This was a spectacular book featuring space, aliens, shoes, bands and cartoon drawings.

Hi from Outer Space is about an alien coming from outer space and finding a good leader for his assessment task. This book also talks about a cartoon competition that Alex really wants to win. Along comes Hi, who helps Alex find the perfect picture to win.

I really liked the idea of where Hi is obsessed with shoes and all the funny brainteasers on Earth. One bit I didn’t like was where a character didn’t like Ruth, which is my mum’s name.

I give this book a five out of five because it was a fabulous, fun, out of this world adventure, that bubbles with imagination and pops with brainteasers. Overall, this book was fantastic and while reading this book I had so much fun.

Reviewed by Leo, Year 3, Churchie, Brisbane Qld

Age Guide 8+

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

I became a cartoonist quite accidentally. Prior to this incarnation, I studied politics at the Australian National University, travelled extensively and worked in overseas aid and human rights. Finding myself made redundant in late 1996, I despaired for a bit (as you do) then, with a bit of hassling from friends who’d been receiving my handmade birthday cards for years, embraced the personal reinvention zeitgeist and took up the pen on a full-time basis in 1997.

Since then, my work has appeared in a wide range of publications. My political cartoons have popped up regularly in the National Museum’s annual Behind the Lines exhibition and Scribe’s yearly Best Australian Political Cartoons anthologies (including the cover of the 2009 edition). I’ve also illustrated loads of books for just about every publisher, designed cards for the Ink Group and t-shirts for Mambo.

Cartoonists are lucky folk indeed- able to take all their experiences, beliefs, bile and passion, wrap them up in a metaphor and get inky fingers in the process. It’s bucketloads of fun.

Visit Fiona Katauskas’ website