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Aliens Are Coming!: The True Account Of The 1938 War Of The Worlds Radio Broadcast
It was an ordinary night in October of 1938 until a news bulletin interrupted the dance music on CBS radio–aliens were invading the United States!
Meghan McCarthy’s hilarious Aliens Are Coming! tells the true story of the Halloween radio prank that duped much of the country into believing that Martians had invaded. The book uses excerpts from the actual War of the Worlds radio broadcast and includes information about the importance of radios in the 1930s (before the time of televisions and computers) as well as facts about Orson Welles and H. G. Wells, author of the novel on which the broadcast was based.
Meghan McCarthy’s hilarious Aliens Are Coming! tells the true story of the Halloween radio prank that duped much of the country into believing that Martians had invaded. The book uses excerpts from the actual War of the Worlds radio broadcast and includes information about the importance of radios in the 1930s (before the time of televisions and computers) as well as facts about Orson Welles and H. G. Wells, author of the novel on which the broadcast was based.
40 pages, Hardcover
First published February 14, 2006
3 people are currently reading
173 people want to read
About the author
Meghan Mccarthy
33 books70 followersChildren's book author of many wonderful fiction and nonfiction books for young readers, including the below following. Meghan's books have won the IRA-CBC Children's Choice, ALA Notable, Kirkus Reviews Reviewer's Choice, Booklist Best Books, NYPL 100 Best Books, SLJ Best Books, and so on. Blah blah blah, what Meghan really wants to do is drive really fast and jump in really long grass until she gets grass stains. She'd prefer to remain child-like because children don't have to pay bills.
The Wall Street Journal described Meghan’s art as “goofy yet somehow dignified.” Meghan is much the same way. By the age of 40 she plans to wear a boa at all times and on all occasions.
The Wall Street Journal described Meghan’s art as “goofy yet somehow dignified.” Meghan is much the same way. By the age of 40 she plans to wear a boa at all times and on all occasions.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
December 6, 2017
Though this is apparently NOT historically accurate - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avJ_D... - McCarthy's story about the panic caused by Welles' broadcast is interesting and entertaining. Her artwork is terrific, and I love how reality is depicted in black & white, but the radio broadcast and all the fantastic images inspired by it are in glorious technicolor.
Who cares if it didn't really happen this way?
Who cares if it didn't really happen this way?
May 8, 2010
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 silly to believe it was a newscast, but given how gullible I often am, and given how this book explains the importance of the radio for receiving news, it made a bit more sense, despite this book making clear that at the beginning, middle (a couple of times), and end of the broadcast, announcements were made that this was a play being performed.
It made me wish I’d talked more to my parents about it. They met in early-mid 1939, but my mother was in San Francisco and my father was either in San Francisco or Philadelphia on the day of the broadcast, so I wonder what their experience of it was.
This was a more entertaining and informative book than I expected. It’s a fun book. It’s also a good tool to teach that you can’t always believe what you hear, or see, or read.
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 silly to believe it was a newscast, but given how gullible I often am, and given how this book explains the importance of the radio for receiving news, it made a bit more sense, despite this book making clear that at the beginning, middle (a couple of times), and end of the broadcast, announcements were made that this was a play being performed.
It made me wish I’d talked more to my parents about it. They met in early-mid 1939, but my mother was in San Francisco and my father was either in San Francisco or Philadelphia on the day of the broadcast, so I wonder what their experience of it was.
This was a more entertaining and informative book than I expected. It’s a fun book. It’s also a good tool to teach that you can’t always believe what you hear, or see, or read.
April 27, 2008
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!
April 23, 2010
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!
April 15, 2012
This nonfiction picturebook won the Grand Canyon Reader Award for Nonfiction in 2008. It is intended for children ages 5-8(P). In this book McCarthy illustrates the chaos the ensues on Halloween night in 1938 when a group of pranksters takes to the radio airways and announces "Aliens Are Coming!".
Much of the text in this book is actual commentary from the original radio broadcast. McCarthy does an excellent job depicting the mass hysteria that this prank caused. The illustrations are very true to the 1930's with old style radios, and men in hats. The author's use of black and white paints to illustrate the citizens as they listened to the broadcast adds a sense of nostalgia to the book. She then uses vivid colors to illustrate the pranksters' narrative. I think that this technique will make it very easy to separate fact from fiction in this book. I gave it 5 stars.
