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Year 4 student Jack from St Francis Xavier Catholic Primary School West Mackay was thrilled to receive a surprise reply from Dav Pilkey after writing him a letter about how the Dog Man books inspired him to start creating his own comics. Photo supplied
Excitement has been building in Year 4 at St Francis Xavier Catholic Primary School, West Mackay, as one student’s creativity and initiative have led to an unforgettable experience!
As part of a fast finisher activity in 4P, students were invited to choose from a selection of tasks once they had completed their classwork. One option encouraged students to write a letter to the author of a book they had enjoyed.
Inspired by his passion for the Dog Man series, Jack eagerly took on the challenge and wrote a heartfelt piece of fan mail to author Dav Pilkey.
In his letter, Jack shared how the Dog Man books motivated him to start creating his own comics. With the help of Miss Plath, Jack’s letter was carefully addressed and posted all the way to America, an exciting journey that would take patience and hope!
That patience paid off in a big way.
Recently, Jack was thrilled to receive a reply from Dav Pilkey himself!
All the way from the USA, the package included a personal letter, a special bookmark, and an official Dog Man badge. The surprise brought immense joy and inspiration, reinforcing Jack’s enthusiasm for storytelling and illustration.
Jack shared his thoughts about the experience:
“I loved reading Dogman because I wanted to make comics when I grow up and when I started reading Dogman I thought I could start making them straight away. Because the characters George and Harold were making comics in the start of the book, I thought I’d try and do the same thing, so I made a full comic book.”
He continued:
“I’m starting my second one about Maya who brought a dinosaur to life and there is an Evil Dog, Catman, and a robot named ER.”
On receiving the reply, Jack said:
“I was very excited and I didn’t think he would write back. I’m grateful for my teacher posting the letter to Dav Pilkey for me.”
Jack’s first comic has already impressed his teachers, featuring detailed illustrations, engaging dialogue, and imaginative storylines. Now working on his second comic, Jack is more motivated than ever to continue developing his craft.
This wonderful story highlights the power of literacy, creativity, and taking initiative.
A simple classroom activity has sparked a meaningful connection and inspired a young writer to pursue his passion.
Congratulations, Jack! We can’t wait to see where your creativity takes you next.
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