YOUR ALIEN

Even aliens need hugs!

“You will be looking out your window when something wonderful comes your way.” That something is a small, green, tentacled, and impossibly cute alien making a poor landing in a spacecraft. Of course, the Caucasian boy stand-in for “you” wants to keep him. Fortunately his distracted parents don’t notice what they are agreeing to. The alien enjoys school (though the class bunny makes him nervous). He helps his human friend see the world in new ways…but before long, the boy notices his alien wistfully staring out the window. Nothing seems to make him happy, but a hug helps a little (and gives the boy a clue to what might be wrong with his new friend). Turning all the house lights on draws attention from outer space, and “the reunion scene will be out of this world.” After waving goodbye to his little green buddy, it’s the boy who is wistful. Fortunately, something wonderful (in the form of parental hugging) comes his way again. Sauer’s sweet tale of interplanetary friendship makes terrific use of second-person narration. Young listeners will identify with the young protagonist whether they have dreamed of having an alien best friend or not (but really, who hasn’t?). Fujita’s digitally created cartoon illustrations have the appearance of acrylic paintings and augment the gentle humor of the simple tale.

Will likely inspire preschoolers to stare hopefully heavenward looking for their own close encounters. (Picture book. 3-6)