The following version of the book was used to create this study guide: Pilkey, Dav. Cat Kid Comic Club: Influencers. Scholastic, New York, NY, 10012. 2023. Kindle AZW file.

Dav Pilkey's graphic novel Cat Kid Comic Club: Influencers is the fifth installment of the Cat Kid Comic Club series. The series follows the adventures of Li'l Petey and Molly as they lead a group of frogs learning to write and illustrate comic books. In this novel, Pilkey's characters explore the role of those who influence how others behave.

As the story opens, the frogs' dad, a fish named Flippy, has called a halt to the comic club meetings. The youngsters are supposed to be focusing on a comic book slated for publication, but they are spending all their time bickering instead of working. No one can come to any conclusions except that no one else is fulfilling their promises to work on the project. Meanwhile, the deadline for publication is looming ever nearer. Flippy spends a lot of time settling arguments and griping that the frogs are not behaving.

In the midst of these ongoing issues, a frog named Poppy makes a comic book especially for Flippy. Flippy fusses at Poppy because she wasted time creating her own comic when she is supposed to be helping the others. Poppy's comic is about two birds who spent their entire lives side-by-side. One bird always saw the negatives of every situation while the other saw the positives. As their lives came to an end, one was bitter and angry for all the negatives while the other was thankful for the life he lived. As soon as Flippy reads the final page, he rushes to Poppy's room to apologize. He says he has become like the negative bird who always looks downward. He pledges to be more like the positive bird who chose to look up. He says the frogs are just little kids, and that they are mostly good and kind. As he and Poppy talk, snow begins to fall. The next morning, the frogs are excited to see the snowy landscape, but they know Flippy will insist on having school and doing chores before anyone is free to do anything else. Instead, Flippy says school and chores are canceled. He provides a breakfast of pancakes, invites their friend Li'l Petey over, and lets them do whatever they want. One group makes a comic book using the snowy landscape as their background.

As the graphic novel comes to an end, Flippy allows the comic club to begin meeting again. Two of the frogs teach the others about drawing baby characters. Flippy announces that the deadline for publication has been pushed back indefinitely.

While all this is going on, Poppy has been reading a book by Dale Carnegie with instructions on becoming an influencer. Poppy uses the information to convince her brother Melvin to make her favorite ice cream. She convinces two of her sisters to teach the group about making characters, then convinces them to plan another presentation for the comic club. Naomi and Flippy talk about the book once she has finished reading it. She has learned that the basic advice is to be thoughtful and kind. She seems to feel it is good advice. In keeping with a promise she made, Naomi hands the book over to Melvin next. Melvin feels this will be the key to making the entire world bow to his will.