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The Bad Guys (The Bad Guys #1) (1) Paperback – Illustrated, December 27, 2016

4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 6,256 ratings

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NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE!

"I wish I'd had these books as a kid. Hilarious!" -- Dav Pilkey, creator of Captain Underpants and Dog ManThis New York Times bestselling illustrated series is perfect for fans of Dog Man and Captain Underpants.They sound like bad guys, they look like bad guys . . . and they even smell like bad guys. But Mr. Wolf, Mr. Piranha, Mr. Snake, and Mr. Shark are about to change all of that...Mr. Wolf has a daring plan for the Bad Guys' first good mission. They are going to break two hundred dogs out of the Maximum Security City Dog Pound. Will Operation Dog Pound go smoothly? Will the Bad Guys become the Good Guys? And will Mr. Snake please stop swallowing Mr. Piranha?!
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From the Publisher

I wish I'd had these books as a kid, hilarious
Bad Guys Interiors
The Bad Guys
Cat on the Run #1 The Underdogs Dog Man: A Graphic Novel (Dog Man #1) Monday into the Cave of Thieves The Inflatables in Bad Air Day (The Inflatables #1)
Cat on the Run #1 The Underdogs Dog Man: A Graphic Novel (Dog Man #1) Total Mayhem #1 The Inflatables #1
Customer Reviews
4.6 out of 5 stars
303
4.6 out of 5 stars
79
4.8 out of 5 stars
23,457
4.7 out of 5 stars
147
4.7 out of 5 stars
93
Price $6.38 $6.50 $9.18 $5.69 $6.50
For Fans of the Bad Guys From the New York Times bestselling author of The Bad Guys comes another hilarious illustrated series starring a pampered cat who is way tougher than anyone realizes. Four dogs that attend Barksdale Academy learn that being yourself is much more fun than being Best in Show. Join Nova, Duke, Harley, and Peanut as they attempt to pass their Agility Exam. George and Harold have created a new breed of justice. With the head of a dog and the body of a human, this heroic hound digs into deception, claws after crooks, rolls over robbers, and scampers after squirrels. For Dash Candoo, every day is dangerous. On Monday, he is attacked by a squad of combat-ready scallywags and the two-tailed Devil Cat before breakfast. The adventure explodes at school into a number of Total Mayhem situations. Flamingo, Cactus, Donut, and Watermelon are forgotten water park floats who live at the lost and found. This doesn’t stop them from making big waves in this fun graphic novel series. Join Flamingo as he makes a splash in the new wave pool.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 2–4—Be prepared to hear laughter, and lots of it, as students plunge into this graphic novel hybrid. The story opens with Mr. Wolf speaking directly to the audience. Despite his "big, pointy teeth," his "razor-sharp claws," and his suspicious rap sheet filled with familiar "Three Little Pigs" and "Little Red Riding Hood" references, he implores readers to believe he is not a bad guy. Mr. Wolf is on a quest to persuade his carnivorous friends to be part of the Good Guys Club. Their first mission is to rescue a cat from a tree, and even though his friends think Mr. Wolf has lost his mind, they agree to help. Illustrations exaggerate the animals' sharp teeth and wide smiles as they stare up at the terrified kitty. After a few bumps in the plan (namely, Mr. Snake eating Mr. Piranha), an accidental success ensues and they move on to their grand plan of freeing 200 dogs from the pound. Expressive illustrations and typography will captivate budding readers' attention and aid in comprehension. Witty and slapstick humor coupled with menacing animal faces on a bright orange cover ensures this book will appeal to a wide audience. VERDICT Reminiscent of Aaron Reynolds's Carnivores and Jon Scieszka's The True Story of the Three Little Pigs, this humorous title is highly recommended for all libraries.—Beth Parmer, New Albany Elementary Library, OH

Review

Praise for The Bad Guys:* "[T]his book instantly joins the classic ranks of Captain Underpants and The Stinky Cheese Man. We challenge anyone to read this and keep a straight face." -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Scholastic Press; Illustrated edition (December 27, 2016)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 144 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0545912407
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0545912402
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 6 - 8 years, from customers
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 530L
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 2 - 5
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 7.2 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.9 x 0.4 x 7.4 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 6,256 ratings

About the author

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Aaron Blabey
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Aaron Blabey is a #1 New York Times Bestselling author with around 30 million books in print. He is also the co-executive producer of The Bad Guys movie by DreamWorks Animation and the upcoming Netflix movie-musical adaptation of Thelma the Unicorn.

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
6,256 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book fun and easy to read with great pictures on each page. They enjoy the series and find the characters funny and distinct. The book holds their attention and keeps them engaged. Opinions differ on the humor - some find it mildly funny, while others consider it crude and sarcastic. There are also mixed opinions about the length - some find it long, while others say it's short.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

240 customers mention "Fun to read"240 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy reading the book. They find it funny and cute for kids. The plot is entertaining and keeps kids wanting to read more.

