HI FROM OUTER SPACE BY FIONA KATAUSKAS, PUBLISHED BY ALLEN & UNWIN

It all started with an experiment that didn’t exactly go wrong, but it did have unforeseen consequences. Alex had set up a stunt involving a banana skin and a cactus – as you can imagine – it didn’t end well. The video of her father flying through the air and landing on the cactus went viral on TikTok.

 While Alex’s sister Tish, took their dad to hospital, Alex took Patti their dog for a walk. And that’s when the fun began. Alex meets an alien on a mission to get A+++ for his project on Earth Leadership. Hi, who has an unusually strong interest in footwear, tries to interview various leaders to find the ideal combination of advice and practicalities.

 This sets off a series of events that culminate in a fabulous concert by a band who has been silent for so long and whose singer also answers an unsolved question on planet Wendy.

Fiona Katauskas has given Junior Fiction readers an exploration of friendship, family, collaboration and cartoons, all wrapped up in a highly entertaining story filled with her great graphics. Although the story starts with a classic “Take me to your Leader” line, it evolves into a playful tour of personalities and what makes a good leader. There are interesting side jokes referring to the pronunciation of Hi’s real name and those of his family, an intriguing question of what dogs actually talk about and pages of images that make you smile out loud.

For Ages: 7 - 11 years

Number of Pages: 272

Published: July 2024 Allen & Unwin

Themes: Friendship, working together, family and fun

Purchase here: https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/book/Fiona-Katauskas-Hi-From-Outer-Space-9781761069260