What Bumosaur Is That?

Andy Griffiths  (author)

Terry Denton (illustrator)

PanMacmillan, Australia: 2007; 146pp

ISBN: 9780330423014

Genres: graphic novel, humour

Millions of years ago in the Pre-Crappian Era, the world was not populated by dinosaurs but by bumosaurs.

Starting with early Trilobutts, working through Bumphibian and Bumorthinids all the way to the Bummals we know and love today, What Bumosaur Is That? explores the bumolution of bumanderthals.

Rude, clever, funny and Seriously Silly, What Bumosaur Is That? is Griffiths and Denton at their best, playing with language and images in a completely immature way that will undoubtedly appeal to young readers. Take the Tyrannosore-arse Rex (soreius cheekius), for example, with its permanently bad temper and rampages through the prehistoric forest that left so many other species close to exstinction.

While there are many caregivers who find the work of this writing team rather annoying – a stage that readers go through, rather like adolescence – Griffiths and Denton achieve something that should never be undervalued: they make children laugh. Their work makes reading fun for many who find it boring and will often keep youngsters reading during that difficult 'between' phase (between picture books and novels). In addition, Denton's remarkable illustrations encourage visual readers and budding artists to play with line the way Griffiths plays with words.