To Activate Space Portal, Lift Here

by Antoinette Portis

This book is an interstellar portal, and the aliens inside want to get to know you!

Before you lift the cover, be sure you’re ready to meet Zrk and Blrg. They’re not so different from you—but to them, you’re the alien!

After their initial shock at seeing you through the portal, they’re eager to see what kind of teeth you have, compare home planets, and maybe team up for a prank. You met as aliens, but by the time the portal closes, maybe you’ll be friends.

To Activate Space Portal, Lift Here is an interactive treat sure to delight young galactic explorers. Antoinette Portis’s bright lines and bold colors pair perfectly with humor that also offers a subtle message of acceptance. Whether for bedtime or circle time, this is a portal you’ll want to open!

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

56 pages, Hardcover

Published October 7, 2025

About the author

Antoinette attended the UCLA School of Fine Arts and is a former creative director at Disney. She lives in Southern California.

Reviews

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun & interactive read aloud!

[Peacegal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super goofy and vibrant interactive story has kids interacting with wacky space aliens. This will be a hit read-aloud.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author/illustrator Portis has designed this book to appear as if readers are looking through a spaceship portal window from the outside at two creatures inside, Zrk and Blrg.

Zrk and Blrg are shocked to see someone. Blrg says to Zrk: “Zrk, do you know what this means? ALIENS ARE REAL!!!!”

Zrk and Blrg then try to communicate with the alien, finding out it is from “Planeturth” (i.e., Planet Earth).

They decide it even might be safe to befriend the alien, who after all, “has tiny teeth.”

Other aliens from inside the ship gather around to see what all the excitement is about. Then the portal starts to power down, so the window is closing. Zrk and Blrg sadly call out to the alien to “Come back soon!” They also ask the alien to “say hi to all the planeturthlings and give them this message: SKF FLRBL GRNK!”

Bright colorful illustrations with thick black outlining (perfect for story time visibility) are framed as if through a window against the black background of outer space.

Evaluation: This is a very fun, silly book that kids should love, but especially those with an interest in space or who just have an offbeat sense of humor. Adults could also point out the outside-of-the-box approach that asks who is really the alien? What does “normal" mean? Isn’t it all a matter of perspective?

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

With its unique cover and interior design, complete with Power and Auto Translate buttons at the bottom of the right-hand pages, this picture book will attract youngsters interested in science fiction and aliens. The artwork, created with pencil and then colored in Photoshop, is pulsingly bright, set against a black background, perfect for the subject matter and idea of a portal into space. While readers will initially think that they're gazing at two aliens, the truth is that Blrg and Zrk are actually staring at us. This picture book challenges the notion that aliens are different from humans as they seem to have similar reactions to ours in a similar situation. For those ready to go boldly where no one has gone before, this title will be a treat while also provoking possible conversations.

[Logan Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a cute and playful book that focuses on two aliens, Zrk and Blrg, who are surprised when they discover that the reader (an alien from their perspective) activates the space portal. Zrk and Blrg are curious and ask many questions to determine if the reader is dangerous. At the end of the story, the aliens realized that the reader was not dangerous after many interactions. I really enjoy how interactive this story is because it places the reader straight into the book. The different perspective makes the story even more engaging and exciting for the reader because they are becoming a part of the story. Overall, this is a creative and original book that obtains a unique perspective that makes the reader engaged and excited to read the story.

[Terresa Wellborn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who ever thought a picture book could be a portal to another world ("literally" -- or at least in this book)? Clever use of the concept of books being a window to another world, in this case, opening the "portal" (book) to meet aliens on the other side. Silly interactions from sharing background infos ("earth" is "urth") to showing your teeth. Kids and adults alike to get a good laugh from this one, especially space nerds.

Themes: aliens, space, sci fi, humor, interactive books
Ages: preK-school age
Pub year: 2025

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

An imaginative picture book about extraterrestrial creatures looking through a space portal and being surprised to see aliens -- and those aliens are the readers. Each black double page spread displays a window that looks like a computer screen with a power button and auto translate button below the screen. The creatures are trying to determine if the aliens are going to eat them so they are asked to show their teeth and more. An entertaining interactive picture that will be fun to share!

"ALIENS ARE REAL!!!!"

[V · Rating 5 out of 5]

We are the aliens under scrutiny in this delightfully hilarious book that is a "Space Portal." Portis plays with the concept and medium of the book, fully involving the audience. You can't help but be captivated, nor fail to use your imagination. I also love how clearly Portis encourages us to welcome the stranger by the aliens' relatable example. Portis's characters again lead by example, demonstrating the concrete opposite of small-mindedness (I'm recalling you, Not-a-Box Bunny!)

[Charlotte Glaze · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you're looking for a fun book that turns reading time into a space adventure, this book is a winner. Kids become characters in the story... in fact to the aliens, the reader IS the ALIEN! This is a great read-aloud for a group or individually. Kids get the chance to make faces at the aliens and think about what they might look like to an alien.

And once the portal closes... they are always able to open it again!

[Sherry · Rating 2 out of 5]

A space portal opens to show alien life forms. Both sides posture, bluster, show their small teeth, pretend to be brave then are friendly. The aliens have never heard of Planeturth and claim to be the most important planet in the universe. Other aliens panic before they make friends and the portal closes.
Fascinating, vividly colored shapes are the most interesting part of book.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

10/10 for design. Cracking the cover opens up a space portal. The aliens are very suspicious of the “urthlings” but after a rough start, things settle down and it appears that new friends are made.

[Colorado Buck · Rating 4 out of 5]

may use for preschool storytime and read in an "alien" voice.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

This will be super engaging for readers

[Dylan · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was fun and funny but the crease from the spine of the book took a little bit away from the effect.

[Alyssa Gudenburr · Rating 2 out of 5]

A very strange book.

[Katie Lawrence · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun, interactive read that I think younger students might enjoy. Definitely very quirky! I do like that it introduces readers to sci fi in a clever way.

[AJ Easterday · Rating 4 out of 5]

Antoinette Portis is a genius.

[Eric Culver · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an incredibly cute picture book.

[Ann Haefele · Rating 4 out of 5]

We on earth are under observation by aliens in this clever preschool book. Vivid colors and large bold text makes this a great read aloud.

[Amelia Blackmon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fun book written from the POV of the aliens! Used as part of Space-day storytime for a homeschool group.

[Emma Brackett]

Cute!!! Give this to your screen addicted child!

[Josh Peatfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can see this being a fun read-aloud

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very fun format.

[elstaffe · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounds up to 4 stars for me.

[Jessica Strait · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has a fun concept!

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars
How would you feel if the book were an interstellar portal and you were being watched by aliens?

[Amy Prosser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book to read to kids!

[Gabrielle Stoller · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is perfect for Kindergarten and Elementary school storytimes. Very "Book with No Pictures" esque but with humor of aliens. ;)