Dav Pilkey

Where and when were you born?

March 4, 1996 in Cleveland, Ohio

What were you like at school?

I had a pretty tough time in school. I've always had reading problems, and I didn't learn the same way that most of the kids in my class learned (being severely hyperactive didn't help much, either).

What were your favourite subjects?

I hated maths, but I had some great times being sent out of class to wait in the hallway. Finally, when I reached college, my habit of drawing in English class was actually (wow) encouraged.

When did you know you wanted to be a writer?

Right there, outside class, in the hallway!

What do you do in a typical day?

I live a very simple life, and often spend several hours each day just daydreaming. I also love spending time with my pets: a cat named Blueberry, and three dogs, Martha Jane, Leia, and Little Dog.

What's your favourite song?

'Love Potion #9' made popular by The Clovers. Dr Stinky McNasty uses Hate Potion #9 to turn the classroom lizard into a monster in Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot.

What's your favourite book - you can't choose one of your own!

Hop on Pop by Dr. Seuss and the Frog and Toad books by Arnold Lobel.

Where did you get the idea for Captain Underpants?

I used to staple sheets of paper together and make my own books. I invented a whole bunch of super heroes, including 'The Amazing Captain Underpants', who flew around the city in his underwear giving wedgies to all the bad guys.

Which person, living or dead, do you most admire, and why?

Thomas Edison. He was terrible at school, but he turned out o.k!

What keeps you awake at night?

The idea of author visits! I hate travelling, so I avoid speaking engagements whenever possible.

What's your most disgusting habit?

At school, I held the record for the number of crayons I could stick up my nose. I'm proud to say I hold that record to this day.

What was your most embarrassing moment?

Getting kicked out of my first school aged 4, for throwing stuff out of the window.

What word or phrase do you most over-use?

'Stuff'!

What makes you proud?

I've proved my high school principal was wrong when he took me out of class to say, 'You artists are a dime-a-dozen! You'll never make a living like that!'

What's the most important lesson life has taught you?

It's good to know that even if you're not successful in school, you can still be successful in life.