the planet. The deed is done in a crowd-pleasing welter of plot twists and bathroom humor, wisecracks and free shots at school food; Pilkey's black-and-white cartoons move from crudely-drawn comic books created by the boys to pages that readers are required to flip back and forth for an animated effect. As in the previous appearances of Captain Underpants (The Adventures of Captain Underpants, 1997, etc.), this gross but not gruesome adventure will have fans looking forward to the upcoming (and obviously perfectly tasteful) Captain Underpants and the Perilous Plot of Professor Poopypants. (Fiction. 8-10)

Product Details

• Table of Contents
• Interviews & Essays

Table of Contents

Interviews & Essays

Barnes & Noble.com: Did you always want to be a superhero -- or did you just "fall into" this job?

Captain Underpants: I've fallen into a lot of things in my life, but this job was not one of them. I was born to wear underwear and fight crime!

B&N.com: Did you have to undergo any special training to be a superhero?

CU: All you need to be a superhero is a heart that is pure, a mind that is strong, and underwear that is fresh!

B&N.com: You're always smiling! Don't you ever get irritated at George and Harold for causing so much trouble?

CU: No, those two boys have been a real help to me. I think every superhero needs a good sidekick. You know, Batman has Robin, Superboy has that flying dog thingy with the cape, and I have George and Harold. The only thing is that "George" and "Harold" don't sound like good names for superhero sidekicks. I've tried to talk them into "Fleegle" and "Buttercup," but, well, they're stuck in their ways, I guess.

B&N.com: How has all the publicity you've received from starring in Dav Pilkey's books changed your life?

CU: Well, I get recognized all the time. In the old days, when people saw me coming they often ignored me (or screamed). Now, they know my name and ask for autographs. They've always got requests, too, like, "Will you give my husband a wedgie?" It's great fun!

B&N.com: Do you have any dreams of starring in movies like some of your fellow superheroes have?

CU: Maybe.... I'm not sure who could play my part, though. Obviously, Leonardo DiCaprio is the first actor to come to mind (the physical resemblance astounds even me!), but I'm not sure he'd be up to the stunt work.

B&N.com: Who's your favorite superhero?

CU: Me! If I've learned anything from Whitney Houston, it's that "learning to love yourself is the greatest..." uh, something something something....

B&N.com: What do you like to do in your spare time (when you're not fighting crime)?

CU: A crime fighter's job is never finished! But on my breaks, I enjoy swimming and bowling (often at the same time, which really annoys the guys down at the bowling alley).

B&N.com: Don't you get cold running around in just your underwear?

CU: Nope. Wedgie Power keeps me warm!

B&N.com: Do you have any advice for kids who would like to join in your fight for "Truth, Justice, and all that is Pre-Shrunk and Cottony"?

CU: Yes. See my answer to your second question.

B&N.com: Well, thank you, Captain Underpants. I know you have plenty of bad guys to catch and millions of other things to do, so I'll keep this brief...er...short, and just say that it's been a pleasure meeting you -- and that you're an inspiration to everybody who wears underpants! (Jamie Levine)