Lucy and Andy Neanderthal

If, as researchers have recently estimated, most of us have a little Neanderthal in us, it might be the goofy sitcom gene. Or at least that's what you'd guess from the first book in the new series by Jeffrey Brown (author of Darth Vader and Son and the Jedi Academy books), which follows the hijinks of a small clan of Neanderthals (with names like Daryl and Phil). The goofing is appealing, and when Brown steps back to drop a little real archaeological science (and acknowledge where he's stretching the truth for the sake of his story) it makes a surprisingly effective pairing in what should be a fun and informative hit series. (Ages 8 to 12)