Mama the Alien: Mama La Extraterrestre (Bilingual English/Spanish)

In this bilingual tale, Sofia's mother, a U.S. resident, isn't the extraterrestrial kind of alien; rather, she's from an unspecified Spanish-speaking country and has a residence card that reads "ALIEN" at the top. While Lainez's attempt to make comedy of Sofia's misunderstanding is sometimes overwrought ("I saw Mama's shadow on the wall. She stretched out her arms.... I found the courage to switch on the light"), the portrayal of a family member on a journey toward U.S. citizenship is a crucial story, especially for readers whose citizenship has never been called into question. Younger readers may not know that non-citizens are referred to as aliens, or that the children of non-citizens wrestle with unexpected questions: "Mama was an alien. Papa didn't have a card, so he was not an alien. That meant I was half alien," Sofia reasons. By devoting more narrative energy to the idea that Sofia's Mama comes from outer space, Lainez (Vamanos! Let's Go!) keeps the story from turning sanctimonious or didactic. In warmly colored paintings, Lacamara (Dalia's Wondrous Hair/El cabello maravilloso de Dalia) matches stylized, folk art-style humans with droll alien figures that feature a variety of arms, legs, antennae, and tentacles. Ages 6-9. (May)

K-Gr 3--Young Sofia finds her mother's alien resident card, and her mother confirms the truth: she is an alien. Sofia's imagination runs wild with questions. Does her mother visit her alien friends at night? Does her mother speak three languages--English, Spanish, and Alien? Is Sofia an alien, too? This is a very lighthearted and simple story about residency in the United States, particularly for Hispanics. The plot is playful and typical of a child's interpretation of the situation. What the story lacks is the explanation of why Sofia's mom has to apply for residency and, later, citizenship. Sofia's parents are vague about the card's meaning and give very little explanation to their daughter, who understands without further questions. Hopefully, parents who want to address this topic will have a more detailed discussion with their own children while reading this book. Also, Sofia's suspect "research" about aliens at the library, which results in confirmation that aliens have antennae and four fingers on each hand, might confuse literal-minded young readers. Overall, the pictures are pleasant-looking, the subject is important to address with young children, and the story makes for very easy reading in both languages. VERDICT An additional purchase for libraries looking to expand their bilingual offerings and titles on immigration.--Jessica Espejel, New York Public Library