We are Definitely Human             

 

X. Fang
Pushkin Children’s
Age 5-7 years

‘It was midnight when something crashed outside Mr and Mrs Li’s house,’ So begins the gripping opening to this stunningly illustrated picture book. Investigating, Mr Li discovers a flying saucer, and three strange looking individuals keen to declare that they are definitely human, which even the youngest readers will quickly spot they are obviously not.

With humour and themes of kindness and open-mindedness the story describes how Mr Li and his family and friends help the strange visitors fix their ‘car.’

The artwork is very striking with a muted palette for the human world contrasted with fluorescent pinks and blues for the aliens.

A second successful picture book from award winning American author/illustrator of The Dim Sum Palace.

Watch the story read aloud from James Reads Books
https://youtu.be/yJtRprLFvGA?si=E7rU9O35FVC_PGNU

Share the story

Read aloud
Before reading the book look at the cover together and talk about what your child thinks might happen in this story. Read the story aloud to your child pausing to talk about what is happening in the text or the illustrations as you do and also about anything unfamiliar eg Americanisms such as ‘y’all.’

Talk about the story
Talk about the things you find funny or surprising and any unfamiliar words eg unique
Share your favourite page
What tells you they are definitely not human?

Things to make and do

Make a scene from the story
Use junk (ie empty packets tubes and plastic bottles) to make models of the aliens you could use paper plates or dishes for the flying saucer. Cover in strips of paper and paint in bright colours. You could add stickers for eyes when the paint is dry. Place inside a cardboard box with one side opened out to make space for a scene.

Alternatively, you could paint a picture of the scene instead.

Write the aliens shopping list
What do they need to buy from the general store to fix their spaceship? Or to eat or drink?

Create a new scene
Suggest your child imagines the aliens return to earth and go to visit a school to find out more about humans. They could make a comic strip to illustrate the scene.

Role play a news interview
With your child you could role play an imaginary interview between Mr or Mrs Li and a reporter after their strange visitors have gone. What might the reporter ask? How might Mr or Mrs Li respond?

Find out more

Find out more about the book’s creator

Read another book by the same author: Dim Sum Palace.