The Aliens Do NOT Want to Go Home

by Adam Gustavson

An uproariously funny intergalactic read-aloud from the creator of The Froggies Do NOT Want to Sleep. When it's time for the aliens to go home, the excuses begin. . . .

A super silly picture book, perfect for 4-7 year olds who love to laugh and never want their playtime to end!

The alien kids are having a great time invading planet Earth. When their parents show up with spaceship tractor beams, they don't want to go home. They aren't ready, they don't have their shoes on, and besides, it's not even dark yet!

Adam Gustavson's illustrations are expressive, hilarious, and also gorgeous works of art. But most importantly, young beings of any species are sure to get their giggles out and relate to wanting the fun to go on … and on … and on.

Genres: Picture Books, Aliens, Humor, Childrens, Science Fiction, Fiction

39 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 3, 2025

About the author

Adam Gustavson has illustrated sixteen books for children, including Mind Your Manners, Alice Roosevelt! and Snow Day!. He lives in New Jersey.

Reviews

[Stephanie ((Strazzybooks)) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5
Think of every reason a kid gives for not wanting to leave their friend's house, but make the kids aliens.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

An adorable picture book about some aliens that do not want to go to bed! This would be a huge hit at a preschool storytime about bedtime.

[Kathy Temean · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so much fun. Kids will love the Aliens and laugh at all the antics they get into and all the trouble they cause along their way. The tension starts when the end pages show the spaceships flying in the sky beaming a spotlight on Earth. Parents will laugh when they see the aliens running around making excuses why they can't leave yet, just like their children do when it's time to stop playing outside and come in for the night.

I love how they run after and ice cream truck saying they haven't had dessert yet. Then they see a drive-movie playing something they haven't seen and sit on top of the cars causing chaos and say they can't leave, they have to see the end of the movie. Since it is late and dark, they want to have a sleepover and end up with the farm animals grabbing clothes from a laundry line. 

I am a big fan of Adam's artwork. All his work is amazing. The aliens are unusual-looking creatures. All are different, some with antennas and eyeballs on top, some with tentacles, some looking like insects, one with long legs and arms, big teeth, and two stumps between its bubble eyes. Also, there is a hairy alien who reminds me of Star Wars' Chewbacca. That is some of the aliens in the book. 

At the end, the Chicken and pig take off with them in a perfect image of them driving a car like a spaceship, leaving Earth. There is so much to look at on each page. Children and their parents will be happy to read this book over and over to their kids. Parents could give their children paper, crayons, and colored pencils to try drawing their own aliens. It is never too early to stretch a child's imagination. This book will help them with that stretch while having fun.

[Gemma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Charlesbridge for an early copy of this book. I really enjoyed it and can’t wait to add it to my collection.

This is such a funny children’s book and the plot is so relatable for parents and educators who have seen this narrative all before (please, kids it is time to go!)

The illustrations are fantastic and so silly and will have kids giggling throughout the entire story.

This is a story you can read together or have your child read to you.

The language is simple enough and the humour makes it engaging, making it perfect for early readers.

Overall, this book is a delightful addition to any home or classroom library, and it’s sure to become a favourite read for kids and grown-ups alike!

[Kiera Beddes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Several young aliens are having the time of their lives playing together and getting up to some mischief on Earth. They do NOT want to go home and they find a million reasons why they need to stay and play more.

Adults and children alike will enjoy this never-ending playdate. The illustrations are cheeky and so much fun. Kids will love the juxtaposition of crazy alien critters alongside scenes from rural Americana, and grown ups will enjoy it knowing that parents across the galaxy deal with the same excuses. This could be used as a fun creative writing exemplar text or just a fun read aloud.

[Ina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book, with its humor filled illustrations, will have a story time audience laughing out loud. Children will identify with the alien antics to delay having to leave a fun activity and/or toddle off to bed. Aliens drag their feet putting on their shoes - especially an alien with a dozen feet and get their coats...they want a drink, they want a snack (like the giant alien chasing an ice cream truck with a giant cone on top) wild antics and gentle text make this a very engaging story time read.

