It was an ordinary night in October of 1938 until a news bulletin interrupted the dance music on CBS radio–aliens were invading the Un...
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reviews
Jan 11, 2012
Amy
rated it: 
Now this is a subject that I would have *never* considered as a viable topic for a children's picture book, but that's why I'm not an author and Meghan McCarthy is! The pictures in Aliens are Coming are great, and they easily conveyed time, mood and setting. I also loved the illustrations of the aliens, and let me just say, the eyes that McCarthy typically draws on her characters are *perfect* for these aliens!
I did have some reservations about the way this book was written. I w More...
I did have some reservations about the way this book was written. I w More...
May 08, 2010
Lisa
rated it:
Wonderful illustrations that feel very 1938.
Interesting telling of people’s panic during this famous radio broadcast.
Interesting background about what happened before and after the first radio broadcast.
It’s interesting that all the books and newspaper articles listed at the end in the bibliography all seem to be geared to adults because this is a children’s book.
When I was a kid and I heard about this incident, I always thought people were so sill More...
Interesting telling of people’s panic during this famous radio broadcast.
Interesting background about what happened before and after the first radio broadcast.
It’s interesting that all the books and newspaper articles listed at the end in the bibliography all seem to be geared to adults because this is a children’s book.
When I was a kid and I heard about this incident, I always thought people were so sill More...
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Apr 27, 2008
Krista the Krazy Kataloguer
rated it:
I loved the illustrations and I learned a few things about this historic incident that I didn't know before. I'll have to re-listen to this broadcast!
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Dec 06, 2011
Susan
rated it:
Educational and entertaining account of the 1928 War of the Worlds radio broadcast that sent our nation into panic. It seems amazing that someone would believe such a report, and yet so many did. This picture book does a pretty good job of showing how. There is a two page spread following the story of details and factoids about it, including some humorous anecdotes. The interesting conclusion of the author was that someone WILL try it again.... The vivid illustrations are instructive and fun to
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Jun 04, 2011
Laura
rated it:
A nonfiction picture book about the famous 1938 War of the Worlds radio broadcast. As always, McCarthy's illustrations are fun and charming; in this selection, they also have a 1930's feel. The text includes a child-friendly excerpt from the actual broadcast. The author's notes and bibliography at the end are extensive and helpful. Another Goodreads member commented that this could be a great text for a library lesson about not always believing what you read or see in the news.
Apr 14, 2009
Lindsay
rated it:
The illustrations of this book turn a wonderful historical story into a masterpiece! I love how the "real life" pictures are depicted in black and white and the radio story is in vivid color. The story is also presented in such a way as to not reveal that the broadcast is a play instead of reality until the very end - just like how it happened! I can't wait to share this book with my little sisters (7 & 11)!
Apr 01, 2008
Terri
rated it:
Countless listeners mistook Orson Welles' dramatic 1938 radio broadcast based on H.G. Wells' science fiction novel The War of the Worlds for an actual news report, resulting in mass hysteria across the United States. Author illustrator McCarthy has used her color palette to allow readers to easily distinguish fact from fiction in this picture book based upon that event. Real events are depicted in black and white while the lurid fiction is conveyed in color paintings infused with red tones remin
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Mar 23, 2010
MCPLD Youth Department
rated it:
This is the account of the practical joke that fooled American radio listeners in 1938 and made Orson Welles famous. Great illustrations and simple text make it a great resource for the young reader.
Sep 30, 2011
Sarah
rated it: 
I think this could be a great hook into a media or information literacy lesson. It might make an interesting pair with Moon Hoax as well for much the same reason.
Oct 31, 2011
Sarah
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Cute introduction to an exciting moment in history, did seem a little short--I expected it to talk more in the story about what happened.
Jan 22, 2008
Molly
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I've always loved the story of the War of the World's broadcast...its effect is just so fascinating, and this retelling for children definitely does the story justice. The main text briefly describes the events and the accompanying illustrations are wonderful (the remind me of Mo Willems, especially Knuffle Bunny). Following the story an extensive author's note describes the events leading up to the play's creation and various other interesting facts. The author also maintains a website www.aliensarecoming.com
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Feb 09, 2009
Rachel
rated it:
It was a cute book based on the War of the Worlds broadcast. The cartoon-like illustrations help explain to the kids what is going on. I personally liked the author's note in the back.
Nov 10, 2008
Debbie
rated it:
This story reinacts the true account of the 1938 War of the Worlds radio broadcast which terrified the country. This picture book shows aliens and spacecrafts coming to earth as told by the broadcast. H.G. Wells wrote this sci-fi script to scare people but didn't understand the pandemonium it would cause all across the country. A very interesting Author's Note at the back of the book.
Apr 23, 2010
Luann
rated it:
Very fun! I want to use this next year in a library lesson. Just because you hear it on the radio (or see it on TV, or read it on the Internet) doesn't mean you should automatically believe it!
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Sep 25, 2007
Mark
rated it:
This book is an extremely quick read. The art is okay, but what is really cool is the the little blurb in the back about the radio broadcasts that followed the famous 1938 broadcast.
Jan 14, 2012
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