The attention to detail in Welcome to My Planet’s hand-made art is attention-grabbing, with vibrant, cartoonish drawings accompanied by amusing quips. Retail purchases are measured in total pounds of honey as a currency, and reservations are required for the residents’ vacation hot spot—a middle-of-nowhere “glamorous pit Called Greachez.” There’s plenty of similarities for kids to draw on here, too: the aliens enjoy reading the news on their daily commutes, sun hats are a popular way to “beat the heat,” and even the oversized alien pets have familiar names (“Mr. Fluffy” happens to be a giant, one-eyed, drooling beast held in check by its owner’s tiny leash).
The author keeps the text simple, offering declarative facts in some slightly awkward rhyming text. There’s little narrative, and the tour doesn’t really peak—riding comets comes early, and the last revelation before bedtime is birthday cakes as everyday food. But the lighthearted descriptions of life and especially the marvelously inventive monsters will tickle kids’ fancy and maybe inspire some art of their own. It’s not all fun and games, though: their planet has a serious regard for unusual rules (boats are outlawed), all the residents have wheat allergies, and anyone interested in tree planting has to pay a fee first. This is a wild space invasion for sure.
Takeaway: Quirky aliens and wacky rules make this space tale a wild ride.
Comparable Titles: Margaret McNamara’s The Three Little Aliens and the Big Bad Robot, Matthew McElligott’s Even Aliens Need Snacks.
Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: B+
Editing: B
Marketing copy: A-
