  | Full Text Reviews: School Library Journal - 09/01/2011 PreS-Gr 3—With its broad humor and a knowing wink to folktale conventions, this delightful reworking of "The Three Little Pigs" has potential to become a crowd-pleasing favorite. When Mama's cozy house in a crater on Mercury grows too crowded, she sends her three little aliens out into the universe to find a planet of their own. She warns them to stay together and watch out for the big, bad robot: "And call me every once in a while." The youngsters strap on their jet packs, bypassing Venus ("Too hot"), Earth ("Too crowded"), and meteors. When pigtailed Bork spies a shiny space rover, she ignores the warning to stick together and settles on Mars. One-eyed Gork is smitten with Saturn's rings. It is left to sensible Nklxwcyz to travel on until he reaches Neptune, where he builds a safe, sturdy home. And just in time, too, for with "Greep Boink Meep Peeedily Deeep Ork Eep," the Big Bad Robot is on his way. Fearing's hand-drawn cartoon illustrations rendered digitally with collage techniques offer bug-eyed, green aliens and an enjoyable mix of science and playful details. An author's note refers readers to NASA's website for more facts about the solar system. This lively, well-told twist on a classic tale will capture the hearts of a wide audience.—Marilyn Taniguchi, Beverly Hills Public Library, CA - Copyright 2011 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Booklist - 10/15/2011 This sci-fi take on a familiar tale features small green creatures that have funny names (Bork, Gork, and the nearly unpronounceable Nklxwcyz) but behave very much like three pigs who, once upon a time, famously went out into the world to make their own homes. These aliens leave a cozy crater on what looks like Mercury and set off across the solar system. Two-eyed Bork and one-eyed Gork are carefree, zipping around on a space rover and the ring of a planet, while three-eyed Nklxwcyz hunts for a suitable place to settle. Once the towering Big Bad Robot shows up, McNamara comes up with some nice variations on a familiar refrain: “‘Little alien! Little alien!’ it broinked. ‘COME OUT OF HIDING!’ ‘Not by the orbit of this ring I’m riding!’ cried Gork stoutly.” An author’s note calls attention to how accurately the planets are depicted—both in order and color—but the more dazzling attractions are the book’s exuberant text and comical, out-of-this-world illustrations. - Copyright 2011 Booklist. Loading...
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