This is almost a “round about” book, where one action leads to another, and another, eventually coming back to the beginning. It sort of works, but not fully. It is lacking. The story isn’t fun, not fully wistful, just something is missing. However, the illustrations are lovely and make me expect more from this story than was served.
#BBRC #AtoZofpicturebooks ( )

A little boy is delighted when an alien crash-lands near his house in this picture-book, taking the extraterrestrial home with him. Bringing this new friend along to school, the boy enjoys seeing his familiar world in a new light. But when they're home again, and it's time for bed, the boy realizes that his alien needs something very specific... his own parents!

A sweet little science-fiction story for the younger picture-book set, Your Alien features an engaging tale from author Tammi Sauer and appealing artwork for illustrator Goro Fujita. I was reminded, while reading it, of Alexis Deacon's Beegu, which also features a young alien stranded on earth, waiting for his parents to fetch him. Such a comparison is high praise indeed! Recommended to young alien lovers, and to anyone searching for picture-books about extraterrestrials, making new friends, and the importance of home and family. ( )

Sauer, T., & Fujita, G. (2015). Your Alien. New York: Sterling Children's Books.

Your Alien is a fun, cute story of a little boy who looks out his window one night and sees a space craft crash to earth and a small alien appear. He adopts the alien and they have many adventures at school and outside, until the alien gets homesick and the little boy has to call the alien's parents to take him home.

This story is told in second person, similar in style to the popular books, If You Give A Mouse A Cookie and If You Give A Pig A Pancake. The character of the little boy represents the reader as the narrator shares what the reader would do if they found and adopted a little alien.

The plot is simple but interesting, and while it doesn't have the cyclical narrative of the If You Give A Mouse A Cookie books, it has a satisfying resolution and parallels the beginning with the little boy looking out his window and finding the love of his parents.

The setting is meant to be generic, as if it could be any reader's house and school. The full color pages are beautiful but there is nothing unique that couldn't be found in any neighborhood in the country.

The theme is subtle and common in picture books, but still done well in this story.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys the If You Give A Pig A Pancake stories or for anyone who likes alien stories. ( )