"...He likes to read and will appreciate the humor. I am glad to find a good series that's not about a superhero." Read more

"...It’s funny and action packed, with lots of slapstick shenanigans to keep any reader entertained. The illustrations are great too." Read more

"...year old would pick up the book, begin reading it, and FINISH THE ENTIRE BOOK before dinner...." Read more

"I loved the story! It was cute fun and entertaining. My small group of students loved it too." Read more

59 customers mention "Readability"51 positive8 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and understand. They say it helps readers improve their reading skills and is a different type of read. Readers mention that the font changes on each page and they read with voice.

"...With its simple hilarious illustrations and easy to read language this book will make laugh hysterically all 5-7 year old kids who love comic books..." Read more

"...We're going to get the rest in the series. He loves that is easy to read and comic style." Read more

"Funny book. Great illustrations. Easy to read. I’m glad there are more books in this series to purchase...." Read more

"...He is in first grade and can read the books himself, but of course it's more fun to share these silly stories and pictures with mom or dad!..." Read more

20 customers mention "Pictures"20 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the pictures in the book. They find the illustrations funny and entertaining. The stories are described as silly and enjoyable.

"...The illustrations are great too." Read more

"...There are a lot of pictures which really help tell the story." Read more

"Funny book. Great illustrations. Easy to read. I’m glad there are more books in this series to purchase...." Read more

"...The plot is entertaining and funny, there are still pictures, and it is still a decent length." Read more

18 customers mention "Book series"18 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book series. They find it engaging and say they will purchase the entire series. The books are also described as an AR series, which is useful for school assignments.

"...He likes to read and will appreciate the humor. I am glad to find a good series that's not about a superhero." Read more

"My 7 year olds favorite book series. Even his 2nd grade class is reading the 1st book together...." Read more

"Got it for my nephew, he loves this series. He saw the movie and then got into the books." Read more

"The first book in a fantastic series! Me and my kids have been hooked on this series since the beginning, and love reading these at bedtime!..." Read more

12 customers mention "Character development"12 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's characters. They find them funny and engaging, with distinct personalities and special skills. The characters are well-developed and the story is enjoyable.

"...Fun illustrations, hilarious storyline. Classic characters portrayed as not the typical character." Read more

"...The characters are loveable, the jokes are nonstop and the plot was right up her alley (save the world)...." Read more

"...good entourage story where each member has special skills and a distinct personality? Great art and a great story...." Read more

"...for my age and what l liked most abut the book is the character and Thier personality and something l disliked was that the fish and the snake kept..." Read more

11 customers mention "Attention retention"11 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging and entertaining. It keeps their attention and makes reading fun and easy. The drawings are also fun.

"I thought the story was good and should hold the interest of the young man who will be receiving this book...." Read more

"My kids love this book because it’s exciting. It keeps them engaged. There are pages with a couple action words that they particularly love." Read more

"...It kept their attention so well I honestly could have read it in one day. Great pictures on each page and funny...." Read more

"It’s a graphic novel and a fast, but engaging, read. My 9 year old read it and lagged out loud. It’s not an academic read for a third grade reader...." Read more

18 customers mention "Humor"10 positive8 negative

Customers have different views on the humor of the books. Some find them funny and easy to read, while others consider them mildly amusing, sarcastic, or silly.

"A great book about bad guys trying to be good. My son who we struggle to get to read or be read to(2nd grade), love it" Read more

"...it's slightly crude and sarcastic* it says "Fart" and might be a little bit sassy in the text...." Read more

"...Finally, he's actually loving these Bad Guy series. He read it in one sitting without even stopping to ask for anything!" Read more

"...said, he wasn't a huge fan of the actual book and said it was only mildly funny. It's exact words were, "it's okay."..." Read more

10 customers mention "Shortness"4 positive6 negative

Customers have different views on the book's length. Some find it short and easy to read, while others feel it's too short for the price paid. The stories are described as silly and suitable for reluctant readers.

