Review & Giveaway: The Adventures of Ook and Gluk, Kung-Fu Cavemen from the Future by Dav Pilkey

Age range: 7+

Hardcover: 176 pages

Publisher: Scholastic Canada

Released: August 10, 2010

In this all-new graphic novel, George Beard and Harold Hutchins present the sensational saga of two silly caveboys named Ook and Gluk. Ook and Gluk have a pretty awesome life growing up together in Caveland, Ohio, in 500,001 BC - even though they're always getting in trouble with their nasty leader, Big Chief Goppernopper. But Ook and Gluk's idyllic life takes a turn for the terrible when an evil corporation from the future invades their quiet, prehistoric town. When Ook, Gluk, and their little dinosaur pal, Lily, are pulled through a time portal to the year 2222 AD, they discover that the world of the future is even worse than the devastated one they came from. Fortunately, they find a friend in Master Wong, a martial arts instructor who trains them in the ways of kung fu, so that they may one day return home and make things right again. And, like the other Captain Underpants books, The Adventures of Ook and Gluk, Kung-Fu Cavemen from the Future features the world's cheesiest animation technology, "Flip-O-Rama," in every chapter.

Our Rating: 4.5 / 5

Our Thoughts:

My eldest son, Jake, is a huge Captain Underpants fan. When word came out the author, Dav Pilkey, was starting a new series, I knew this was a must-read for Jake. Each night, just before bed my son has reading time, it's our ritual at home. The day he found Ook and Gluk at home, he grabbed it and ran into his room to read. It was getting late and he wasn't done so he asked if he could take it to the babysitters the next day - wow, this was summer time & I was shocked to say the least! He could be out riding his bike, playing with friends, swimming, playing video games etc. yet he wanted to read! By the next day he was done. He had gobbled this one up in less than 24 hours! Dav Pilkey, thank you so much for writing books that boys LOVE to read.

Unlike the Captain Underpants series, Ook and Gluk is solely a cartoon written by George and Harold. It's filled with cavemen, a time machine, robots, dinosaurs & kung-fu - the perfect recipe to attract any boys attention. Jake's favorite parts were the action scenes, reading "ka-blooey", "boom", "zap" etc. and seeing how the dinosaur outsmarts the mechasaurs. The one downfall of writing about cavemen is the lack of grammar, I did notice Jake struggle a little bit when reading some parts (which then ruined some of the humor).

In the true spirit of all other Pilkey books you will find some typical boy humor, actually a bit more since this entire book is written by George & Harold. As a parent I must admit I discourage it in normal conversation, but in these books I overlook it as I see the benefit of seeing my son eager & excited to read is so much more important to me. It probably makes the books even more hysterical as he knows it's not something he could get away with ;) Although Captain Underpants is still his favorite, we recommend Ook and Gluk as a must read for any Pilkey fan.

Thanks to Scholastic Canada, I have ONE copy to giveaway. Please fill in the form below. NOTE: this is open to Canadian mailing addresses only.