Middle Grade Monday – On the Importance of Captain Underpants

Look, I understand. We all have to do things we don’t like. We all have series of books we’d rather not acknowledge, or with which we have serious issues (mumble, mumble, wimpy kid, mumble.) But the payoff for including these books in your collection can be immense.

I think we all can recognize that the middle grades are a time of great turmoil and change. If not, I’d ask that you place an average 4th grade student and an average 7th grade student in a room together and observe them for just 5 minutes. Go on, we’ll wait. See what I mean? So then, how do we address helping these students to feel comfortable with themselves and the world around them – at least in the library? I say one way is collection development.


I’m remembering a time, probably 12 years ago, when I was asked for my input on the opening day collection for our school district’s middle schools (we have opened a lot of schools.) One of the questions I got from the district media office was about titles I was including (similar to Captain Underpants) which featured elementary school characters. The question came from someone who had spent most of his career in elementary library settings and was based on years of understanding that elementary students want to read about kids who are older than them. So do middle school  students – for the most part. But sometimes, just sometimes, they really want what I would call ‘comfort reading.’ 

For me, as an adult reader, these are the books whose worlds and characters are so familiar to me as to be part of my family. These are the books (and often series of books) I have read until the pages have become soft from overuse. I would sleep with these titles under my pillow or clutched in my arms (except OW – sharp edges) if I could, they bring me so much comfort. The same is true for our middle grade readers.

So I say embrace your Captain Underpants, your Dork Diaries, your Diary of a Wimpy Kid(s). Rejoice in the middle grader’s love of Origami Yoda,  Lego Star Wars, Stick Dog, and Big Nate. If inclusion of these titles in your collection helps your patrons to feel safe, included, and heard, you will only reap the many benefits through their love of the library and their trust in your future recommendations.

Filed under: Captain Underpants