I have read this book as a tool to have kids discuss what life was like before television and why we shouldn't always trust what we see or hear. Kids enjoy this book because of the great illustrations and the fact that it is about a real event.
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Aliens Are Coming!
(2009, Fiction - History, Written by Meghan McCarthy)
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings(Flash is loading. If this text does not disappear you need to install the latest flash version)
Not age appropriate for kids under 4, age appropriate for kids over 5; suggested age 5. -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Fun, educational retelling of the War of the Worlds hoax.
Themes in this book include: honesty
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 5 and Up
The good stuff
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Educational value:
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Illustrations:
What to watch out for
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Violence & scariness:
What Parents Need to Know
About Aliens Are Coming!
Parents need to know that this picture book describes the very real drama following the 1938 War of the Worlds radio broadcast. The content is handled very well, but the story is likely to prompt conversations about public panic, trusting news reports, and hoaxes. The book provides extensive resources for kids interested in learning more.
Read our full review by Darienne Hosley Stewart
Families Can Talk About
- Families can talk about truth and fiction, particularly with mass media. Why do you think people believed such an outlandish tale? Would you have believed it? How do you tell the difference between what’s real and what’s pretend on TV or in movies?
- Were the 1938 broadcasters acting responsibly? Why or why not? What about the broadcasters that repeated the stunt, as described in the Author’s Note?
- Do you think this prank could be repeated with modern mass media, specifically television or the Internet? How would it be different from the radio version in the 1930s?
Our Members Say
Most Recent Reviews
- I rate this title on for age 7 and give it
grade school kids will enjoy this story
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