The X-Files: Earth Children Are Weird
By Darienne Stewart,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Cute but thin picture book inspired by sci-fi TV series.
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What's the Story?
In THE X-FILES: EARTH CHILDREN ARE WEIRD, young Dana Scully is reading Fox Mulder a story about aliens while they camp in a backyard. Spooked, Fox is sure aliens have landed -- but Dana, ever the practical one, shows him how the scary shadow is just a dog and the spooky noise is an animal and an old swing. Fox chalks it up to his wild imagination ... until he and Dana find aliens inside their tent! The aliens run away as Dana and Fox flee into the house, baffling the adults relaxing in the glow of a TV screen.
Is It Any Good?
Grown-up fans of the sci-fi classic The X-Files will get a kick out of sharing this decent picture book with young future fans, but unfortunately it isn't nearly as clever or engaging as the TV show. The X-Files: Earth Children Are Weird bears only a superficial connection to its namesake, though it's a fine enough scare-debunking story for very young kids (who won't be ready for Scully and Mulder's grown-up adventures for many years).
Kim Smith's charming illustrations capture the coziness -- and spookiness! -- of backyard camping. Attentive kids may spot the UFO in the opening pages, and they'll know the truth that's out there before the campers discover it. Some sensitive children might be upset by the surprise unmasking of aliens, so adults may want to peek at the end before reading it aloud.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the way Dana eases Fox's fears in The X-Files: Earth Children Are Weird. Who helps you when you're afraid?
Do you like scary stories? Why do you think people enjoy them?
Why do you think the aliens are so frightened?
Book Details
- Author: Jason Rekulak
- Illustrator: Kim Smith
- Genre: Picture Book
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy , Friendship , Space and Aliens
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Quirk Books
- Publication date: August 15, 2017
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 4 - 8
- Number of pages: 40
- Available on: Paperback, Nook, Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: October 6, 2017
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