Dave Unga-Bunga comes from a long line of caveman inventors s grandpa invented fire; his dad invented the wheel 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 not come back at all. Dave's not great at hunting, and his inventions are too ahead of their time at'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).

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.)

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