This is such an interesting topic for a picture book. This format makes a topic that can make children apprehensive a lot more accessible. I think that this book is appropriate for the target audience and I would love to incorporate it into a solar system unit.
This book is available in print
Much of the text in this book is actual commentary from the original radio broadcast. McCarthy does an excellent job depicting the mass hysteria that this prank caused. The illustrations are very true to the 1930's with old style radios, and men in hats. The author's use of black and white paints to illustrate the citizens as they listened to the broadcast adds a sense of nostalgia to the book. She then uses vivid colors to illustrate the pranksters' narrative. I think that this technique will make it very easy to separate fact from fiction in this book. I gave it 5 stars.
This is such an interesting topic for a picture book. This format makes a topic that can make children apprehensive a lot more accessible. I think that this book is appropriate for the target audience and I would love to incorporate it into a solar system unit.
This book is available in print
June 4, 2011
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.
July 15, 2013
This is a great book to use to discuss reliable sources with a class of young students. It could also be used to give the background information for a study in radio broadcasts, the 1930's, or dramatic performances. Very well done with an extensive author's note in the back.
Will definitely be using this one with classes!
Will definitely be using this one with classes!
December 14, 2018
Despite not having a great deal of interest in aliens or literature about aliens [1], I have a great deal of interest in stories that relate to literature about aliens, and one of the most dramatic incidents was the panic that was inspired by the 1938 radio broadcast of a revised version of H.G. Wells' War of the Worlds by Orson Welles. Perhaps one of the most interesting aspects of this which the author reveals is that H.G. Wells was not originally a fan of Welles' adaptation, at least until it helped increase the sales of his own novel, at which point he became much more in favor of it. Given Orson Welles' later reputation as an enfant terrible within Hollywood for the damage he did to himself with Citizen Kane, it is little surprise that he caused a great deal of trouble in radio before doing so in film, and although the story is well-known to those who are students of entertainment history, this is a worthy introduction of the radio broadcast to children who may not have studied that much history yet before reading this book.
The story told here is a straightforward one. Beginning with the context that radio was once the main entertainment option of American families, the author sets up the Halloween prank of Welles' adaptation of War Of The Worlds that faced news bulletins about a martian alien invasion that led to actual panic among many listeners. The author gives the words and vivid details used by Welles' and explains why it is that Welles wanted to play that prank as a way of showing the power of radio. It was only at the very end of the broadcast that Welles' revealed that it was all a prank, and it was a little bit late by then to avoid causing problems, given that there had been UFO sightings (which the author clever suggests was a water tower), police involvement and even worried calls to Ivy League professors. The author does a great job here at illustrating paranoia and fear, and showing how it is that the media can feed into fear by acting serious, a lesson taken to heart by many other abusers of the media that would do their work in World War II and beyond.
Indeed, there is both a jokey and serious takeaway that one can get from this book. The author jokes about aliens, and it is hard to tell whether the author's interest is sincere or a joke, rather like the original prank in that regard. The portrayal of the aliens of the newscast is not seriously done, but is rather something that one would see out of Men In Black or some other clear example of alien entertainment with a high degree of cheese. That said, there is something serious to gain out of this book as well, and that is the way that the press can stir up fear in ordinary people by producing in a deadpan fashion. So long as the press takes something seriously, then there are at least some people who will take it seriously. This is clearly a lesson that was mastered by Hitler's regime in the period of this radio broadcast and afterward, and is used by the New York Times and Washington Post at present to deliver similarly fictional panic-inducing information about the legitimacy of our present government. Sadly, the knowledge that people were gullible when it comes to the media was not used as a way of educating this tendency out of readers or listeners or viewers but was rather exploited by those who wanted to cause panic in others.
The story told here is a straightforward one. Beginning with the context that radio was once the main entertainment option of American families, the author sets up the Halloween prank of Welles' adaptation of War Of The Worlds that faced news bulletins about a martian alien invasion that led to actual panic among many listeners. The author gives the words and vivid details used by Welles' and explains why it is that Welles wanted to play that prank as a way of showing the power of radio. It was only at the very end of the broadcast that Welles' revealed that it was all a prank, and it was a little bit late by then to avoid causing problems, given that there had been UFO sightings (which the author clever suggests was a water tower), police involvement and even worried calls to Ivy League professors. The author does a great job here at illustrating paranoia and fear, and showing how it is that the media can feed into fear by acting serious, a lesson taken to heart by many other abusers of the media that would do their work in World War II and beyond.
Indeed, there is both a jokey and serious takeaway that one can get from this book. The author jokes about aliens, and it is hard to tell whether the author's interest is sincere or a joke, rather like the original prank in that regard. The portrayal of the aliens of the newscast is not seriously done, but is rather something that one would see out of Men In Black or some other clear example of alien entertainment with a high degree of cheese. That said, there is something serious to gain out of this book as well, and that is the way that the press can stir up fear in ordinary people by producing in a deadpan fashion. So long as the press takes something seriously, then there are at least some people who will take it seriously. This is clearly a lesson that was mastered by Hitler's regime in the period of this radio broadcast and afterward, and is used by the New York Times and Washington Post at present to deliver similarly fictional panic-inducing information about the legitimacy of our present government. Sadly, the knowledge that people were gullible when it comes to the media was not used as a way of educating this tendency out of readers or listeners or viewers but was rather exploited by those who wanted to cause panic in others.
October 6, 2017
This book was based on the War of the Worlds radio broadcast of 1938. It was based in the 1938 when radios were the main source for information, and people would believe anything they hear. CBS broadcasters reenact a scene from the novel The War of the Worlds, and caused a scare to all listeners. People believed that aliens were coming. People start panicking, leaving town, and police even search the field where the supposed aliens landed. However, at the end, they were just reenacting a scene from a book and had no idea about the scare that they caused.
A major theme of this story is to not believe everything that you hear on the radio. More specifically, a parent could relate this to social media and the internet for this younger generation. Kids tend to believe everything they see online, much like a tree octopus we learned about, and this book allows them to see what happens when you believe something that wasn't true but was portrayed on the radio/internet.
4 Stars
I enjoyed this book because I thought it was funny how the characters in the book freaked out over something that was fake. I think it was an easy way for children to wrap their heads around not believing everything they say and shows them what could happen if they believe a lie.
I would recommend this book because it is an easy way to get kids to understand to not believe everything they hear. It is portrayed in a captivating way that doesn't reveal the trick until the very end. I think a child would be engaged in this book all while learning a valuable lesson.
A major theme of this story is to not believe everything that you hear on the radio. More specifically, a parent could relate this to social media and the internet for this younger generation. Kids tend to believe everything they see online, much like a tree octopus we learned about, and this book allows them to see what happens when you believe something that wasn't true but was portrayed on the radio/internet.
4 Stars
I enjoyed this book because I thought it was funny how the characters in the book freaked out over something that was fake. I think it was an easy way for children to wrap their heads around not believing everything they say and shows them what could happen if they believe a lie.
I would recommend this book because it is an easy way to get kids to understand to not believe everything they hear. It is portrayed in a captivating way that doesn't reveal the trick until the very end. I think a child would be engaged in this book all while learning a valuable lesson.
July 3, 2019
I love this book so much! I shared this with some kids at the library, and they seemed to enjoy it, but not nearly as much as I did!
This book is a very accessible picture book nonfiction about that time when the radio drama "the War of the Worlds" was aired....and people thought there was a legit alien invasion. This history had crossed my radar before, but I'd actually put off listening to the radio drama until I read this book.
Once I finished it, my curiosity was fully ignited and I spent some time listening to the original broadcast.
y'all.
I fully understand why people got fooled.
The radio production took complete advantage of the radio format, and if you missed the announcement at the beginning and came into the program with music followed by a Very Serious News Announcement, followed by more music followed by another Very Serious News Announcement....? NO WONDER.
AH. So good. Loved listening to the broadcast, and I loved the way this book brought the history to life!
This book is a very accessible picture book nonfiction about that time when the radio drama "the War of the Worlds" was aired....and people thought there was a legit alien invasion. This history had crossed my radar before, but I'd actually put off listening to the radio drama until I read this book.
Once I finished it, my curiosity was fully ignited and I spent some time listening to the original broadcast.
y'all.
I fully understand why people got fooled.
The radio production took complete advantage of the radio format, and if you missed the announcement at the beginning and came into the program with music followed by a Very Serious News Announcement, followed by more music followed by another Very Serious News Announcement....? NO WONDER.
AH. So good. Loved listening to the broadcast, and I loved the way this book brought the history to life!
April 22, 2019
This book would be perfect to read aloud to a young class near Halloween. Aliens Are Coming! tells the true account of a prank radio broadcast that set Americans, nationwide, in panic. The concept of this book was dramatizing the events if aliens landed in America. The themes include the portrayal of fake news which resulted in terror, and explored the idea of aliens on earth. The style of this book was written in a way to provoke interest and imagination into the reader. It explores the out-of-this-world concept of an alien invasion that was depicted during the broadcast. This was a unique rendition of a typical, non-fiction children’s book that is sure to keep any reader engaged with the story.
December 11, 2017
This would make a great introduction to a lesson on media literacy, and critical thinking in the era of "fake news." It's a great story, but kids will need lots of extra background info to help them understand what a "radio play" is and what other events were taking place in 1938. I read it to a class of fourth graders and they kept asking me, "but is it true?" They were disappointed that there were no real aliens in the story.
November 15, 2020
We listened to the broadcast as a family and then I read this book as a follow-up. I think that having heard the broadcast gave us a new appreciation for the terror that many probably experienced hearing this on the radio with no information scroll on the bottom to indicate this was a theatrical performance.
I thought the book helped highlight the key take-aways I wanted my kids to understand from listening to this historic occurrence.
I thought the book helped highlight the key take-aways I wanted my kids to understand from listening to this historic occurrence.
August 11, 2017
Prank on Halloween in 1938 leads to panic and hysteria. A radio "play" on Orson Well's The War of the World panicked many who actually believed that Aliens had invaded New Jersey. Through delightful text and graphics, this little picture books retells a fun event in history.
Would you believe it?
Would you believe it?
December 30, 2017
I use this book for a music lesson for my fourth grade students. The kids love the story, and enjoy my silly use of accents as I read the story. I extend it into a music lesson and it is so fun for them. The history of the event is interesting and presented in a way that the kids respond very well to it. The illustrations are cartoonish but fun with a sense of humor.
April 20, 2019
Genre: nonfiction/informational
Grade: PK-5th
It is incredible the things people believe by only hearing about it. Now only being able to get information from the radio would make it very difficult to not believe what you hear. This book is very enlightening and informational about what people will believe.
Grade: PK-5th
It is incredible the things people believe by only hearing about it. Now only being able to get information from the radio would make it very difficult to not believe what you hear. This book is very enlightening and informational about what people will believe.
October 8, 2021
Such an interesting and funny real-life story of the Orson Welles radio broadcast that went horribly wrong. I like that it's told in picture book style so that even younger kids can enjoy it. More successful as an accessible nonfiction book than as a picture book, but this is one of my favorite halloween stories so I'm just glad there's a kid-friendly version!
December 6, 2019
Love the art, but ugh - what is up with nonfiction picture books that I find out after the fact are not completely accurate? Why is that a thing? This would have been a good discussion starter about fake new IF IT DIDN'T HAVE ITS OWN FAKE NEWS. Blergh.
December 13, 2019
The title tells the plotline. Fun pictures and accurate account based uppn what I read elsewhere. I liked the one-page 'adult version' at the end, along with the citations of this being re-done in other countries, too. Fun for kids.
March 18, 2021
This is an interesting angle on a non-fiction subject with an important undertone—fake news. The backmatter is clever. The use of the script is inspired. I don't know if the text conveys all the author hoped, but I love the idea and found the book worthwhile.
July 28, 2017
This book intrigued me, initially, and while it gives a detailed account of the War of the Worlds radio broadcast, it wasn't incredibly captivating, leaving me a little disappointed.
July 2, 2019
I loved the art style in this book - really fun!
July 12, 2019
I like that this book teaches kids about history but makes it fun and teaches about an interesting event in history. My daughter really enjoys it.
October 10, 2019
This is so neat! I have never heard of this event! This is a fun book to have, especially around Halloween, to have in the classroom. This could also be used to teach about communication!
October 28, 2019
Great book to introduce students to fact checking/reliable sources/etc.
October 16, 2020
A fun picture book with good monsters. I prefer the more recent book (by Jarrow?) for facts but this would be a good book to share with young kids (3-8 or so).
August 11, 2021
Could be useful for discussions of news literacy, and misinformation.
October 12, 2022
Super fun historical account of the War of the Worlds broadcast. Especially enjoyed reading the back few pages of the book.
October 29, 2022
liked the artwork and loved introducing the kids to this part of our history. wish it had more rhythm in the story though.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews