In The Aliens Do NOT Want to Go Home, author/illustrator Adam Gustavson follows The Froggies Do NOT Want to Sleep, another playful look at rebellion, with a gleeful, high-energy story that taps into the inner mischief of Earthbound children everywhere. A group of aliens have gathered on Earth for a day of wild fun, but as UFOs appear overhead and their beams shine down, it's time for the visitors to head home. What follows is a parade of hilarious and relatable delay tactics: the aliens claim it's not quite dark yet, insist their elaborate games can't be abandoned, and chase after an ice cream truck for one last treat.
Gustavson's expressive illustrations balance realism and imagination, grounding the action in familiar settings--cornfields, small-town streets--even as he populates them with a riot of colorful, endearing extraterrestrials. One pink, fuzzy creature with candy cane-striped legs lumbers around in oversized hiking boots; others of all shapes and sizes cause (and clean up) chaos, only ever disturbing an unimpressed pig and a skeptical rooster. The contrast between the grounded, everyday settings and the exuberantly imaginative alien designs heightens the humor and underscores book's the playful spirit.
Gustavson keeps the energy high while weaving in small, thoughtful details, like the eight-tentacled alien wearing a tee shirt that says "meep." The story brims with humor and warmth, capturing the universal reluctance to say goodbye when the day has been too much fun. --Julie Danielson