‘Dog Man’ unleashes its popularity in 2021
2021 was a pretty good year for author Dav Pilkey. Not only is his children’s book “Dog Man: Mothering Heights” USA TODAY’S bestselling book of the year, but he also followed up the achievement with four more of his books landing in the Top 100 for 2021, more than any other author.
In addition to “Mothering Heights,” Pilkey earned top spots for “Dog Man: Grime and Punishment” at No. 32; “Dog Man: For Whom the Ball Rolls” at No. 81; “Cat Kid Comic Club” at No. 28; and “Cat Kid Comic Club: Perspective” at No. 67.
Though, much like 2021 itself, the year didn’t bring all good news for the author. Pilkey’s publisher Scholastic pulled one of his books in March because it said the book perpetuated passive racism. “The Adventures of Ook and Gluk,” published in 2010, was a spinoff of sorts of his popular “Captain Underpants” series that featured a time-traveling caveman who trains at Master Wong’s School of Kung Fu. Pilkey publicly apologized and gave his full support to the halting of publication and distribution of the book.
“It was and is wrong and harmful to my Asian readers, friends and family, and to all Asian people . ... I hope that you, my readers, will forgive me, and learn from my mistake that even unintentional and passive stereotypes and racism is harmful to everyone. I apologize, and I pledge to do better,” Pilkey wrote in a statement.
Kristin Hannah tops this year’s adult fiction with “The Four Winds,” (No. 2), which USA TODAY rated and called “epic and transporting, a stirring story of hardship and love that is likely to lead to a film adaptation.” Hannah was followed in the fiction category by Matt Haig’s “The Midnight Library” (No. 5) and Laura Dave’s “The Last Thing He Told Me” (No. 6). Unlike 2020 when titles on politics, former President Donald Trump and race and racism dominated, we did not see as many current affairs or political books in 2021’s Top 100. “American Marxism” by Mark R. Levin did reach No. 3 and topped the nonfiction category. Only two other current affairs books appeared: “Peril” by Bob Woodward and Robert Costa (No. 38) and “The Real Anthony Fauci” by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (No. 46).
Actors and rock stars also made appearances last year. Among the titles were “Greenlights” by Matthew Mcconaughey (No. 26), which was the year’s top memoir. Foo Fighter frontman Dave Grohl appeared with “The Storyteller“(No. 63), and Will Smith with Mark Manson for “Will“came in at No. 97.