LOOK BEHIND YOU

Determined to prove there is life on the red planet a young astronaut lands on Mars.  He carries with him a gift, wrapped with a red ribbon, to give to the aliens he is certain he will meet.

Alone, the young astronaut wanders the barren landscape.  The cold, silent darkness seems to stretch on forever in all directions as the astronaut climbs up and down the rocky terrain. 

Author-illustrator Jon Agee makes great use of color, using primarily black, gray, brown and red to help us feel a sense of emptiness in the landscape and to allow us to see what our young astronaut misses, a large friendly red-pink alien following behind him seemingly confused by the astronaut's presence. 

As the young astronaut’s excitement and certainty fade, making way for sadness and despair, he leaves his gift behind and continues his trek, soon discovering that he is lost. 

As he walks on in search of his space craft he is amazed to discover a flower growing among the rocks and decides that his trip was not a total waste.  As he crests another hill he finds his spacecraft along with the gift he discarded earlier. 

Aboard his ship, making the long journey home to Earth, he decides he deserves a treat for his hard work and discovery.  He opens the gift he had brought with him and discovers that the chocolate cupcake had been eaten.…

Get swept away with your little one in Life on Mars, perfect for children in preschool through third grade.

ALIEN BUNNIES FROM MALLOW

What would you do if evil, sugar-addicted seven-foot-tall rabbits from another galaxy invaded your summer camp?

a) SCREAM.

b) Hide your candy.

c) Say, "there's no such thing as evil,sugar-addicted seven-foot-tall rabbits from another galaxy."

Attack of the Fluffy Bunnies by Andrea Beaty is super silly! Rabbits from another planet are looking to take over the human population, but first they must prepare by stuffing themselves with sugary treats, like marsmallow. They land near a summer camp and soon they take over the bodies of the camp counselors. The only ones who can save the earth from these fluffy alien horrors are twins, Joules and Kevin.

A true story for 5th - 8th grade readers. Really. Well, it could happen.

BE SPHDZ, SAVE THE WORLD

Jennifer, the children's librarian from the Montrose-Crescenta Branch likes:

Spaceheadz is Jon Scieska’s first book in a promising, new chapter book series. Michael K. is the new kid at school and just wants to fit in. But his class partners, who say they’re aliens, are making it difficult. They talk like TV advertisements, don’t understand earth rules, and follow a hamster’s orders. People are starting to notice. Even worse, the aliens need Michael’s help to save the world. He must convince 3.14 million (+1) kids to become SPHDZ (Spaceheadz) or earth will be “turned off.” Agent Umber, an anti-alien spy, is on their trail. Michael must decide whether to help the aliens or turn them in to the authorities.

A quirky, fun read about an alien takeover. For grades 3-4.

THE POSSIBILITY OF FLYING

I won't lie, Francesca Lia Block is a wonderful author, but she is an author that will only appeal to certain people. I can't even tell you who those people are, but the way she writes is different than other authors because nothing about the stories are obvious. You have to find your way, much like the characters in one of her recent books THE WATERS AND THE WILD. This is a story about a 13-year-old girl, who's not really a girl. She makes friends with a 18th century slave girl, who's not really a slave girl, and an alien boy who's not really an alien. Or maybe they are these things. Whatever the case, this girl, who finds herself wanting to eat dirt all the time, keeps seeing another version of herself - in her room, walking down the street, out in the back yard. The "doppleganger" version is here to replace her, and it's only a matter of time before the reality sets in. Obscure enough for you? Recommended for 6th-8th grades.

WHEN THE ALIENS TAKE OVER THE EARTH...

The Boov. They abducted earthlings to teach them English. They colonized the planet on Christmas Day (now called SMEKDAY). They eat soap like it's candy. They know how to clone gas so your car never runs out! On the other hand, they herd all of the people in the United States into one state, and they've done other not-so-nice things along the way. But as Gratuity "Tip" Tucci comes to find out, the Boov are the LEAST of the problems she comes across on her way to finding her mother. THE TRUE MEANING OF SMEKDAY by Adam Rex is an essay Gratuity has to write once the earth calms down, and it is absolutely fantastic! I cannot begin to tell you how hilarious and wonderful this book is, and I think anyone who reads it will be entertained on some level. PLEASE READ IT! For 6th grade and older.