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Bring your best undies for author's visit in Naperville

Anderson's Bookshop invites patrons to wear underwear on their head for Captain Underpants author's visit

If you happen to be walking around downtown Naperville on Saturday, Sept. 8, don't be alarmed to see people walking around with underpants on their heads.

Yes, they'll be clean (we hope!) and, yes, there's a reason (for most of them, anyway) - to help Anderson's Bookshop set the world record for the greatest number of people wearing underpants on their heads.

It's all in conjunction with author Dav Pilkey's visit to the book store, where he will be signing the latest title in his Captain Underpants series, "Captain Underpants and the Terrifying Return of Tippy Tinkletrousers," released Tuesday, Aug. 28.

"It's such a popular set of books that I think they'll just be happy to meet Dav," said Candy Purdom, publicity and events coordinator at Anderson's Bookshop. "I don't know what it will be like to have all these kids with underpants on their heads, but it'll be fun."

Captain Underpants is a worldwide best-selling series, and the new book is the first new title in six years, Purdom said.

"It will have an English language first printing of 1 million copies - that's big," Purdom said.

When readers last saw the series' characters George and Harold, they were under arrest and headed for prison.

In the ninth installment of the series, Pilkey takes readers back in time to the boys' kindergarten days, when their biggest threat wasn't mad scientists or alien cafeteria ladies but sixth-grade bully Kipper Krupp, nephew of the school principal.

But because George and Harold don't invent Captain Underpants until fourth grade, the two have only themselves to rely on when dealing with the bully.

A picture of the underwear-headed masses will be taken at 1 p.m., and Pilkey will begin signing books at 2 p.m. Spots in the signing line are reserved by purchasing a book at Anderson's.

Purdom said the book shop staff tries to create events that match the books it's selling or the authors who visit.

"In this case it's Captain Underpants, so we were thinking of underpants," she said. "We thought it'd be fun to try to set the world record for underpants on your head to go along with that."

Pilkey's humorous characters and plot lines are what attract kids to the "Captain Underpants" series, Purdom said.

"I think they're silly, and their sense of humor is appropriate for the age level," she said. "I think kids just find it funny."

The latest title in the Captain Underpants series is “Captain Underpants and the Terrifying Return of Tippy Tinkletrousers.” It is the first new title in the series in six years. Courtesy of Anderson’s Bookshop

If you go

What: Author Dav Pilkey book signing and world record attemptWhen: World record attempt at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 8; book-signing begins at 2 p.m.

Where: Anderson's Bookshop, 123 W. Jefferson Ave., Naperville

Details: Attempt to set a world record for most people with underpants on their head; photo to be taken at 1 p.m.

Cost: Purchase of book for spot in line

Info: andersonsbookshop.com or (630) 355-2665

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