Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 3 Up--Trilobite and Amber are friends who should be extinct, but they're not. They'd like to be famous, but it's a while before they learn that they could become famous just by telling the world that they exist! When they discover how to become famous through internet videos, it seems like the answer to their problem. But the quest to create viral videos is just the beginning of a weird, hilarious, and surreal story. Trilobite and Amber become involved in a video-making competition for internet fame that becomes funnier and stranger the longer it goes on. The cast of characters is one of the most unique ever, including a trilobite who dreams of being rich and famous, an ambulocetus (or walking whale), a paleo-newscaster, an ape god, and many, many more. Hale uses only black, white, and pale blue colors, but each panel is packed with details. Plenty of squiggles and shading make the artwork look like it's vibrating off of the page. VERDICT For kids who enjoy zany, funny, and smart stories.--Andrea Lipinski
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
In this quirky graphic offering, two extinct creatures team up with a human reporter. One morning, Trilobite (who goes by Bite) and BFF Amber (short for Ambulocetus, a prehistoric walking whale) find their cupboards and stomachs empty. After meeting Tiffany Timber, a paleo-newscaster, they decide they will become influencers like her in hopes of hitting it rich. However, when they are duped by the tricky Opabinia and his goons (a cactus named Cactus Annie and a crinoid named Ted), they find themselves unexpectedly paired with Tiffany in a wild video competition to save her reputation. As the rounds progress, it seems like the trio cannot catch a break, incurring mounting penalties from the bad-tempered anthropomorphized house. Will they be able to defeat Opabinia and win the video battle? Hale's tale, executed in blue and white with strong black linework, is unapologetically zany, replete with poop jokes, an adorable talking kitten head, a giant hair dryer, and a gorilla deity sporting a halo that is also a portal, making this a perfect choice for those who find joy in madcap comics in the vein of James Kolchalka. Backmatter includes facts about the creatures mentioned and Hale's inspiration behind such a kooky charmer. Tiffany reads White. An exuberantly goofy romp. (minicomics) (Graphic fantasy. 7-11) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
