Aliens for Breakfast (A Stepping Stone Book(TM)) - Softcover

Spinner, Stephanie; Etra, Jonathan

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0394820932 ISBN 13: 9780394820934

Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers, 1988

Synopsis

It's been ten years since Richard Bickerstaff sat down to breakfast and an alien climbed out of his cereal bowl! Join Richard and Aric, a tiny, wisecracking creature from the planet Ganoob, as they battle to save the world from evil aliens in Aliens for Breakfast, Aliens for Lunch, and Aliens for Dinner. We're reissuing the trilogy with brand-new covers sporting a space age 10th Anniversary logo. Now a new generation of readers can experience the fun and adventure that won these books rave reviews and loyal fans!  

About this title

About the Author:

Stephanie Spinner has written many highly praised children’s books, including Alex the Parrot, Aliens for Breakfast (with Jonathan Etra), It’s a Miracle! A Hanukkah Storybook, and the novels Quiver, Quicksilver, and Damosel. She lives in Sherman, Connecticut. To learn more about Stephanie and her books, please visit stephaniespinner.com.

Jonathan Etra was a humorist, playwright, and journalist, as well as a children’s book author. A graduate of Yale University, he wrote articles for Harper’s and Vogue, and was the coauthor of Aliens for Breakfast and Aliens for Lunch. He lived in New York City until his untimely death in 1991.

Steve Björkman's popular, whimsical artwork is regularly featured in numerous magazines, in greeting cards, and in over 30 children's books. The first book he illustrated, Aliens for Breakfast, won the Texas Bluebonnet Award and was made into a TV movie. He lives in Irvine, California, with his wife and three children.

From School Library Journal:

ea vol: 62p. (Stepping Stone Bks.). CIP. Random. 1988. PLB $5.99; pap. $1.95. Grade 2-4-- In the first book, three self-appointed private investigators decide to search their small town for criminals. Julian, his younger brother, and their friend Gloria read the wanted posters in the post office and then set out to investigate the hospital, the local bar, the supermarket, and a restaurant. At the supermarket they convince a man that he should rescue his dog from a hot car, and at the hospital they save a young child from drowning. Considering the length of the book, the plot is well developed and interesting, and the characters are aptly drawn. A quick and interesting read--and one that will surely draw in less-able readers. Aliens for Breakfast is a science fantasy story. Richard meets an alien when he eats a sample box of new breakfast cereal. Together they strive to find the secret weapon which will destroy the enemy alien (who is in Richard's class as the new boy). If not stopped in time, the enemy alien will clone himself and overtake the earth. The drawings are sketchy but adequate to set the mood of the events in a helter-skelter manner. The plot is simple but satisfying. It will be enjoyed by older readers who need simple fare but want something a little out of the ordinary. In Pioneer Cat, nine-year-old Kate Purdy and her family find themselves moving West on the Oregon Trail. The characters ward off a buffalo stampede and an Indian attack and deal with a stowaway cat and her surprise kittens, all the while chronicling the trip itself and the developing friendship between Kate and Rosie Murphy. Robinson's black-and-white illustrations are just detailed enough to add some depth to the text but not so overwhelming as to give a "too young" look to the book. The print is easy to read but not oversized (a factor that often turns away older reluctant readers). While the brevity does not allow for substantial character or plot development, Hooks does give the essence of Kate's sensitive and cunning nature while portraying Rosie as a self-sufficient young girl and a faithful friend. The fast-moving plot helps readers along. --Sharron McElmeel, Cedar Rapids Community Schools, Iowa
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
• Publication date: 1988
• ISBN 10: 0394820932
• ISBN 13: 9780394820934
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 64
• Illustrator: Björkman Steve