More Scrawny Than Brawny (Caveboy Dave Series #1)

by Aaron Reynolds, Phil McAndrew (Illustrator)

Overview

A funny graphic-novel series by Aaron Reynolds, New York Times bestselling author of Creepy Carrots!

His grandpa invented fire. His dad invented the wheel. How will Caveboy Dave leave his mark?

Dave Unga-Bunga has always been more scrawny than brawny. This is a major problem when your village expects you to become a meat-bringer. At age twelve, all young cave-people must stalk through the eerie mushroom forests for a prehistoric beast the village can feast on. But Dave would much rather invent stuff for a better life—like underwear to make loincloths less itchy and cutlery to make eating less filthy. Can Dave save his group by inventing the perfect defense against a bloodthirsty pokeyhorn? Or will he MEET HIS DOOM?  

First in a new series, More Scrawny Than Brawny delivers irresistible characters, big thrills, and even bigger laughs. 

"Imagine a prehistoric version of Wimpy Kid meets Captain Underpants."
—Boys' Life 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780147516589
Publisher:	Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication date:	11/01/2016
Series:	Caveboy Dave Series , #1
Pages:	256
Sales rank:	39,122
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.40(h) x 1.00(d)
Lexile:	GN170L (what's this?)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Aaron Reynolds is not a caveman, but he was very scrawny as a kid and can totally relate to Caveboy Dave. These days he's all grown up and spends his time writing bestselling and critically acclaimed books and graphic novels for kids, including Nerdy Birdy, President Squid, and the Caldecott Honor Medalist Creepy Carrots! He lives in Chicago but regularly tours the country visiting schools and libraries. Visit Aaron at www.aaron-reynolds.com.

Editorial Reviews

Prehistoric humans are having a moment in children's books, and Reynolds's…almost-12-year-old Dave Unga-Bunga is one of the most appealing…There's a sneaky lesson on following your own path, with McAndrew's art capturing the gamut of tween awkwardness.

The New York Times Book Review - Maria Russo

10/10/2016
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.)

Publishers Weekly

PRAISE FOR CAVEBOY DAVE:

"Caveboy Dave is a hilarious new graphic novel series . . . imagine a prehistoric version of Wimpy Kid meets Captain Underpants."
—Boys' Life

"Nonstop action, belly laughs, and stabby cats. What's not to love?"
—Victoria Jamieson, author and illustrator of the New York Times bestselling and Newbery Honor–winning Roller Girl

"Fast-paced and funny." 
—Mo O’Hara, author of the New York Times bestselling Zombie Goldfish series

"Bright colors and animated, exaggeratedly doofy characters buoy the rollicking action, mixing intrigue and lots of giggles... A lively series opener." 
—Kirkus Reviews 

"Put this on the shelf between Jorge Aguirre’s Chronicles of Claudette series and Ben Hatke’s Zita the Spacegirl books." 
—School Library Journal

"A delightfully entertaining tale about discovering one’s true calling...Dave’s first adventure sets a high bar for future volumes." 
—Publishers Weekly

"Outlandishly funny."
—The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"Packed with chuckle-worthy anachronisms andplenty of Captain Underpants–brand humor, Reynolds and McAndrew’s story of troglodyte tweens is ideal for the middle-grade set."
—Booklist

From the Publisher

10/01/2016
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

School Library Journal

2016-08-17
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 tiger—the same one that years ago killed his mom—will 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 abound—this is a book that doesn’t 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)

Kirkus Reviews

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