Your Alien Returns

by Tammi Sauer

When you least expect it, something special will get your attention.Your alien will be back.He will invite you over for a play date. Come along on an out-of-this-world experience! In this heartwarming sequel to the critically acclaimed Your Alien , it’s the human boy’s turn to visit the extraterrestrial’s home planet—and to feel like an outsider. But with a little help from his very best friend in the whole universe, our young hero finds a way to fit in. Like the two irresistible characters, readers will have the ride of their lives.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Aliens, Science Fiction, Friendship, Space, Juvenile

42 pages, Hardcover

First published October 4, 2016

About the author

Tammi Sauer is the author of Cowboy Camp (Sterling, 2005), Chicken Dance (Sterling, 2009), Mostly Monsterly (Paula Wiseman/S&S, 2010), the forthcoming Princess-in-Training (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt), and something that's currently Top Secret.

Tammi and her family live in Oklahoma with one dog, two geckos, and a tank full of random fish.

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two words, people. SPACE BUBBLES! :D That’s all it takes for me to love you forever. Bubbles in space!

This visit with our alien buddy has readers blasting off into space to see his home planet, family, and friends. A bright, colorful read filled with new games and new foods along with the new fears of not fitting in on a new planet. The magic of friendship shines bright in this too cute for words book.

Check this one out!

p.s. I wasn’t completely sold on the second person point of view style of this series at first, but I really warmed up to it in book two. It really works out loud perfectly.

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very sweet! I love the illustrations.

[Lisa D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! Cute sequel !

[Christine Turner]

Come along on an out of this world experience! In this heartwarming sequel to the critically acclaimed Your Alien , it's the human boy's turn to visit the extraterrestrial's home planet, and to feel like an outsider. But with a little help from his very best friend in the whole universe, our young hero finds a way to fit in. Like the two irresistible characters, readers will have the ride of their lives.

Extraterrestrial beings -- Juvenile fiction.

Notes
Tammi Sauer is the author of many Sterling books, including Your Alien, Mary Had a Little Glam, Chicken Dance, Bawk & Roll, and Cowboy Camp. She is an active blogger (tammisauer.com) and highly involved in the children's writer community, in addition to being a great promoter of her own books. Tammi has worked as a teacher and library media specialist, but now writes full time. She lives in Edmond, OK, with three of her favorite Earthlings.

Goro Fujita was born in Japan and moved with his family to Germany when he was three years old. He has been fascinated by drawing ever since he was a little child. In 2008 he moved to California, where he works as a book illustrator, animator, and art director on virtual-reality experiences. Rumor has it that he leaves Earth once a month to take art classes on an alien planet.

[Deke Moulton · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a strange story about an alien who comes to “abduct“ a young boy, and the boys adventure playing with the alien on the aliens home world. It’s just strange because the boy obviously has a bit of awkwardness not understanding alien things, but then the reader also doesn’t really understand what’s going on. If I am an adult that can just see “awkward situation“ but not know why it’s awkward, I don’t understand how the target audience would understand? The art is very vivid and bright and full of movement, but so many of the jokes flew over my young readers head.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary: A boy goes off to spend a day with his alien.

Why I Read This: If you read this title, wouldn't you want to read the book?

Review: This book is cute. I liked it. My favorite part may have been the space puns: "the two of you will build a fort that is truly stellar."

My favorite space pun: "Your alien will want you to meet some of his friends. Seeing all of them will make you feel a little alienated."

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

"And you will know you have the best friend in the history of the universe."

When his alien returns, the young boy from Your Alien spends the day with his alien friend on the alien's planet. A warm and tender sequel about the joys of friendship, even when the friends are very different from one another.

[Jade · Rating 1 out of 5]

It never seems to work for me when an author tries to continue/repeat the premise from a successful first book, i.e. "The Bossier Baby". The depictions of the alien's home planet were fun and inventive but the narrative is formulaic and nothing causes this follow-up to "Your Alien" to stand out for me.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book far better than the first one. It's written in the same future tense as the first book, but this one fits so much better with the illustrations and plot of the story. It didn't make me cringe like the first book. The illustrations are the same as the first book too, cute and colorful. I really liked the bubbles part and how cute the alien is.

[Jessie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely makes me wish I had an alien friend. I like that it's ambiguous. Kids might think that the alien friend is real. Adults reading this might think the main character was imagining the scenario and play-acting. The scene when the alien makes him feel better after the boy caused a shooting star was my favorite!

[Heydi Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful little alien story with all the fun of a Disney movie. Perfect for your next interstellar storytime.

Other titles that would pair well: Earth to Clunk by Pam Smallcomb & The Three Little Aliens and the Big Bad Robot by Margaret McNamara.

[Cris · Rating 3 out of 5]

A surprisingly sweet book that takes a sci-fi take on the universal experiences of experiencing unfamiliar situations and feeling alienated from those around you.

I didn't realize Your Alien Returns was a sequel. I intend to read the first book now.

[Viviane Elbee · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this sequel book, the little boy gets to go on a play date to the alien’s home. It’s fun with lots of new and unexpected things, and a few things that seem familiar.

