There’s an alien in my house!

The story links feeling overlooked at home with the child’s readiness to see danger. It leaves room to talk about how attention, uncertainty and a first impression can shape what someone believes.

The child looks frightened, builds makeshift armour and prepares for battle. The suspense is light in tone, but a child who finds imagined threats unsettling may want reassurance as the story unfolds.

What might have helped the child feel less invisible? If you met someone who seemed unfamiliar, what could you do to find out whether they might be a friend?

Pause when the child decides each change must be the alien and invite your child to spot clues in the pictures. At the meeting, ask what has changed in the child’s expression or thinking.