Alien Writing Prompts for Kids
A reader asked me for summer writing ideas and I sent her all the links I could find. It made me think about what a challenge it is to get my own kids writing when they don’t have to so I came up with the idea of Write First Read Later: Writing Prompts for Kids. The idea is fun writing prompts and a book to go along with it either to inspire or just for comparison. This week’s Write Now Read Later is about aliens. I hope to get my son writing this summer too!
Write First Read Later: Alien Writing Prompts for Kids
- Pretend you are an alien sent to Earth to research humans. You decide to plant yourself as a family pet. What do you notice? What kind of pet are you? What do the humans say to you?
Binky the Space Cat by Ashley Spires
Binky is a house cat who thinks he’s protecting the “mother ship” from alien invaders. It’s a short graphic novel series that is funny to boot. [graphic novel, ages 6 and up]
- Make up a story using a few made-up alien words. How do you make up words? How do you make the words sound like what you want them to mean?
Baloney (Henry P.) by Jon Scieszka, illustrated by Lane Smith
Henry is late for school but he has a whopper of a story about why it’s not his fault. Jon Scieszka draws on words from many other languages to come up with alien words that do sort of sound like what they mean. [picture book, ages 4 and up]
Dear Flyary by Dianne Young, illustrated by John Martz
My son loves this picture book that also includes alien vernacular which is fun to figure out. Bigheart. Laffy. Flyary. You’ll understand these words when you read it!
Frazzle gets a new space vehicle but it starts to make strange noises. Does he need to get a new one or can it be fixed? [picture book, age 4 and up]
- Pretend you are visiting Earth in your space ship but you are very, very tiny. What would that be like?
Mr. Wuffles by David Weisner
Very small aliens land in Mr. Wuffles’ house and a cat doesn’t tolerate intruders. This wordless picture book delights as a cat confronts aliens. It’s a Caldi[picture book, ages 4 and up]
- Pretend you are an alien sent to Earth to research humans and you are in disguise as a child in a family. What would that be like?
Julian Rodriguez series by Alexander Stadler
Julian Rodriguez is sent from the Mothership to learn about humans and he does this by posing as a child in a family. It’s a hilarious early chapter book! [easy chapter book, ages 6 and up]
You can write a story or draw a graphic novel. If you want to share your work, please send it to me (pragmaticmomblog at gmail dot com) and I’ll add it to this post! Thanks!
p.s.
Gabby Duran and the Unsittables by Elise Allen & Daryle Conners
I just finished this fun chapter book geared toward girls (or anyone who has ever babysat a difficult child). Gabby Duran has some exceptional babysitting skills. She is in such demand that her younger sister has to keep her schedule and her clientele includes troublemaking triplets of a movie star in which she is flown to the set via private jet. Word gets out in the galaxy that she can handle anything so naturally aliens inhabiting Earth come calling offering to pay quadruple the current rate. There are other complications besides the difficult charge to sit; there’s Madison next door who wants to beat her out for the orchestra solo, keeping the alien thing a secret from her friends and family, and the aliens who are trying to kidnap her newest client. Is Gabby up to the task? [chapter book, ages 8 and up]
p.s. More posts on writing:
Write Now Read Later Summer Writing Prompts for Kids
Writing Revision Tips for Kids from Author Karen Day
Writing Tips for Kids from Author N. S. Blackman
Writing for Reluctant Readers from Author Ty Drago
Getting Kids Writing With a Progressive Story
Getting Kids Published from This Kid Reviews Books
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Ha ha, what fun! Great writing prompt idea, and some of my students’ favorite books – Binky and Mr. Wuffles, especially.
Thanks Katie! I’ll let you know if it works on my son. He loves aliens so fingers crossed to get him writing this summer!!!
Love this writing prompt–it’s so fun, I’ll have to try it myself 🙂
Thanks so much Maria! It’s my sneaky way to get my son writing!
This is such a great idea 🙂
Thanks for sharing with us at Mommy Monday!
XOXO
Thanks so much Mrs. AOK. And I am so sorry about that terrible comment you received about the shootings in your hometown. People are ignorant and hide under their anonynity. Don’t let it get you down.