Gisborne library book favourites: Dav Pilkey dominates 2025 loan charts

The top-loaned book at HB Williams Memorial Library in 2025, Dog Man: Lord of the Fleas, was unavailable at the time of taking a photo as it was out on loan. The book pictured is the Gisborne library's second-most-borrowed book for last year. Photo / Zita Campbell

A favourite children’s author, whose books have spanned generations, has topped the charts for most loaned-out books at Gisborne’s HB Williams Memorial Library.

Gisborne’s top five library loans in 2025 were all stories written by American author and illustrator of children’s fiction, Dav Pilkey.

Pilkey is well known for his Adventures of Captain Underpants series, the first of which was published in 1997.

Decades on, it appears Pilkey’s books are still captivating young minds and are a favourite for junior Gisborne readers.

The top five of his books were cumulatively loaned out 195 times.

Coming in at number one was Pikey’s Dog Man: Lord of the Fleas, published in August 2018, with 43 loans.

Captain Underpants and the Tyrannical Retaliation of the Turbo Toilet 2000, published in 2014, came in at a close second with 42 borrows.

Two other Dog Man books, which are part of a 14-book series, also featured.

Dog Man: Fetch-22, published in 2019, and Dog Man: Grime and Punishment, published in 2020, came in at third and fifth most popular, with 39 and 35 loans.

Cat Kid Comic Club: on purpose, published in 2022, had 37 loans and came fourth.

Gisborne District Council’s library service leader Lois Haddon said it was “heartening” to see a children’s author featuring so prominently on the most loaned books.

“It demonstrates that passion and enthusiasm for reading are still strong in upcoming generations.”

However, it was the adult age bracket that continued to borrow the most items in 2025.

One author, Ann Cleeves, a British mystery and crime writer, appears twice on the top-loaned adult books.

This proves to be a popular category for Gisborne readers, with four out of the five most loaned adult books in the mystery and crime genre.

It was also the most loaned genre of 2025.

Most loaned-out adult books in 2025:

1. The Secret by Lee Child (published in 2023): 25 loans.
2. The let them theory: a life-changing tool that millions of people can’t stop talking about by Mel Robbins (published in 2024): 24 loans.
3. Nightshade by Michael Connelly (published in 2025): 23 loans.
4. Murder in my backyard (published in 1991) by Ann Cleeves: 21 loans.
5. A lesson in dying (published in 1990) by Ann Cleeves: 20 loans.

Library continues to grow

There were 4237 active library members last year, with a total of 137,016 books loaned out.

“We’ve seen the library continue to grow as a welcoming place for everyone, not just for books, but for belonging.

“From waiata sessions that build confidence and connection, to kaupapa Māori activities and a writer’s festival that brought people together across generations,” Haddon said.

A 2025 “highlight” was author Witi Ihimaera’s Workshop Witi Unwrapped with the Library Teen Writers Group.

“Witi listened to the rangatahi as they shared their dreams and writing aspirations before reflecting on his own journey growing up on the East Coast.”

Three years ago, the library removed overdue charges to make the library easier to use, a move Haddon said was working.

“We’re seeing more people coming through the doors, stronger borrowing and steadily improving satisfaction, which tells us fewer barriers means more learning, more reading and more community.”

Last year, 182 items were lost or not returned, costing the council an estimated $4405.

“These costs are typically managed or recovered via email reminders, then letters advising replacement cost charges.”

Some of these can be escalated to collections if no response is received within a reasonable timeframe, Haddon said.