Mamá the Alien / Mamá la extraterrestre

By René Colato Laínez, Laura Lacámara
Hardcover: $19.95

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

Description

When Mamá’s purse falls on the floor, Sofia gets a peek at Mamá’s old Resident Alien card and comes to the conclusion that Mamá might be an alien from outer space. Sofia heads to the library to learn more about aliens. Some are small and some are tall. Some have four fingers on each hand and some have large, round eyes. Their skin can be gray or blue or green. But Mamá looks like a human mother! Could she really be an alien?

Sofia is still puzzling out this mystery when she sees an alien-looking Mamá one night. It turns out Mamá is doing a beauty treatment so she will look her best 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!

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
  • Publication Date May 01, 2016
  • Trim Size 9 × 11.5 in
  • Weight 1 lbs
  • Page Count 32
  • Interests

  • Audience Children
  • BISAC Category 1 JUV / Social Themes / Emigration & Immigration
  • BISAC Category 2 JUV / People & Places / United States / Hispanic & Latino
  • BISAC Category 3 JUV / Family / General
  • Themes Bilingual, Childhood Experiences and Memories, Conflict resolution, Cultural Diversity, Dreams & Aspirations, Education, Families, Fiction, Home, Imagination, Immigration, Latinx / Latino / Hispanic, Mothers, Multiple Ethnicities Represented, Overcoming Obstacles, Realistic Fiction, Social & Emotional Learning
  • Reading Levels

  • Age Range Ages 6 - 9
  • Grade Range Grades 1 - 4
  • Guided Reading N
  • Spanish Guided Reading N
  • DRA 24
  • Lexile Code AD
  • Lexile Level 560
  • Bebop Reading Fluent
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