Mamá the Alien / Mamá la extraterrestre

By René Colato Laínez, Laura Lacámara

Paperback available May 26, 2026

In this lighthearted bilingual story, a young girl sees the word alien on her mother’s immigration card and concludes that her mother is from another planet—until the girl finds out that the word has more than one meaning.


En esta alegre historia bilingüe, una niña ve la palabra alien en una tarjeta de imigración de su mamá y concluye que su madre es alienígena, hasta que discubre que la palabra tiene más que un significado en íngles.

Description

When Sofia gets a peek at Mamá’s Resident Alien card, she wonders: Is Mamá an alien from outer space? Sofia heads to the library to learn about aliens. Some have four fingers on each hand and some have gray skin or blue or green. But Mamá looks like a human mother!

Sofia is stuck puzzling out this mystery until she sees her mom getting ready for her citizenship ceremony. That’s when Sofia realizes that in English, an alien can be someone from another planet, and it can also be a person from another country. Just like Mamá!

Filled with imagination and humor, this title is a sweet and timely celebration of family, no matter where that family comes from. Even if it’s outer space!

Cuando Sofia ve una tarjeta de su mamá que dice Resident Alien, se pregunta: ¿podría ser mamá un alienígena, de otro planeta? Sofia va a la biblioteca para aprender sobre los extraterrestres. Algunos tienen cuatro dedos en cada mano y algunos tienen piel gris o azúl o verde. ¡Pero mamá parece una madre humana!

Sofia se queda atascada con este rompecabeza hasta que ve a su mama preparandose para su ceremonia de ciudadania. Y es entonces que Sofia se da cuenta que en inglés, un alien puede ser alguien de otro planeta y también puede ser una persona de otro país. ¡Justo como mamá!

Lleno de imaginación y humor, este dulce libro es una oportuna celebración de la familia, no importe de donde vienen sus miembros. ¡Hasta si vienen del espacio sideral!

About the Creators

René Colato Laínez

René Colato Laínez was born in El Salvador. He is an award-winning author who holds an MFA in Writing for Children from the Vermont College of Fine Arts. Críticas has called René's characters "immigrant heroes." He currently lives in Los Angeles, California.

Laura Lacámara

Laura Lacámara is both an author and illustrator of children’s books. She is a popular presenter at schools, book festivals, libraries, and conferences, and is an active member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. A native of Cuba, she now lives in Venice, California, with her husband and their daughter.

Awards

  • CCBC Choices

    Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)

  • Américas Award Commended Title

    Consortium of Latin American Studies Programs

  • Tejas Star Reading List

    Texas Library Association (TLA)

  • Grand Canyon Reader Award

    Arizona Library Association

  • CDE Recommended List 2023

    California Department of Education

Reviews

  • * "A delightful, original, clever, purposeful, multicultural alien tale."

    - Kirkus Reviews
  • "[A]n exceptional story about immigration with a new twist."

    - Booklist
  • "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. . . . [T]he pictures are pleasant-looking, the subject is important to address with young children, and the story makes for very easy reading in both languages."

    - School Library Journal
  • "Mama the Alien is a joyful celebration of a family member's earned citizenship of the United States of America."

    - Midwest Book Review

Hardcover

  • ISBN 9780892392988
  • Price $19.95
  • Publication Date May 01, 2016
  • Trim Size 9 × 11.5 in
  • Weight 1 lbs
  • Page Count 32
  • Paperback

  • ISBN 9781643797779
  • Price $11.95
  • Publication Date May 26, 2026
  • Trim Size 8.75 in
  • Weight N/A
  • Page Count 32
  • Interests

  • Imprint Children's Book Press
  • Audience Children
  • BISAC Category 1 JUV / Social Themes / Emigration & Immigration
  • BISAC Category 2 JUV / Hispanic & Latino
  • BISAC Category 3 JUV / Family / Parents
  • Themes Parents & Caregivers, Childhood Experiences / Memories, Conflict resolution, Families, Fiction, Home, Imagination / Play / Creativity, Immigration / Migration, Latine / Latino / Hispanic, Mothers & Mother Figures, Realistic Fiction
  • Languages Bilingual, Bilingual English/Spanish, English, Spanish
  • Reading Levels

  • Age Range Ages 6 - 8
  • Grade Range Grades 1 - 3
  • Guided Reading N
  • Spanish Guided Reading N
  • Spanish ATOS 3.6
  • DRA 24
  • Interest Level Grades 6 - 8
  • Lexile Code AD
  • Lexile Level 560
  • Lexile Measurement AD560L
  • Bebop Reading Fluent
  • This Book is Included in These Collections: