I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.  All opinions are my own.

Author Alex Durmashkin shares a strong children’s book about kids’ reliance on technology in the book “How the Aliens Stole Our Gadgets.”

THE SYNOPSIS

One morning, every child’s gadgets on Earth disappear. Four brave children—Lucy, Evan, Annabel, and Gigi—are elected to get them back. Their adventure tests their courage, creativity, and friendship while exploring a balance between technology and life beyond screens.

THE REVIEW

This was a fun and engaging children’s book. The illustrations were bright, beautifully drawn, and filled with warmth and wonder for young readers. The book has a steady pace for this genre, allowing plenty of world-building and character development, which helps young readers build their reading skills and engage with more narrative-driven stories as they grow to appreciate literature more.

The story itself and the powerful themes that they explore made this a great book to get for young readers. The relatability of the main characters, the sci-fi-adjacent storytelling, and the adventure and sense of journey made the story feel brighter. It explored how technology consumes so many young people’s lives these days and how, for many people, it seems as if technology controls them rather than the other way around. The lessons learned along this journey for the characters help explore not only how children can improve communication skills with one another and appreciate the natural world around them, but also how they can use technology thoughtfully and more carefully so that they are not obsessed or driven by their ever-consuming need to have technology in their hands.

THE VERDICT

Telling, memorable, and engaging, Author Alex Durmashkin’s “How Aliens Stole Our Gadgets” is a must-read illustrated children’s book. The sense of adventure and wonder this miniature mystery creates for young readers, and the strong storytelling at work. It will keep young readers invested in the story and help parents connect with their children about how to handle technology today. If you haven’t yet, please be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Alex Durmashkin has spent his life bringing ideas and people together through publishing, journalism, and live entertainment. A lifelong believer in the power of imagination, curiosity, and human connection, he wrote How the Aliens Stole Our Gadgets to encourage children to look up from their screens, think creatively, work together, and rediscover the world around them. He was inspired by his four grandchildren — Lucy, Evan, Annabel, and Gigi — who also lent their names to the story’s young heroes.

Book page & pre-order:

https://aeecouncil.org/content/how-aliens-stole-our-gadgets

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