Review by Booklist Review
Dave Unga-Bunga comes from a long line of caveman inventors his grandpa invented fire; his dad invented the wheel so he feels a lot of pressure to keep up the family tradition. But he's also about to face his village's notorious ceremony Baby go boom-boom! during which 12-year-olds must venture into the woods, hunt a great beast, and return with enough meat to feed the village or not come back at all. Dave's not great at hunting, and his inventions are too ahead of their time what's a cave-dwelling boy to do? Luckily, his brainy take on hunting, as well as his friends' complementary skills, works wonders, though not the kind the village is expecting. Packed with chuckle-worthy anachronisms and plenty of Captain Underpants-brand humor, Reynolds and McAndrew's story of troglodyte tweens is ideal for the middle-grade set. McAndrew's exaggerated figures with cartoonish, over-the-top reactions add a healthy dose of slapstick, and the prehistoric adventure is broken up into easily digestible episodes. Perfect for fans of Jeffrey Brown's Lucy and Andy Neanderthal (2016).--Hunter, Sarah Copyright 2016 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
If shoes had been invented, caveboy Dave Unga-Bunga would have big ones to fill. His grandfather and father invented fire and the wheel, respectively, but Dave's efforts (including a proto-fork he dubs the "forf") go unrecognized. Dave's physical prowess is similarly unimpressive, leading to several close calls when the almost-12-year-old is sent on a ritual hunt with his peers. Blending modern references ("So what's the plan, bro?") with humorous prehistoric lingo (pokeyhorns, rippy-beaks, and stabby-cats are among the threatening beasts of Dave's era), Reynolds (President Squid) and McAndrew (Monster Science) deliver a delightfully entertaining tale about discovering one's true calling; this theme permeates the story and encourages readers to contemplate the definition of success. McAndrew's full-color panels bring the setting and characters to slapstick life in a riot of scraggly teeth, fur loincloths, and goofy-looking beasts. Dave's first adventure sets a high bar for future volumes as it mixes meaningful character growth with alarming threats to life and limb. Ages 8-12. Author's agent: Paul Rodeen, Rodeen Literary Management. Illustrator's agent: Jen Linnan, Linnan Literary Management. (Nov.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 3-6-A new graphic novel series from the author of the Caldecott Honor picture book Creepy Carrots. At age 12, all the young cave people must use the skills they've been taught in school to hunt a prehistoric beast that will then feed the whole village. Dave comes from a long line of inventors, and though his inventions tend to fall into the category of making life more comfortable as opposed to the groundbreaking work of family members who discovered fire or invented the wheel, he still believes that his endeavors will save him from having to participate in the ritual. When Dave's invention of underwear fails to draw praise, he heads into the eerie mushroom forests with his classmates. Even the bravest students realize that they are ill prepared, but Dave's quick thinking saves the day many times over. Fans of Dav Pilkey's "Captain Underpants" series will find much to love here. Panels are big and usually formatted four to a page, with two to three speech bubbles per panel. The story is well paced and balances backstory with action and problem-solving. Put this on the shelf between Jorge Aguirre's "Chronicles of Claudette" series and Ben Hatke's "Zita the Spacegirl" books. VERDICT A humorous look at life in the Stone Age that incorporates STEM themes through the interests and achievements of its main character; a highly recommended purchase for school and public library collections.-Samantha Lumetta, Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, OH © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
In this goofy graphic novel, Caveboy Dave and his cohort have reached their coming-of-age as hunters, but Dave has more ideas for inventions than he has muscles. Scatological humor and STEM concepts abound, and the kids achieve success--their way. The characters are familiar (the wimp, the overachieving girl, the golden boy), but entertaining dialogue and skillful illustrations keep the book feeling fresh. (c) Copyright 2017. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
In a time when brawn is prized, a scrawny caveboy must use his brains to pass an initiation and hunt a fierce beast. Dave Unga-Bunga has some big shoes to fill: his dad invented the wheel, and his grandfather invented fire. Dave is smaller and skinnier than any of his friends and is feeling apprehensive about his Baby Go Boom ritual, in which he and the other 12-year-olds are expected to together hunt and kill a fearsome creature (like a saber-toothed tiger or a giant jellyfish). This is the group's test to become contributing members of their village; there is no room for failure. Even though Dave is the underdog, he relies on his plucky can-do inventiveness to save his friends. When confronted by a savage saber-toothed tigerthe same one that years ago killed his momwill his brains be enough? With his struggle to find his place in the world, Dave is an endearing and spunky character readers will root for as he uses his quick-thinking skills to save the day. Bright colors and animated, exaggeratedly doofy characters (unibrows, snaggled teeth) buoy the rollicking action, mixing intrigue and lots of giggles. Jokes about underpants and poop aboundthis is a book that doesnt take itself too seriously. Readers may note that Dave is lighter-skinned than a couple of his companions, though he looks no more dignified than the others. A lively series opener. (Graphic fantasy. 7-12) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
