Colin McNaughton Walker Age 3-7 This is a humorous story with striking illustrations. It tells the story of an imminent alien invasion abandoned at the eleventh hour when the invaders discover how shocking and scary human life, in the form of young children, can be. This book has a very strong rhythm, rhyming language and a chorus which will your child to join in with the reading when you read the story together.
Read the story aloud, pausing after the first double page with the alien spaceships on route for Earth. What do children think will happen in the story? Continue reading pausing to talk about what is happening in the story and pictures when your child wants to.
Join in When you re read the story encourage your child to join in with the chorus ‘The aliens are coming’. They might like to complete the rhymes as well eg:
‘They’ve boldly been where we’ve not been; They are blue and purple and sickly ……….’
Talk about the book Talk about the aliens together. Children might like to choose which is their favourite, which they think is the scariest or the ugliest.
Talk about the differences between the aliens (eg number of eyes). Look at the picture of children at the end of the book are they different to each other too? You might also like to talk about your child and their friends and think about the ways everyone is individual and different.
Why do children think the aliens were scared of the picture of children?
Spot the rhymes Look for rhyming words together and talk about what is the same and different about them eg munch and lunch with most letters the same and just one different.
Things to make and do
Story play Using face paints decorate your child’s face ‘blue or purple or sickly green’ like the aliens in the story. Can your child sound like an alien and make up alien words or squeaks to communicate with you.
Create a makeshift alien spaceship out of cardboard or blankets over a couple of chairs so that your child can imagine being an alien on the way to earth.
Make a book of aliens Make a simple zig zag book so that your child can draw pictures of aliens on each page making up a name for each one. Children could draw the aliens in the book or design some of their own.
Make an alien model Give children brightly coloured play dough or plasticine to make their own alien model. Pipe cleaners could be added for arms or antennae and dried pea for eyes. Children could make up a name for their alien.
Write a note to the people of Earth Children could imagine they are the alien commander and write a message to Earth to say they are about to invade.
Find out more
Find out more about Colin McNaughton and his books here
Titles include:
We’re off to look for aliens
Suddenly!
Boo!
Have you seen who’s just moved in next door to us?
Find out about aliens. Do aliens exist? Talk together about living things on Earth and what we need to be alive (eg to breathe and grow). Investigate to see what scientists think about alien life on other planets. https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/19840847
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With lovemybooks you will find out about wonderful books to read with your child. You will find many creative activities based on each book to make reading even more enjoyable and interactive.
Colin McNaughton
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