Books on Break: The Rise of Dog Man

On my very first day as an intern at Book Harvest, I was thrown right into the magic. With the Books on Break program wrapping up for the season, I arrived just in time to witness one of its most joyful moments: elementary school kids lighting up as they carefully selected ten brand-new books to take home for the summer. One mid-morning visit landed me in a bustling school library, where tables were decked out with colorful displays and rows of irresistible books. It didn’t take long to spot the undisputed star of the show: Dog Man.

After chatting with the wonderful Book Harvest team, my suspicions were confirmed—Dog Man fever was real. By my second day, I was stationed at another elementary school, helping students navigate the wonderland of Books on Break—and that’s when I truly understood the extent of the craze. With each new class that burst through the doors, the Dog Man books vanished almost instantly. I even witnessed a heated round of rock-paper-scissors for the very last copy.

So, what’s behind the Dog Man obsession? Imagine a superhero who’s half dog, half man—created after a life-saving surgery that fuses the head of a police dog with the body of his human partner. The result? A wildly funny and unexpectedly heartfelt graphic novel series packed with zany villains, slapstick humor, and sneakily powerful lessons about kindness, courage, and friendship. Dog Man shows kids that anyone can be a hero. It may seem silly at first glance, but these books are doing something truly meaningful: getting kids excited to read.

Even in just a short time, being part of this program has been so inspiring. Seeing the joy on kids’ faces and watching them build their very own home libraries reminded me how transformative reading can be. I feel incredibly lucky to intern with a mission-driven organization like Book Harvest.