One sunny morning, a silver saucer landed in the school playground. Out stepped Alba, a small green alien from planet Zog. She had three fingers and the biggest eyes you ever saw.
The children froze. ‘An alien!’ cried Layla. Everybody ran inside and peeked through the windows. Alba stood alone in the middle of the playground, looking very small and very lost.
Only Ben went out. ‘Hello,’ he said. ‘My name’s Ben.’ Alba blinked. ‘Hello,’ she said, in a voice like tinkling bells. ‘I’m Alba. I came to learn about Earth. Do you have a school?’
‘Come in!’ said Ben. He showed Alba the classroom, the library and the painting corner. Alba loved the paints. She painted a bright purple planet with seven moons. Everyone crowded round.
At playtime, Alba met the other children. Alba showed them how to jump so high that you could touch the clouds. Layla said, ‘I’m sorry I ran away.’ ‘It’s all right,’ said Alba. ‘Everyone’s scared sometimes.’
When it was time to leave, Alba gave Ben a tiny glowing lamp. ‘To remember planet Zog,’ said Alba. Ben hugged Alba tight. ‘Come back soon,’ said Ben. ‘We’ll save you a seat.’
The saucer flew off in a swirl of stars. The whole school waved until it disappeared. And in the classroom, one desk had a name card that said: ‘Reserved for Alba’.
The little lesson
People who look or sound different from us can become wonderful friends.
Let’s talk about it
- What could you show a visitor from space?
- How did Ben make Alba feel welcome?
Finish stories to collect Ben as a sticker in your Sticker Book.
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