“I won’t tell you again, you two! The Ice Age Will Be Here Before You Know it!”

Author: Raymond Briggs
Title: Ug: Boy Genius of the Stone Age
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf, 2001

Grade Level: 4th and up

Summary: To his parent’s dismay and aggravation, Ug continually questions and thinks of ways to make things better in the Stone Age.

Strengths: This book is extremely funny. I think every child and parent can relate to the question of “why?” Why does this happen? Why can’t I do this? Why? Why? Why? I think kids will enjoy the comic strip like pictures of Ug and his determination to make things softer, warmer, and nicer in his world. Adults will enjoy the underlining humor of both the parent’s relationship and their relationship with Ug. Who can’t relate with a nagging mother?

Concerns: I have two concerns with this book, both of which relate to the appropriateness for children. One, is the use of anachronisms which may be particularly confusing for children. Younger children might also miss some of the humor and sarchasm or mistake that for something else. For example the mother, who may appear angry to young children who cannot hear the sarchasm and dig at nagging mothers. There is also an image of the mother naked towards the end of the book, which is not appropriate for younger children. My concerns for this book can easily be fixed if this book is picked out for the right child at the right age, and these concerns should certainly not keep children from Ug.

Classroom Use: This book could be used as a comedic relief during a study of the Stone Age. Students may also enjoy writing, drawing or creating their own comic strip about something in their time that they would like to improve upon.

(image from Amazon.com)