MARTY

Marty, a small Martian, acclimates to Earth with the help of a considerate human.

Marty, who dislikes being called an “alien,” lives “undercover.” In order to avoid being spotted as the outsider he is, he becomes a “master of disguises.” The gag for readers is that, despite his elaborate costumes, no one ever quite calls him out on his green skin: “Marty can fool anyone” in the diverse community where he lives. (These costumes include occupations and activities: cowboy togs, business suit, and swimsuit, among others; the kimono, which indicates an assumption of racial identity, is an unfortunate misstep.) A joyous costume parade makes him feel included, if only momentarily. When he dresses as a rock star and performs at an open-mic event, he rises to fame—only to have his true identity discovered by the paparazzi. An attentive, compassionate White child in the community steps in to help (“I think we can fix this”) by inviting Marty to move in (after securing parental permission) and safeguarding Marty as he begins to move through his community as the Martian he is. The brightly colored cartoon illustrations are inviting, and there’s abundant situational humor—Marty watches movies to learn how humans behave, for instance. The protagonist is an endearing, empathetic character, and the book’s resolution is genuinely touching. That a bystander steps in to seek and ultimately provide “a safe place” for Marty serves as a superb example of allyship, all wrapped up in an entertaining story that makes its point gracefully.

Charming.