Good book for preschoolers who like outer space and alien stories.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sequel better than the first!

[Bmack · Rating 3 out of 5]

This would be cute for an outerspace or alien theme. It is an alien who invites a boy to play and they go to his planet. The illustrations are really cute!

[Lori · Rating 2 out of 5]

It is likely that I didn't love this because I don't know the first book.

[Cecilia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A super cute sequel! In fact, this book might be a rare example of a sequel that is better than the original!

[Kareena · Rating 2 out of 5]

Like the original, it's a cute story, but second person just ruins it for me.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ages 4-6.

[The Brothers · Rating 4 out of 5]

This time it's your turn to go to the alien's home planet and be the odd one out! He takes you about and shows you all the sights.

Illustrations very fun.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Neat story.

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cute concept, but I find second person future tense awkward to read.

[Sharon Skinner · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute follow-up to Your Alien.

[Emily]

This book is so fun and packed with examples of being a good friend! I love the expression of empathy the alien does too. Awesome illustrations and a definite must-read again!

[Mari]

I liked these lines:
Your alien will want you to meet some of his friends.
Seeing all of them will make you feel a little alienated.

[Tonja Drecker · Rating 5 out of 5]

With a zoom off into space, friendship and fun abounds with colorful little aliens and tons of galactic surprises.

After shooting back off into space in the first book of this series, the alien has finally returned. This time, he has one word in mind - Play! Goodbye Earth and say hello to a whimsical alien planet, where life holds all sorts of wonders.

The sad parting of book one rebounds into warmth and friendship in this book--something I was glad to see. The alien is back and even livelier and cuter than before. It's off to an alien planet where imagination and fun are key. The adventure of discovering something new shines in these pages with quirky and wonderful ideas. It's just the kind of read which spawns imagination and invites kids to reach for the unexpected.

There is also heart in this book. Friendship, support and encouragement are messages which come across in lovely ways. It also reminds that when discovering something new, things may not always work out as hoped or planned and misunderstandings can occur with new friends too.

The illustrations are bright and modern. Each page holds something new and will invite kids to flip through the book time and again. The aliens are simply hug-able.

Summed up, this is a sweet book for space dreamers ages 3+ and will work great as a real aloud or simply for kids to explore on their own.

Although I would have given this 4 stars, my kids that it was a great read. So that's an immediate 5 star in my book!

[Kid Lit Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

One bright morning, you will wake up to find your alien friend has returned. There in your window will be an invite for an out-of-this-world playdate. After a unique ride to your friend’s home, you will have the chance to learn just how he lives. Your alien friend is similar to yourself. You enjoy snacks, share toys, build a fantastic fort, meet his friends, and try to blend in with the numerous aliens. You will play games—messing up one entirely—and find out how forgiving your alien truly is. When it is time to leave, you know you and your alien will meet again. After trying to explain to your family how fascinating your day had been, you get ready for bed only to find one last greeting from your alien friend, “Bleep!”

The power of friendship once again transforms the distance between a little green boy and his earth friend. Your Alien Returns gleefully captures the unusual friendship, helping young children begin to understand and accept diversity.

Originally reviewed on Kid lit Reviews. To read the FULL review and to see interior illustrations, go to: http://bit.ly/YourAlienReturns

[Margaret]

When we get caught up in the seemingly normal busyness of our days and nights, it is easy to pass by something out of the ordinary. We are going in a rush but as our mind focuses on what we saw, heard or smelled we literally put on the brakes wondering if what we just experienced could possibly be true. It's like when you go out with your dog in the early hours of the morning, slightly past midnight, and the sky suddenly explodes in color. It's so unexpected you can't believe it's real but the display of northern lights is a wonderful truth.

If an extraterrestrial happens to crash his ship in your yard, you might feel as though you are dreaming but this is exactly what happens in Your Alien (Sterling Children's Books, August 4, 2015) written by Tammi Sauer with illustrations by Goro Fujita. A fast friendship is formed between the human boy and the small green alien child. Fortunately for readers the best buddies are reunited in Your Alien Returns (Sterling Children's Books, October 4, 2016). Space contains no boundaries when love fills two hearts.

My full recommendation: http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2...

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this sequel we get to return with our alien to his home planet where we have a play date among the stars. Things are different here and our new friends don't always do things we understand or are good at but that's ok. When mistakes are made and things look bad it takes one moment of caring to make it all better again and at the end of the day the experience truly was out of this world. Just like the first book the story is full of giggles and adventures and the illustrations are lush and make you wish you could be part of the story itself as well. Would recommend this anytime. Use it for story time and watch as the kids dive right in.

[Kellee Moye · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full review with teaching tools: http://www.unleashingreaders.com/?p=1...

I definitely recommend checking out the first book, Your Alien, and our review of it because it really does point out a lot of what made me definitely have to review the second book, and the second book did not disappoint. The theme of friendship and perspective rings true in the sequel as well but what I love the most about the narrator and his alien is the true friendship they have! They are an example of being able to be friends, true friends, without changing who you really are. And I am so in awe of the illustrations. Goro Fujita brings the story to life in such a fun and colorful yet realistic way!