Draw-It-Yourself Adventures: Alien Attack (Draw-It-Yourself Adventures, 1)

bought this as a birthday present for a kids that likes art...his mom says that he keeps it by his bed and draws in it every night before bed. Now i need to buy one for my son and maybe one for me too. I hope they make a few for girls.

Thank you

Back in the 1970s the first "make your own adventure" books were introduced to young readers. The idea, which is now a mainstay for this age group, was not that popular at first with the publishers, but when the public loved the idea, the publishers followed. So this is a somewhat new twist to the genre of do it yourself stories. This is an excellent book for (good readers) in grade 2 and up through about grades 5, with most readers for this falling into grades 3 and 4 (ages 8-10). This is actually two books in one with each book starting on a cover (back or front) and moving through one-half of the book, then the reader turns the book upside down, so to speak, and starts over with a new story from the other direction.The stories are Alien Attack and Spy Mission. The idea is that readers get to not only read and choose a path in the story, and their decisions move them back and forth on the pages, but the readers also get to draw items in the story. There are missing parts of pictures, missing characters, missing parts of characters etc, so they can draw in the missing details. Readers are encouraged to use a pencil to draw in the parts so that they can go back later and re-draw or make different parts or characters. Eventually, readers can go back and color in the parts to really complete the stories.The only drawback with this particular book is that readers must use pencil - ink will bleed through the paper and ruin the idea of re-doing the story. Also, if a reader erases too much or too aggressively, the paper tears, so having a parent /adult/older child help at the beginning to show the reader how to interact with the material will help.The excellent thing about this type of book is that 1) readers get to choose the direction of the story, 2) readers get to choose the interaction with the story through drawing, and 3) readers pay attention to detail which increases reading levels and improves attention span, 4 (the best) this is NOT video or computer, which is massively important in the growth and development of future reading skills. Young readers need less video and more interaction with a real book and page to improve reading and cognitive development.

At first I didn't realize this was a DRAW your own adventure book; I thought it was a CHOOSE your own adventure book. But, no. There is one story (well, actually two stories, back-to-back) with one cohesive narrative throughout.The fun part is that kids are supposed to draw in the book. Sometimes they have to complete a picture (for example, draw in so-and-so's mustache), take a quiz (which option is most likely to happen?), or simply color in an existing picture. I didn't know if my seven-year old son would like it, since he isn't much into drawing and art these days, but he took to the book right away. The drawing "assignments" are small, and the story made him laugh out loud more than a few times.He's already through the first story, and now he's flipped it over and is completing the second story. I'm hoping the author comes out with more books and makes this a series.

OK, the best thing I can say about this book is that my son is totally loving it. He saw it and I told him we were going to save it for a car ride or something. But later that day he picked it up and started looking at it, and then I guess he couldn't help himself and he started doing it. And I caught him reading the book in bed.Its a hybrid activity book, there is a story but you'll also find yourself drawing in it and tearing out pages to do things. Its set up in a way to get the kids involved in the story, for example: my son made a paper airplane and threw it over the book to help the character get over a roadblock.Despite the fact that he could skip parts, he's sticking to it.The other half of the book is a secret agent adventure.Look, if my son loves it, then, I gotta give it 5 stars. I'm sure I could nitpick it to death with grownup opinions, but the book wasn't written for me. And it seems to be spot on with its target audience.

An alien spacecraft lands, and it is up to the reader to save the occupant from captivity.The reader must choose accessories, fight a space battle, and decide the best action to take. This story is a coloring book and a pick your own path book. There is plenty of room for marking one’s choices, but some of the pictures are too small and detailed for some less proficient in coloring.I was randomly chosen through a Shelf Awareness Giveaway to receive this book free from the publisher. Although encouraged, I was under no obligation to write a review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

For the kid with basic reading skills including a LOT of words and a love of drawing, this “Draw it Yourself Adventures” seems ideal. The funny story lines should catch a child’s imagination, and the drawings it asks for are pretty easy, but I am afraid it is pretty sophisticated, humor wise, for children. The child I tried it out on is 10 and lost interest pretty quickly. Oh, and please find a couple of not-too-sharp pencils with decent erasers for the child to use. This paper doesn’t hold up well to sharp pencils, markers bleed through it, and ink pens are pretty unforgiving. I don’t think this book will replace video games, but could provide an interesting diversion in situations away from electronic temptation.

My 6 year old grandson loves these books as he is a creative little artist - he doesn't normally sit still for stories but he definitely loves me to read these books where he interacts with it.