We Are Definitely Human

Starred review from April 29, 2024
When their flying saucer crash-lands near Mr. and Mrs. Li’s rural home at midnight, a trio of aliens tries their darndest to convince the couple that “we are DEFINITELY human.” The three clearly resemble blue chess pieces with ovoid heads and huge eyes, but instead of challenging their story or sending them elsewhere, Mr. Li “did what kind humans do. He offered to help.” The two welcome the aliens as guests—referring to them as “y’all” and going along their stories of being “from Europe.” (Asked what they do there, they reply, “I make business... I play sports ball... I wear hat.”) After the group visits a local general store for repair equipment, neighbors prove curious but equally hospitable, and a barn-raising-style party ensues (one of the aliens applies a hot dog to its head). Digitally colored graphite tableaus lend a slyly funny vibe, and what starts out as a fish-out-of-water comedy becomes a close encounter of straightforward acceptance. “Wherever they went next,” writes Fang (Dim Sum Palace) of the aliens as they fly away, “they would remember the kindness of humans, and do what kind humans do—offer help to anyone who needs it.” Human characters are portrayed with various skin tones. Ages 4–8. Agent: Erica Rand Silverman, Stimola Literary.

Starred review from June 1, 2024
Three blue, oddly shaped strangers appear in Mr. and Mrs. Li's backyard one night. A UFO is seen falling from the sky behind a small farmhouse. Mr. Li goes to investigate, and the big-eyed creatures introduce themselves. "Hello," the tall one says. "We are DEFINITELY human." They also claim to be having car trouble and explain that they are from...Europe. With impeccable comedic timing and deadpan humor, the actual humans in the story respond with help and kindness. Mr. Li gives them shelter, then takes them to town to get supplies. There, they meet other kind humans who want to lend a hand. Soon, there's a little car-fixing party in the woods with music, hot dogs, and dancing. No one bats an eye at the visitors' claim that they "make business" and "play sports ball" or need instruction on how to eat. The importance of kindness shines through this farcical tale, and the creatures know it, too: "Wherever they went next, they would remember the kindness of humans, and do what kind humans do--offer help to anyone who needs it." Finely detailed and textured illustrations complement the humor. The Lis are cued East Asian; other human characters are racially diverse. DEFINITELY a good book. (Picture book. 4-8)

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Starred review from August 1, 2024
Preschool-Grade 3 *Starred Review* On a starry night in the American countryside, "something" (clearly a flying saucer) crashes near Mr. and Mrs. Li's house. Investigating by flashlight, Mr. Li discovers three oddly shaped and hued strangers (clearly aliens), but he is pacified by their quick assurance, "We are DEFINITELY human." They only want to fix their car (spaceship), so after spending the night with the Lis, they visit the local general store, get what they need, and--with the help of the kind townsfolk---repair their car (spaceship) and return to . . . outer space. Matthew Forsythe meets Jon Agee in Fang's wry, strikingly illustrated close-encounter story. Classic humor comes in through the absurdity of the aliens' charade ("We are from . . . Europe"), made more hilarious by the gullibly wide-eyed farmer and his suspiciously leering dog. The gag only gets better as the trio struggles to dance, eat food ("Food goes into the mouth"), and hold interesting conversations ("'Bark! Bark!' said the dogs. 'That's very interesting, ' replied the shorter one"). The story proves more than just a gag, though, through its smoothly executed lesson on being kind to those in need. The textured, richly colored graphite-pencil landscapes and rounded characters are quite beautiful, making the blue-and-pink-shaded alien trio all the more awkward. Laugh-out-loud lovely.

COPYRIGHT(2024) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

July 1, 2024
Three strangers who sure look like space aliens land outside the Li family's house. Their efforts to pass themselves off as "DEFINITELY human" are amusingly suspect (they're "from...Europe"; "I make business" is the most convincing of their backstories). Still, the Lis make them feel welcome in this deadpan story of kindness, complete with mixed-media illustrations with a retro feel appropriate to the subject matter.

(Copyright 2024 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)