I Come from Another Galaxy humorously, compassionately--and with a healthy dose of cuteness--relates the story of a dauntless young human who finds that things are very different away from Earth, where they are now the alien.
"Hello, friends." Intrepid adventurer James, who's zooming off to school in another galaxy, explains that they're writing in their little book to share "discoveries from outer space." Their new classmates are all aliens, adorned with slimy tentacles, big googly eyes, and noodle arms. At school, no one knows how to pronounce the young traveler's name ("Joo-mez?"), and the bathroom has so many buttons that James decides to "hold it in." Not only is James not slimy enough for slime-ball, but when it's time for show and tell, James realizes that all they have is their little book. Slowly, they open it and read what they've written. Turns out communicating helps! Once the aliens learn how to say the name "James" correctly, they cheerfully say "hi," after which they advise "PRESS RED! THEN GREEN! THEN SQUARE!" to help James use the toilet. With the help of new friends James can even be slimy enough to play slime-ball.
James Kwan (Dear Yeti) takes the familiar premise of aliens coming to Earth and spins it 180 degrees. James (the character) is an earnest adventurer who's exhilarated by all the exciting new things they can learn, and their counterparts in the other galaxy are likewise eager to find out about James. Kwan's pencil drawings are digitally colored in dark pastels, and his characters are engaged, unthreatening, and frankly adorable as they demonstrate how easy it might be to help someone new feel at home. --Lynn Becker, reviewer, blogger, and children's book author