The Unexplained: UFOs

Because children's fascination with aliens never wanes, this heavily illustrated guide to UFO sightings will be an instant hit. Its sleek, digital design channels a retro aesthetic with a limited color palette, geometric forms, and stylized fonts. Beginning with ancient civilizations and the panic of the War of the Worlds 1938 radio broadcast, double-page spreads highlight key topics and theories chronologically. Information is presented by decade once the 1940s arrive, as this marks the modern history of UFOs, with such events as the first sighting of a "flying saucer" and the Roswell incident. Within each section, information is further chunked into short, digestible parts with complementary illustrations and infographics. As young readers travel through this time line, they'll encounter men in black, Area 51, crop circles, myriad UFO experiences, organizations that study these phenomena, government responses, and more unusual activities. Throughout the fun, the author also makes it clear that some conspiracy theories, such as ancient aliens, are damaging to historic human cultures. A visually appealing selection for curious minds and budding ufologists. -- Angela Leeper * Booklist *
Artist Adam Allsuch Boardman has previously created illustrated histories of ghosts and urban legends. Here he turns his attention to UFOs - mysterious objects in the sky that may of may not be alien spacecrafts. Spoiler alert: they're probably not. But thats no excuse not to pet exoted about the possibilities, and Boardman does a prea job at covering a wide range of different UFO-related incidents (peaking during the Cold War) while presenting, explanations where available. One image from the 1990s, which he reproduces in miniature, was 'later revealed by the photographer to be made of polystyrene and light bulbs: others can be attributed to weather phenomena. Throughout the book, phrases like 'Some suggest ...' and 'Ufologists believe ...' allow for outlandish theories to be put forward before being gently debunked. Boardman is attentive to the historical and cultural context of various sightings and stories, pointing out that a theory about ancient astronauts might be interesting but also encourages a disrespectiul view of our ancestors, their rich cultural histories and impressive craftsmanship. Moving between full-page spreads, inset images and comic strips as needed, the illustrations evoke both real historical moments and feverish imaginings, often contextualised with reference to the times popular culture or later-revealed details about a particular event. It's skilfully done and an accessible vet informative reading experience. The focus on critically assessing evidence is very welcome in our perennially misinformed age, making this a worthy book for schools and libraries - but it's also a whole lot of nerdy alien-related fun as well. -- Claire Hennessy * Inis Magazine *