Rating: 📘📘📘📘📘 / 5
304 pages; Harper Perennial; 2017
Here is the unforgettable story of Jomny, a lonely alien who, for the first time ever, finds a home on our planet after learning that earthlings can feel lonely too. Jomny finds friendship in a bear tired of other creatures running away in fear, an egg struggling to decide what to hatch into, an owl working its way to being wise, a tree feeling stuck in one place, a tadpole coming to terms with turning into a frog, a dying ghost, a puppy unable to express itself, and many more.
Through this story of a lost, lonely and confused alien finding friendship, acceptance, and love among the creatures of Earth, we will all learn how to be a little more human. And for all of us earth-bound creatures here on this planet, we can all be reminded that sometimes, it takes an outsider to help us see ourselves for who we truly are.
Three years on, Everyone’s a Aliebn still delights with its whimsical illustrations and thought-provoking story, told through the experiences and encounters of an alien who was sent to observe earth.
An extension of the way that Jonny connects with others through his social media accounts, Aliebn readers will feel as though they are wrapped in a comforting blanket that’s a joyful escape from our current slew of disasters from COVID-19 to natural disasters to political crises.
Each page is a surprise: you never know whether you’re going to get a deep truth dropped on you through simple, misspelt sentences or laugh out loud at subtle jokes and nods to pop culture (eagle eyed readers might even be able to spot some of Jonny’s tweets making an appearance here and there).
This graphic novel has a timeless quality that is able to connect to readers through a narrative that seems to be told just for you. Once you’ve flipped through the last page, take a few minutes to just sit still and absorb the adventure you’ve just been through in black and white.
Bonus: once you’re done, you could always go back and colour in each page.
CREATIVITY UNDEFINED 