The Boy Who Cried Alien (review)

Abstract

Reviewed by: The Boy Who Cried Alien Kate Quealy-Gainer Singer, Marilyn . The Boy Who Cried Alien; illus. by Brian Biggs. Disney Hyperion, 2012. 40p. ISBN 978-0-7868-3825-7 $17.99 Ad 6-9 yrs. You know the drill: a boy known for telling lies gets into a bit of a bind with some predators, but when he calls for help, no one responds to what they assume to be [End Page 480] another whopper. In Singer and Biggs' comics-style adaption, however, the "wolves" are green-speckled, tentacled aliens while the titular boy is the bespectacled Larry the Liar who, besides being an expert fibber, also has a penchant for poetry—as do his fellow townspeople. The resulting mashup of classic tale, clever wordplay, and mixed-media art overstays its welcome a little but still holds considerable appeal for young readers. Singer's verse is somewhat variable, with some constructions awkwardly stumbling over meter but others evincing musical clarity. The intermingling comic-book-like panels and double-page spreads feature thickly outlined figures, often with wide eyes and open mouths, the palette alternating between muted greens and apricots and vibrant purples. Once kids realize that the alien language (also in rhyme) is actually anagrammed English, there'll be no stopping them from puzzling it all out; an author's note explaining the translations will more than likely inspire a new version of Pig Latin at the playground. Copyright © 2012 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois