The Alien Invasion
What’s inside...
A thrilling tale of a group of young friends who discover an alien pod in their neighborhood and embark on an adventurous journey to save their town from an impending extraterrestrial threat. In addition, Red Squirrel Phonics is a new series of decodable readers from Raintree, aimed at teaching children phonics skills in a sequential and systematic way through engaging, real stories using readable words. This ensures success in reading from the first book, with a story about Max and his dad investigating a potential alien spaceship.
Age
8-12
Length
20 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What do you think the aliens wanted when they first arrived?
How did the characters' feelings about the aliens change throughout the story?
Can you think of a time when you felt misunderstood by someone, like the aliens were?
What would you have done if you met an alien? How would you communicate?
Why do you think understanding and communication are important in this story?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to imagine and describe an alien of their own creation, discussing what peaceful intentions it might have.
Use the book as a springboard to discuss the importance of not judging others by appearances, and have your child come up with examples from their own experiences.
Ask your child to draw parallels between the book and real-life scenarios where communication resolved a problem.
Discuss the concept of empathy by asking how they think the aliens felt during various points of the book.
Guide the conversation towards the benefits of diversity and learning from others who are different from ourselves.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Unity in diversity
Explanation: The story portrays how characters from different backgrounds come together to overcome a common challenge, emphasizing the strength found in diversity.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this by embracing teamwork and cooperation with peers from varied backgrounds at school or in the community.
Example Lesson: Problem-solving skills
Explanation: As the characters strategize to repel the alien invasion, children learn the importance of critical thinking and planning in resolving issues.
Real-World Application: This lesson helps children approach their own problems, whether at school or home, with a strategic mindset, enhancing their ability to find effective solutions.
Example Lesson: Courage and bravery
Explanation: The characters in the book demonstrate courage when facing the unknown and dangerous aliens, teaching children the value of bravery.
Real-World Application: Kids can learn to face their own fears and challenges courageously, whether it’s trying a new activity or standing up for what is right.
Example Lesson: Importance of communication
Explanation: In the book, successful communication among the characters is key to their survival, highlighting its importance.
Real-World Application: Teaches children the effectiveness of expressing their thoughts and feelings clearly in both adverse and everyday situations.