In this bilingual tale, Sofía's mother, a U.S. resident, isn't the extraterrestrial kind of alien; rather, she's from an unspecified Spanish-speaking country and has a residence card that reads "ALIEN" at the top. While Laínez's attempt to make comedy of Sofía's misunderstanding is sometimes overwrought ("I saw Mamá's shadow on the wall. She stretched out her arms.... I found the courage to switch on the light"), the portrayal of a family member on a journey toward U.S. citizenship is a crucial story, especially for readers whose citizenship has never been called into question. Younger readers may not know that non-citizens are referred to as aliens, or that the children of non-citizens wrestle with unexpected questions: "Mamá was an alien. Papá didn't have a card, so he was not an alien. That meant I was half alien," Sofía reasons. By devoting more narrative energy to the idea that Sofía's Mamá comes from outer space, Laínez (¡Vámanos! Let's Go!) keeps the story from turning sanctimonious or didactic. In warmly colored paintings, Lacámara (Dalia's Wondrous Hair/El cabello maravilloso de Dalia) matches stylized, folk art-style humans with droll alien figures that feature a variety of arms, legs, antennae, and tentacles. Ages 6-9. (May)

Do you believe in aliens? What if you found out they were part of your family? Laínez (My Shoes and I, 2010) presents a story about immigration with a new twist. In this bilingual picture book, Sofia accidentally finds her mamá's resident alien card and is convinced her mother is from outer space. Sofia begins to wonder if this means that she is an alien, too, and sets out on a journey to figure it out. Through Sofia's innocence, Laínez provides further insight into the very complicated U.S. naturalization process. This heartfelt and humorous story is perfect for primary-school readers, as well as a useful way for parents or educators to introduce the topic of immigration. An author's note further explains the meaning of resident alien and will help readers understand the humor behind Sofia's misunderstanding. Acrylic-and-collage illustrations in cheery saturated tones showcase Sofia's wild imaginings and the story's joyful conclusion. For a similar tale, consider Amada Irma Pérez's My Diary from Here to There / Mi diario de aqui hasta allá (2003).