One sunny morning, a silver saucer landed in the school playground. Out stepped Holly, a small green alien from planet Zog. She had three fingers and the biggest eyes you ever saw.
The children froze. ‘An alien!’ cried Toby. Everybody ran inside and peeked through the windows. Holly stood alone in the middle of the playground, looking very small and very lost.
Only Jonah went out. ‘Hello,’ he said. ‘My name’s Jonah.’ Holly blinked. ‘Hello,’ she said, in a voice like tinkling bells. ‘I’m Holly. I came to learn about Earth. Do you have a school?’
‘Come in!’ said Jonah. He showed Holly the classroom, the library and the painting corner. Holly loved the paints. She painted a bright purple planet with seven moons. Everyone crowded round.
At playtime, Holly met the other children. Holly showed them how to jump so high that you could touch the clouds. Toby said, ‘I’m sorry I ran away.’ ‘It’s all right,’ said Holly. ‘Everyone’s scared sometimes.’
When it was time to leave, Holly gave Jonah a glittery moon stone. ‘To remember planet Zog,’ said Holly. Jonah hugged Holly tight. ‘Come back soon,’ said Jonah. ‘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 Holly’.
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 Jonah make Holly feel welcome?
Finish stories to collect Jonah as a sticker in your Sticker Book.
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The crew of the rocket Starlight find a planet where nobody remembers how to laugh.
Basil’s Alien at the School Gate
A green alien turns up at school. Everyone is scared, except Basil.
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