[ni · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Aliens Do NOT Want to Go Home is a lovely short book with funny pictures and a relatable message of not wanting to leave when you are having so much fun! The language is simple for young children to understand, and even early readers to try for themselves. The design of the aliens is fun with both imaginative characteristics as well as familiar images. It is a book I would definitely like sharing with my class.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for the free eARC!

This would be a fun one for toddler storytime, or just a younger crew. Much like the froggies who don't want to sleep, the aliens aren't ready for their playdate to be over. The illustrations are fun, and show them wreaking typical alien child-havoc as they beg for just a little more time to stay and play. This could also be a fun one to pair with X Fang's We are Definitely Human.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an electronic ARC from Charlesbridge Publishing.
Clever story about aliens who are having such a good time here that they don't want to go home. They come up with all sorts of excuses and ways to stretch out their time. Readers will appreciate the humor and understand the connection to their own behaviors. They'll laugh at some of the antics and recognize stalling tactics they may use. The illustrations capture the fun and flesh out the details.

[Beena K · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very funny, humorous book, with beautiful illustrations. These aliens are having the time of their lives while "playing" on Earth, and just like human kiddos, they obviously don't want to go home when having so much fun.

The language is simple, it's funny and the illustrations of all the mischief done by the aliens make it a beautiful read aloud book.

I would highly suggest it for kids aged 4


Thank you Netgalley for the copy, the opinions shared are solely mine

[Sarah Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

The drawings were really cute, with all kinds of different aliens trying to make excuses as to why they don’t wanna leave. The amount of chaos is also fun, and it does remind me of my daughter saying she isn’t tired and immediately falling asleep, or saying she wants to watch something and then saying it’s too scary, but she still wants to watch it.

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

The aliens have SO MANY reasons for NOT WANTING to go home - many of which may sound familiar to parents who've told their little ones "it's time to leave now." This is loads of fun for both adults and kids. The author's illustrations are delightful, and the simple story would make for a great read-aloud.

Thanks to NetGalley and Charlesbridge for sharing.

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this. The story is super simple and is about seven or eight sentences. But the illustrations of all the things that these monsters are doing here on earth leave one smiling. I could read this one repeatedly. Apparently, the author has one about froggy‘s not wanting to go to sleep. I am totally going to have to check that out.

[Melanie Hetrick]

The aliens have been visiting planet Earth but now it's time to go home. Humorously, each of the alien children begin displaying human-like relatable behavior. They want to stay and play one more game or they haven't finished saying their goodbyes or they have to finish cleaning up. Parents will find this quite humorous and children will as well.

[Angelynn23 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book got a lot of WHYs from my son. Because cheeky aliens do not want to go home so they made up a lot of excuses.

The illustrations are great and my four-year old son enjoyed the book and the story.

Thank you NetGalley and to the publisher Charlesbridge for the ARC.

[Kami Mauldin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, I think it’s clear that the aliens do not want to go home! They like it here on Earth. They can do what they want when they want, like staying up to watch drive in movies. My 4yo enjoyed the aliens and their varying sizes and looks. It was very entertaining!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

[Amethyst Maxey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you for the ARC. This was a cute and relatable book. The pictures were fun and the story was engaging and cute.

[Beck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Netgalley ARC - this is a cute, silly read. perfect for younger kids who struggle to disengage from playdates.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loveable aliens want to stay for various reasons. The illustrations steal the show - look for small details and throughlines!

[Kirsti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who knew that space aliens act just like little kids on a playdate? :-) Illustrations are complex, filled with action, and fun to look at.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

imagine aliens doing a Midwest goodbye, and you will have the basic premises of this book. I really enjoyed the illustrations, especially the last one with the pig in the car.

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like kids having too much fun, aliens have lots of reasons to stay.

[Debby · Rating 4 out of 5]

This adorable and funny children’s picture book is sure to amuse littles and their grown-ups alike, even after repeated readings. Read my full review here. 4.5⭐

Publication is expected June 3.

#NetGalley #Charlesbridge #TheAliensDoNOTWanttoGoHome