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Tek: The Modern Cave Boy

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Tek is a cave boy in love with tech: his tablet, videogames, phone, and TV keep him deep in his cave, glued to his devices, day in and day out. He never sees his friends or family anymore--and his ability to communicate has devolved to just one word: "UGH"! Can anyone in the village convince Tek to unplug and come outside into the big, beautiful world?

32 pages, Hardcover

First published October 4, 2016

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About the author

Patrick McDonnell

169 books361 followers
In 1994 McDonnell created the comic strip MUTTS which now appears in over 700 newspapers and 20 countries.

In 2005, McDonnell embarked on a children's book career. His first children’s book, which featured the MUTTS characters, The Gift of Nothing, quickly became a New York Times bestseller. Art (2006), his second release, told the story of a boy named Art who makes art. His next release, Just Like Heaven (2006), heralding the joys of simple blessings, was hailed in a starred review by Kirkus as 'a meditation on the true nature of miracles'. In 2007. McDonnell again returned to the New York Times bestseller list with Hug Time, featuring a kitten named Jules who goes around the world hugging endangered species. His fifth children’s book, South, was released in 2008.

McDonnell’s website, muttscomics.com, promotes his animal and earth friendly philosophy. Consistent with McDonnell’s concern for the environment, all of the MUTTS books are printed on recycled paper. He and his wife Karen O’Connell are vegetarian and happily reside with their formerly feral cat MeeMow.

from http://muttscomics.com/cast/patrick.asp

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5 stars
170 (24%)
4 stars
263 (37%)
3 stars
210 (30%)
2 stars
44 (6%)
1 star
11 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 149 reviews
Profile Image for Mischenko.
1,021 reviews96 followers
February 6, 2017
Cool story about a cave boy who spends too much time on his electronic gadgets and video gaming. The book looks like a tablet! Very neat illustrations too.
Profile Image for Lauren Stoolfire.
3,959 reviews278 followers
February 10, 2017
Cute little picture book about a prehistoric kid unplugging for a change. I liked the book design - it's made to look like a tablet - but overall the story fell kind of flat considering others of it's kind. I think that the author should have done more with the unplugging from technology aspect.
Profile Image for Brenda Kahn.
3,722 reviews57 followers
April 2, 2016
This adorable concept book can be shared across age levels - older audiences will appreciate the attention to the details in the ingenious book design. Younger audiences will be tickled and apt to ask for rereads. Pair with Matthew Cordell's Hello Hello for a conversation starter about connectivity.
Profile Image for Melki.
6,375 reviews2,438 followers
May 6, 2022
The creator of Mutts presents a cautionary tale that warns kids of all they're missing by never looking up from their devices and gadgets.

Cute story and a fun presentation should prove popular with the kiddos.

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Profile Image for Abigail.
7,332 reviews221 followers
January 7, 2020
A little cave boy named Tek remains stubbornly absorbed in his various electronic devices in this tongue-in-cheek picture-book examination of technological addiction. Nothing anyone can do, from his desperate parents to his hopeful best friend (an alligator named Larry), can tear him away. He misses everything from evolution to the Ice Age, until finally the local volcano has had enough and erupts, thereby separating Tek from his gadgets, and forcing him to see the beauty of the world around him...

An entertaining look at an ever-growing problem with today's younger generation - namely, an addiction to technological devices, and a resultant inability to interact with the non-digital world in a healthy way - Tek: The Modern Cave Boy manages to be quite thought-provoking, without ever feeling preachy. Everything, from the format of the book itself - it is formatted like a tablet, with cardboard covers designed to approximate such a device - to its title (surely a reference to people staying in their "caves" with their computers?) offers a commentary on the issue at hand. Recommended to anyone looking for stories that will prompt discussion about computer/TV addiction, and the importance of getting out into the natural world, as another means of education and entertainment.
Profile Image for Ana Lanuwe.
115 reviews428 followers
April 23, 2022
Mi hijo lo escogió en una librería y fue el mejor descubrimiento de la vida, menos mal no me hizo caso cuando yo (juzgándolo por su portada) le pedí que escogiera otro. Es un libro perfecto para los niños aficionados a los aparatos electrónicos, de manera divertida muestra como un niño a la fuerza se da cuenta de todo lo que se está perdiendo por estar pegado todo el día a una tableta. Las páginas están ilustradas como si fuera una tableta y eso a mi hijo le pareció lo máximo. A partir de este libro conocimos más libros del autor y nos enamoramos de Patrick Mc Donnel. Mi favorito: The gift of nothing.
Profile Image for Heidi.
2,737 reviews57 followers
December 6, 2016
McDonnell has created an amusing book that looks like an ipad. The theme of the book isn't hard to guess once you look closely at the cover illustration. Tek, a young 'cave' boy with a beard (his father hasn't invented shaving cream yet), is obsessed with his video games, tablet, and phone. In fact, he is so focused on his technology that he refuses to even leave his cave. Despite the efforts of his parents and his best friend, Larry (a crocodile?), Tek misses out on the evolving world, including the Ice Age, and the appearance of dinosaurs. It isn't until the local volcano erupts and disrupts Tek's entire world that he starts to see the world around him and the wonders it contains. The design of this book is fabulous. The first half of the book looks just like an ipad screen, even including a number pad page. Once Tek starts seeing and experiencing the world around him, the design of the book changes. Tek's beard also adds humor as do the parents comments and the fact that Larry carries around a basketball, wishing Tek would come play with him.
Profile Image for MerryMeerkat.
445 reviews28 followers
October 6, 2016
Tek: The Modern Cave Boy  
5 Stars, Buy it.

