CBCA READING TIME
When a baby brother arrives in the house, some weird changes come with him. Odd behaviour, strange smells and an unintelligible language must surely mean that this brother is an alien.
In this delightful picture book for young children, Anita Zurbrugg cleverly captures the uncertainty that a change in family dynamics brings to its members, especially an older sibling. Written in direct rhyming text, My Brother is an Alien is almost a singalong story with its humourous references delivered in an empathetic voice.
However, the real standout in this book is the quality of the illustrations. They are beautifully rendered, and Anita Zurbrugg certainly has a knowledgeable eye for colour. The characters are also very engaging; their highly animated expressions and page-filling proportions bring the reader right into the story.
My Brother is an Alien is a read-out-loud, laugh-out-loud fun book; a wonderful reading and listening experience for young children.
Reviewed by Jennifer Mors
https://bit.ly/CBCAReadingTimeReview
Readers' Favorite 5 Stars
A challenging event in some children's lives is when they
become older siblings for the first time. Anita Zurbrugg has put a
humorous twist on this life passage in her book My Brother is an Alien.
In this rhyming text, a young boy is sure that the creature who wears a
mask over his lips (a pacifier) is an alien. He is determined not to
fall under his spell, like his parents and grandparents. He implements a
plan to learn all he can about the alien to send him back to his home
planet. Will he succeed in convincing his parents that his brother is an
alien, or will he have a change of heart?
My Brother is an Alien will be welcomed by families that are expecting a
new addition or have recently expanded. Anita Zurbrugg has captured the
emotions and bewilderment that many older siblings have when a new baby
enters their life. The humor in the story is quite fun, especially in
the descriptions of the home planet. The illustrations add to the
laugh-out-loud quality of the story. I love the tinfoil hat he dons to
protect himself from his alien brother. The best illustration is the
last one that has a little surprise for those who look closely. Older
siblings will recognize the scenarios that are depicted and enjoy seeing
the green slime oozing down the wall. My Brother is an Alien is a fun
and sweet addition to the canon of literature on new babies in the
family.
Reviewed By Kristine Zimmerman
for Readers’ Favorite
https://bit.ly/ReadersFavoriteReview
