Alien Superstar

The creators of the Hank Zipzer books take full comedic advantage of an outlandish premise in this series debut introducing a young alien who flees from the nefarious rulers of his home planet. His crafty grandmother programs his spaceship to land at Universal Studios in North Hollywood, a locale they know from watching vintage movies together. With six eyes and feet covered in suction cups, the alien—who adopts the name of Buddy C. Burger based on things he hears and sees on the studio lot—is mistaken for a costumed actor and cast as a teenage alien on television. Buddy’s ignorance of earthlings’ habits and idioms ignites much of the humor; when a wannabe actor expresses amazement that Buddy skyrockets to fame without spending years waiting tables, the alien earnestly asks, “What are they waiting for the tables to do?” Winkler and Oliver keep the gags rolling as Buddy copes with staying in character as well as a rogue bodily appendage that springs to life, triggering mayhem. Nicolle’s spry cartoons enhance the narrative’s good-natured inanity. Final art not seen by PW. Ages 8–12. [em](Oct.) [/em]