The kindle version of this is a little weird, it has outlines on the pages and looks like you are reading it on your phone because there is a battery and wi fi signal on it. Anyway, this is a cute story about a little guy named tek who is completely hooked on gadgets. Once tek gets away from his gadgets, the weird outlines disapear and everything looks normal.  Such a totally and sweet adorable book. Of course it’s written by Patrick Mcdonnell, so it’s no surprise it’s incredibly juicy and sweet. Highly recommend. My only complaint is that it’s too short.
Profile Image for Maria Shuffit.
401 reviews18 followers
October 27, 2016
Very cute, simple, funny story about a little caveboy who is completely caught up in modern technology. He stays in his cave all day while his parents and friends keep trying to get him to come out and enjoy the world.

I love the packaging of this book - the cover is extra thick and looks like a tablet, very cute marketing idea. The illustrations were entertaining and well-done and helped move the story along nicely. Fun read for kids and adults!
Profile Image for Marcia.
Author 3 books26 followers
October 27, 2016
This is about a little cave boy who is so connected to his gadgets, he’s missing out on all that’s going on in the world beyond his cave—a story many of us can relate to. The clever design imitates a tablet. I wasn’t sure how well it would wear with heavy library use, but it seems sturdy enough. Lots of funny lines and details between the thick board-book covers (inside pages are thin).
Profile Image for Heydi Smith.
2,909 reviews8 followers
January 30, 2017
Love Patrick McDonnell's books and this one is certainly one of the best. Tek plays inside all day and everyone tries to get him to go outside and play. A great unplugged storytime addition.

Some books that would go great with this: Blackout by John Rocco, Doug Unplugged by Dan Vaccarino, Hello! Hello! By Matthew Cordell, and Chloe by Peter McCarty.
Profile Image for Casey.
823 reviews20 followers
November 21, 2016
P (5 yo) loved. I wish it was more about moderation than absolutely no technology but the format was cute and the message of getting out to play is still valid.
111 reviews4 followers
March 5, 2017
Love this! What a funny book and great take on the technology situation these days!
Profile Image for Jill.
1,491 reviews12 followers
January 4, 2018
Loved how this book looked like an ipad/tablet and how the battery life kept depleting. I found it a little odd that a cave boy had electronics, but oh well.
Profile Image for Scarlett.
61 reviews
May 18, 2021
I liked this book but it is kind of weird at the same time.
Profile Image for Stephanie Bange.
1,626 reviews16 followers
November 18, 2017
Tek is a very modern kid in a very unmodern time. Day and night he has his head in his mobile device and his game box, although he lives in Cave Man times. Then came the day that Big Poppa decided to blow his volcanic top and disconnect everything in this cautionary tale of digital overload.

Formatted like an iPad, complete with black frame, start button in the middle bottom, power bars in the upper left and battery power and wifi logo in the upper right and password code on the title page, this is sure to be a hit with youngsters -- especially those who love their devices! While the story might be considered a bit strong-handed, I think it struck a good balance with the humor he infused into the story (who uses the phrases "muckety mucks" or "Grand Pooh-Bah" anymore?). McDonnell's pen and ink and watercolor drawings are filled with wide-eyed characters and humor galore.

A great gift book for that child who just loves his "tech".
Profile Image for Stephanie.
221 reviews34 followers
July 15, 2017
Words do not do this wonderful picture book justice. The book is disguised as a tablet so as to not scare people away from their devices. Tek is a boy who is so connected to his devices that he never goes outside of his cave. His friends miss him and he is missing out on the whole world. One day something happens that causes Tek to have to disconnect and discover he beautiful world around him. If only we could find a way to force children out of their own caves today and disconnect for a little while before they, too, miss out on the beautiful world around them.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for jennyreadit.
702 reviews63 followers
November 11, 2018
Tek loves tech. In fact, so much that he doesn't interact with anyone inside or outside. Until Big Poppa, the village volcano blows and interrupts Tek's wifi. A cautionary tale of how technology may connect us beyond our home, but can also limit us. The book itself is like an ipad with a "home button" passcode, battery that depletes on every page, as well as the wifi signal.
Great book for teaching and discussing digital citizenship.
Profile Image for Steve Holden.
477 reviews12 followers
October 3, 2017
This is another story recommendation from my colleague's digital citizenship workshop. This is fantastically clever! It looks like a tablet, and is about a caveman who can't get enough of technology. It's funny, and the look of it is sure to pull many to it. The tale is funny and relatable too. I feel this is a must for digital citizenship discussions!
Profile Image for Angela.
132 reviews
June 26, 2019
This was a great concept for kids who face a tech world all day every day. I would have liked to see the unplugging happen in real-life ways, maybe adventures or something besides what seemed like a quick wrap up. I did like the final page of unplugging activities.
The book's physical appearance is nice too, something different for sure.
482 reviews2 followers
March 14, 2018
This story is definitely one to share. It gives a very obvious message that too much electronics might not be such a great thing, yet it never comes across as preachy. It is written in such a way that we can genuinely enjoy the story’s “moral.”

For the full review: https://twobookwormsblog.wordpress.co...
52 reviews
May 24, 2018
This story follows a young cave-boy, Tek. Tek will not leave his cave room because he is too attached to his electronic devices. His parents and dinosaur friends try to convince him to come out and play to no avail. A nearby volcano explodes and causes his devices to crash, and he is forced to interact with the world around him.
Profile Image for Rania T.
563 reviews22 followers
May 27, 2017
Warm, fuzzy and cute where the past fuses with the present. A unique concept for a children's book!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 149 reviews

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