There are many wonderful elements to this story, but by far the best is the fact it's different. It's a story told in rhyme! And trust me when I say, that's rare. It's a brave author who's prepared to spend hours and hours writing a story this way. And let's face it, a lot of children - and adults - shy away from poetry. They simply won't give it a chance. But in the case of Mooge, I strongly suggest they do.

The story follows a prehistoric man called Mooge and how, with a lot of help from his wife, he invents and discovers all sorts of amazing things, including the very first tool, fire, and even art! With the help of a small number of delightful pencil drawings, the author/poet fills every page with amusing happenings as the wretched Mooge is thrust from mishap to mishap. Thankfully, everything always seems to turn out okay. But it's not luck; it´s his super-smart wife who sees ´possibility´ when her stupid husband only ever sees, well, nothing at all.

In many ways, this book reminds me of a very popular saying - in England anyway. Behind every successful man, there's a woman. This is very much the case with poor, lost Mooge, who´s saved by his wife at every hapless turn!

I'm delighted to recommend this book to children aged 9 – 12 years old. I think they'll get a lot from it as, not only will they laugh a lot, but the book also offers children the opportunity to discuss how humanity has developed and how women can often be overlooked in the history books. The facts at the end of the book were particularly enlightening and will go down well in the classroom. To sum up, if I was still a teacher, I'd be wanting this book in the school library.

The Dragon Book Review - 5 Stars

You’ll love the hilarious antics of Mooge and the silly situations he’s constantly getting himself into. This rhyming book is one that everyone will get a giggle from. A wonderful and humour filled book for middle grade readers. I award Mooge: The Prehistoric Genius 5 stars. Read full review on the Dragon Book website

Amazon Reviews

“I bought this for my 8 year old son who loved it. He read it in one sitting, laughing his head off and prompting his older sister to also read it (and also love it). This is a completely original story and my son talked about Mooge and his antics for ages after finishing it and not many books have that impact. Will definitely be buying as Xmas presents for others.” NM - 5 Stars

“This books impressively covers a lot of ground, whilst being written in a fun and engaging way at the same time. My 10 year old loved the funny storyline of Mooge’s antics and it definitely got him thinking about prehistoric times. We thoroughly enjoyed reading it together and I highly recommend this book for children and adults alike.” - Dorris - 5 Stars

“My kids loved Mooge and Flair's adventures and learning about things that have changed the way humans live. Linking the text with Key Stage school work is a great idea and makes this book a useful aid to learning. We need Mooge to do the same for later history now.” - Anon - 5 Stars

“I bought it for my daughter to read with my grandson which was a huge success” - Gillian - 5 Stars

“My son received this book for Christmas and has spent the last month reading it at bedtime. He’s enjoyed the book so much so that today (World Book Day), he decided to dress up as the character Mooge. The book has really encouraged him to read more, and has helped with his vocabulary and reading ability. He loved the rhyming and all the silly stories, and it was perfect for his age (seven). I would recommend this book to anyone with children of a similar age (as would my son!); not only is it educational, but it’s great fun too.” Paul - 5 Stars

Net Galley Reviews

“Plato is quoted as saying “Necessity is the mother of invention.” If he had had the privilege and fun of reading 'Mooge' by Nate Wrey he may have said 'Necessity is the wife (Flair) of Mooge' instead. In this story we follow Mooge and his wife Flare in their day to day lives barely scraping by and how,  because of need, wondrous things were invented and discoveries made. Follow hapless Mooge and quick witted Flare as they figure out how to clothe themselves, discover fire and cooking, raising crops and much more all told in rhyme with fun descriptive line drawings. Great fun for both children and adults alike.” Reviewer 1026910 - 5 Stars

“This book caught my attention as it covers our current topic in school. Told entirely in rhyme, the story charts a number of developments in prehistoric times - from clothes and boats, to farming and writing. The story is told through the lives of Mooge and his clever wife Flair. Mooge usually finds himself in trouble which I’m sure will raise lots of giggles while his wife appears to be the brains behind many of the inventions. At the end of the book is an explanation that these developments did not take place through the lifetime of one generation which was the impression given as the tale unfolded and showed a timeline of when these inventions are believed to have happened. All in all, an entertaining rhyming tale with amusing illustrations that could be used as a fictional class read during a Stone Age topic.” Jo B, Educator - 4 stars

“Life was very difficult in prehistoric times. There were no clothes, shelter, or reliable sources of food. Mooge and his wife Flair were determined to survive and thrive. This rhyming book tells the challenging and humorous adventures of a prehistoric family. They begin with nothing and discover tools, fire, clothes, the wheel,  farming, writing, and more. When I was growing up, I loved to watch The Flintstones; a Modern Stoneage Family (1960 - 1966) on television. Unfortunately, Mooge and Flair did not live a modern lifestyle like the Flintstones. They started with nothing and had to experiment and create everything they needed to live in a difficult environment. Mooge had a great growth mindset that helped him learn and grow throughout the story. Mooge's wife Flair was the real genius in the family. She figured out solutions to many of the problems that Mooge experienced. They worked together to build a better life for themselves and their family. This entire story is written in rhyming words. Middle graders will enjoy hearing the rhymes and the rhythm of the text. The black-and-white illustrations add value and humor to the story. This book is entertaining and should encourage children to seek more information about life in prehistoric times.” Jo F - 5 stars

“A hilarious read written very well in rhymes.  It covers a lot of topics and is a perfect book to be used in the classroom.” Educator 1114607 - 5 stars