We're Off to Look for Aliens by Colin McNaughton

by Colin McNaughton

Dad's new book has just arrived and the children are sitting down to read his latest adventure - blasting off into space, Dad's on the hunt for aliens. He meets lots of them - cute, hairy, bug-eyed and scary - and, strangest of all, he falls in love. Dad brings his alien girl back to Earth, where they live happily ever after.

Genres: Picture Books, Aliens, Childrens, Space, Storytime, Humor

Mass Market Paperback

First published June 10, 2008

About the author

Growing up in his native England, the young Colin McNaughton had little indication that he would one day become an author-illustrator. There were no books at all in his parents' home, he recalls, but there were always comics. These were his formative literature, and their slapstick humor has been a lasting influence. "I've been talking about the comic format for years," he says. "It's the modern way of telling stories for today's children; it's about movement, the step between film and the book."


Colin McNaughton says he "hated school. The word 'school' still gives me nightmares." Opting for technical college, he admits he even "made a mess of getting in there -- I'd filled out the application wrong, and when I turned up for registration they'd never heard of me!" So he worked at odd jobs for the next year before entering art school. Although his first book was published while he was still in school, Colin McNaughton did not immediately become a full-time artist. He first tried editorial and advertising work, but did not find the satisfaction that he got out of creating children's books. "At the end of it, there it is, a book on the shelf, not like a newspaper in the gutter. In fact, once you start thinking about it, it's a smashing job!" If the response to his books is any indication, children and adults seem to agree that Colin McNaughton is doing a "smashing job."


Colin McNaughton lives in London with his wife.

Reviews

[Stace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dad was a writer, a children’s book writer. One morning his new book arrived fresh from the printers. He asked his sons if they would read it and see if it was okay. So he took the dog for a walk and left them to read. This is the story about dad’s new book.

I loved this book, it was so much fun. I love how Colin McNaughton has created a story within a story. You see, this book is about what his son’s thought about this book – hope you’re following me 🙂

The main part of the book is told in a rhyming, sing song verses, as dad travels around the universe looking for aliens. Children will have so much fun reading this book, I can visualise them singing the words out loud, and laughing along too.

The illustrations are divine, and boldly stand off the page, with their bright colours on a black background. The plot is simply amazing too.

I think children will be surprised by the ending, which gave a lovely twist to the story. A fabulous book I wholeheartedly can recommend. It would also make a great book for a class read, just be warned though, it will make the kids giggle.

Reviewed by Stacey on www.whisperingstories.com

[Cat Strawberry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book far more than I thought I would and I’m sure plenty of kids will too. ‘We’re Off to Look for Aliens’ is a fun picture book, a bit large being wider than A4 but only a touch shorter. Each page inside is a thick and glossy page with very colourful pictures throughout. The book is clever as it’s a story within story and narrated by a child. The first pages are about Dad and the new children’s book he’s created. He shows it to the kids and they all read the book which happens to have the same title and author as the one we are reading.

The story in the book is funny with brilliant repetitive lines. An example of the first page of this is: We’re off to look for aliens, Ugly-bugly aliens, We’re off to look for aliens, Wilberforce and I. This ‘Wilberforce and I’ rhyme keeps repeating on every page with the rest of the text following the same rhyme. You actually get into a rhythm reading this story and every turn of the page is fun to read.

The illustrations are very colourful and funny. There’s actually two sets of illustrations with the outer story looking a little more old-fashioned and the pictures from the book the kids are reading being a bit different, with lines being darker and a generally different feel to them. I really like the different aliens in the book and how strange some of them look. I actually really enjoyed the illustrations more than I thought I would as there’s quite a lot to see on many pages and the designs of the creatures are different to ones I often see.

The ending of the book has a very fun twist that really made me laugh as I wasn’t expecting it. I think this book will have a wide appeal to both kids and even some adults and the repetitive sing-song nature of the inner story will keep many entertained. I’d definitely read this book again. I actually didn’t think I’d find it as fun as I did and I’d definitely recommend it, if just for that twist ending!
-Thanks to Walker books for a free copy.

[Becs · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is quite clever in that it is actually a story within a story! I loved the twist and it definitely made the book unique. The story starts as dad asks his children to read a children's book about aliens which he has been working on - which we in turn begin to read as well.

