Boyds Mills & Kane » Book Series » How to Be an Earthling

Moonbeam Children’s Book Award Gold Medal
Best Chapter Book Series: How to Be an Earthling

Moonbeam Children’s Book Award Silver Medal
Early Reader / First Chapter Books: Spork Out of Orbit

Earthlings are weird—just ask an alien!

After Spork crashes his spaceship on the school playground, he joins the third grade to fulfill his mission of earning a Galaxy Scouts Explorer Badge. But figuring out how to act like an Earthling isn’t easy. Respect? Honesty? Spork’s never even heard the words. Mrs. Buckle’s class is in for one cosmic adventure!

Each book in the How to Be an Earthling series:

Focuses on a positive character trait.
Encourages readers to think about how their words and actions affect others.
Includes Galaxy Scout activities that reinforce story themes.

#1: Spork Out of Orbit (Respect)

#2: Greetings, Sharkling! (Honesty)

#3: Take Me to Your Weeder (Responsibility)

#4: Earth’s Got Talent! (Courage)

#5: No Place Like Space (Kindness)

#6: Alien in the Outfield (Perseverance)

#7: May the Votes Be With You (Citizenship)

#8: Money Doesn’t Grow on Mars (Self-Control)

#9: Planet of the Eggs (Patience)

#10: Parks and Wrecks (Generosity)

#11: Librarians of the Galaxy (Acceptance)

#12: One Small Step for Spork (Cooperation)

Praise for How to Be an Earthling

Walker kicks off this multi author chapter-book series with a breezy, humorous lesson in honesty that never stoops to didacticism. The other three volumes address similarly weighty lessons—lying, shyness, bullying, and responsibility – all with a multicultural cast of Everykids. A good choice for those new to chapters.

—Kirkus

This delightful chapter book series, written for young readers ages 6–9, excites interest and rides gusts of humor and innovation to encourage kids to rethink all they experience from an alien perspective. Winner of the Moonbeam Children’s Book Award, the How to Be an Earthling series challenges readers to think outside the box while embracing differences and reaching high for more enlightenment.

—Children’s Bookwatch

This book has short chapters and moves quickly through layers of action to keep reader interest high. Both this book and the series would be good additions for collections that need additional early chapter books. Recommended.

—School Library Connections, for Take Me to Your Weeder

Young readers are going to love this series! Spork is a funny and unexpected main character.

—Ron Roy, author of A to Z Mysteries, Calendar Mysteries, and Capital Mysteries

I’m so glad Spork landed on Earth! His misadventures are playful and sweet, and I love the clever wordplay!

—Becca Zerkin, former children’s book reviewer for the New York Times Book Review and School Library Journal; past member of the Bank Street College Children’s Book Committee

Kids will love reading about Spork. Parents, teachers, and librarians will love reading this series aloud to those same kids.

—Rob Reid, author of Silly Books to Read Aloud

Series Details

Interest Level: 6-9
Trim Size: 5 1/8" x 7 9/16’"
Pages: 64
Book Features: Galaxy Scout Activities, Original illustrations

Pricing Information:
From our distributor, Lerner Publishing Group:
Library Binding, List Price $22.65
Paperback, List Price $6.99
School & Library pricing available; Set pricing available

Interest Level (Age):