How to Welcome An Alien

Comparison titles, often abbreviated to “comp titles” or “comps,” are the bane of my existence. They are used for different reasons by different people in the publishing industry, need to somehow sell work as unique while comparing it to something already existing, and take up way more space than I care to think about on QueryManager forms. Still, they do serve a purpose. Case in point – this review is largely being performed thanks to the author’s fantastic use of creative comp titles.

When writers are seeking an agent or publisher for a particular book, many will participate in pitch events where they throw up a brief description of the book on a social media platform – most commonly twitter. I met my own agent through such an event and enjoy networking and meeting new writers by supporting their pitches. However, we all know picture books are not my forte. It’s not a category I often browse or interact with much. Until I saw the pitch from Rebecca Klempner for her picture book How to Welcome an Alien.

Readers, she comped Parshat Vayera and then included a hashtag for science fiction. It was fresh and eye catching and something I just had to read in order to see what in the world this was about.

The book, which was eventually illustrated by Shirley Waisman, is due to come out on August 2023. It features a group of aliens crash landing in the yard of a Jewish family anticipating the arrival of their new neighbors. Although this is not the company they were expecting, they fulfill the mitzvah of welcoming guests to their best ability. Some language barriers and cultural misunderstandings ensue, but the group seems to have fun while managing to repair the space ship. Plus, when the new neighbors do arrive, there’s yet another surprise.

The comparison title was indeed accurate. How to Welcome an Alien is a cute and fresh take on the lessons learned from Abraham’s tent in parshat Vayera. Kuddos the the author for finding a way to catch the eye of even the most unlikeliest of picture book reviewers.

BookishlyJewish received an e arc of this book from the publisher in the hopes that we would review it.

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