I think the illustrations are easily the best part of this picture book - they dominate the book and fill it with funny aliens to laugh at and pick out your favourites; they are by no means scary and are really colourful. The story itself isn't as exciting, but is written in a nice lyrical, sing-along, kind of way to add an extra dimension to the story-telling - it's easy to see how this book could be become a bed time favourite to sing/read along to.

Overall a nice picture book; but the aliens were definitely the most fun for us!

ARC provided from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Kerri Selby · Rating 4 out of 5]

A silly rhyming book about a man and his dog who go on space travels he meets his wife & has 2 boys, but not all is as it seems.
Colourful fun pictures.

[The Brothers · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute book with a gimicky, self-referential twist. It's the story of an author/illustrator of children books. He receives his latest tome in the mail and gives it to his family to read. He has to go on a walk because he's too nervous to watch them read it. Turn the page and oh look! There's his book "taped" to the page. You then read through his little rhyming story of flying through galaxy in search of aliens. He eventually finds one, falls in love with her, marries her, and has children with her. Now the dad is back and he asks his family what they thought of his book. They think it's great, but don't think kids will want to read it because..... (wait for it).... it's a true story!

Kooky and fun illustrations.

[Rommel Sison · Rating 3 out of 5]

6-year-old daughter: 4 stars
4-year-old daughter: 1 star

[N · Rating 3 out of 5]

"here we go round the universe..." to the tune of "here we go round the mulberry bush"

very catchy. oh, and it's a book within a book! whoopee, okay it's not really that exciting.

as a side note, aliens scared the crap out of me when i was a kid. if i read this book when i was 5 i wouldn't have slept for a week.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a book within a book! Both the 3 and 5 year old both like this one a lot. The slightly off-kilter rhyme scheme is pleasing to read. The illustrations are intriguing, and the surprise at the end is fun for the first read. I would like to know how the alien toned down her hair though. it has to be hard to make purple curls into brown waves.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

My kids loved it. They were able to sing along,

"here we go round the universe..." to the tune of "here we go round the mulberry bush"

It is a book within a book, and my 5 year old said, "that's so cool, mom!".

The pictures are not of scary aliens, my kids got the giggles trying to decide which ones were their favorites.

[Vivian · Rating 3 out of 5]

This clever book-in-a-book features a dad who writes books for children and his family of eager reviewers.
This humorous story will be enjoyed by pre-schoolers and even children in the early grades. It could be used with a unit on writing, authors or publishing, the family, space travel, or space aliens.

[Peanut · Rating 4 out of 5]

MOMMY: 3 Stars for me. The story is easy to read, the illustrations are great. It's actually a book within a book. The twist at the end is really cute.

PEANUT: Oh boy did he love this book. He picked it every night! Aliens, astronauts, rocket ships, planets, everything that he is into right now. It was perfect.

[Valerie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Used in preschool storytime - book within a book idea come across to 1/2 the group, puzzled the other half. Unfortunately, book within a book does not hold up well - inner book separated from hardback cover.

[Betsy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This only thing this book has going for it is the unique book within a book format. Other than that, it was pretty blah. From a circulation standpoint, while neat, this book within a book will not withstand many circulations and won't last very long in a library, unfortunately.

[Teri · Rating 4 out of 5]

REALLY fun story within a story. We love this story because you can sing the story inside to the tun of here we go round the mulberry bush. Very fun ending as well. Some of the books by this author are SO creative!

[Gwen the Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the perfect aliens book for little ones. Great rhyme, great pictures, great joke at the end. I get lots of requests for aliens books and this is the best one I've seen yet.

[Missy · Rating 3 out of 5]

About a dad who's writing a book, so there's a book within the book, which is fun. I was interested to see if my boys would get the ending.

[Tanya Wadley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has such a creative format (a book within a book) and illustrations that really capture the children's interest. They say 5 stars.

Loved the funny, surprise ending!

[Natalie Pietro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very clever book within a book concept. It was fun quick read and the bright colored artwork really kept my son entertained. The ending was a nice little surprise. Fun playful book.

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

A funny story within a story, with a surprise ending.

[Cara · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book inside of a book. Very cute.

Note: kids didn't really get the ending.

[Dom Conlon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fabulous. A book in a book with lots of fun and a great twist. The illustrations are superb too!