"...Recommended by a student. It grew on me! A bit short." Read more

"...and funny, there are still pictures, and it is still a decent length." Read more

"THIS BOOK WAS GOOD OMG PLEASE MAKE MORE... but, or was kind of short compared to how much money I spent on it, so can you fix this?..." Read more

"...He was laughing so much throughout it. It is a very fun and short read." Read more

Turned out to be a great present and will be purchasing the entire series!
5 out of 5 stars
Turned out to be a great present and will be purchasing the entire series!
Bought this book and book #2 for a Christmas present for my nieces as they are transitioning from “little kid book” to “chapter books” as one of my nieces likes to say…They were both excited to start the books. One turned to me after opening the present and said “you want me to read a chapter book?!”Fast forward to reading at home with some help from mom. Turns out they both love these books! The books are pretty thick and worth the price. Will definitely be purchasing the rest of the series.Will even be passing the book onto my nine year old nephew who has dyslexia and is just learning to read- the pages and text are not too overwhelming and will update my review with his experience of the book.I see some of the lower star reviews saying “fart humor” is bad- the book is about being able to change yourself to be a better person. Did these people read the book? Or are they so offended that a fart joke does it for them now? This book was written for kids- and kids tend to find fart jokes funny- it’s a phase we all go through.Would recommend for kids who are transitioning to chapter books, who love to read, who love to laugh, or if you’re looking for a nighttime book to read with your kiddos.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on December 10, 2024
    I thought the story was good and should hold the interest of the young man who will be receiving this book. I purchased two other books in this series for him at the same time. He likes to read and will appreciate the humor. I am glad to find a good series that's not about a superhero.
  • Reviewed in the United States on July 10, 2024
    This is a great book to get kids hooked on reading. It’s funny and action packed, with lots of slapstick shenanigans to keep any reader entertained.

    The illustrations are great too.
  • Reviewed in the United States on July 25, 2022
    I bought this book for a 6 and 10 year old. I thought the 10 year old might need to help the six year old in reading the book.

    What I did not expect is that the 6 year old would pick up the book, begin reading it, and FINISH THE ENTIRE BOOK before dinner. We ended up stopping at a local bookshop to purchase 2, 3, and 4 in the series so she could keep reading.

    By breakfast the next morning she was almost finished with book 2, and Amazon had time to get 5, 6, and 7 to the house hopefully before she gets that far.

    I had no idea she would like this book so much. She did struggle with some of the words in Spanish. They're printed in italics which made it hard for her to understand the letters. And bigger words she'd never been exposed to before like piranha, Bolivia, fuel-injected, horsepower, and things like that. We also had to explain some turns of phrase like "you're killing me with theses jokes." She was worried someone was hurt, but after explanations was fine.

    What I'm telling you is, there's a chance your kid loves this book so you might go ahead and buy the first two or three in the series.
    18 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on September 11, 2019
    My 1st grad boy and 4yo girl think this is hilarious! I'm always on the hunt for children's literature that will draw them in and get their noses into books (both of my kids can read independently, but we also really love reading together.

    When the book first arrived my son skeptically looked at it and said "the pictures don't have any color" to which I replied, thats ok, you get to imagine the colors! We started reading it right away neither one of them allowed me to put it down until we had finished. It was a fairly quick read. We've had it a week or two and it has been read cover to cover 4+ times and my 6 year old is constantly picking it up and reading parts and giggling.

    I love its message of changing a misunderstanding and making the bad guys good.

    *it's slightly crude and sarcastic* it says "Fart" and might be a little bit sassy in the text. But we use the word fart in our home so I didn't find it offensive. Its also the part my son keeps giggling at.

    We will definitely be ordering more of these books!
    12 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 20, 2024
    I loved the story! It was cute fun and entertaining. My small group of students loved it too.
  • Reviewed in the United States on November 12, 2024
    The Bad Guys is such a fun series, can't wait to continue with the others. Fun illustrations, hilarious storyline. Classic characters portrayed as not the typical character.
  • Reviewed in the United States on December 19, 2024
    My grandson (10) purchased several Bad Guys books at his book fair this year. They are doing a book exchange white elephant on the last day before Winter Break. I asked him what book he'd like to put in the exchange, he immediately said Bad Guys, Book 1.
  • Reviewed in the United States on July 2, 2024
    I bought this, and my students love it! It has been a popular book.

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
  • Axel Michl
    5.0 out of 5 stars ¡Fantastico Libro!
    Reviewed in Mexico on April 24, 2022
    Ahora Con El Estreno De La Nueva Película, descubri esta grandiosa colección de libros que son bastante geniales y recomendados, Tiene un GRAN humor super comico y divertidísimo, definitivamente una fabulosa compra, ¡Quiero Comprar Mas de esra increíble colección!

    ¡Se los recomiendo al 100%, en especial si les gustó la película!
  • Debora Spindula
    5.0 out of 5 stars Ilustração
    Reviewed in Brazil on October 16, 2021
    É ilustrado ajudando a criança a entender o conteúdo e prendendo a atenção.
  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Short and fun
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 10, 2024
    Good short read, nice illustrations easy for children to read by themselves.
  • Elena Fernandes
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good!
    Reviewed in Italy on July 16, 2022
    The media could not be loaded.

  • Dallon
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great books!
    Reviewed in Spain on May 3, 2022
    Fantastic story! Funny. Great!