Is it too scary for toddlers?

Not at all. While the 'crash' might sound intense, the visitors themselves are drawn in a way that is more goofy and baffling than frightening.

What is the actual reading level?

It's a solid read-aloud for ages 3-6. For independent readers, it's roughly at a 1st or 2nd-grade level, though the vocabulary has some fun, descriptive challenges.

Is there a hidden political message about immigration?

It's a story about hospitality and seeing the humanity in others, regardless of how they look. While you can certainly use it to talk about real-world themes, it stays firmly in the realm of a whimsical fable.

Does it have a happy ending?

Yes. It focuses on the Lis helping the visitors, leaving the reader with a warm, satisfied feeling about being a 'kind human.'

We Are Definitely Human – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

We Are Definitely Human

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

book2025

90%

WISE Score

Two blue, big-eyed beings crash-land into a quiet home and insist they are 'definitely human' in this charmingly absurd take on hospitality.

We Are Definitely Human

book

2025

90%

WISE Score

Two blue, big-eyed beings crash-land into a quiet home and insist they are 'definitely human' in this charmingly absurd take on hospitality.

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Our reviews and ratings are 100% unbiased. Screenwise is a Bookshop.org affiliate and an Amazon Associate, so if you buy a book through one of our links, we may earn a commission. Bookshop.org purchases also support independent bookstores.

Screenwise Verdict

This is a win for the 'kindness matters' shelf that avoids being boring by being weird. When the blue, big-eyed visitors show up, the Lis don't call the authorities; they just help out. It's a gentle, funny lesson in hospitality for kids who are starting to notice that people come in all shapes and sizes—even if some of those shapes are 'hard to describe.'

If you're tired of the same three plot structures in picture books, this 2025 release is a refreshing pivot. It’s short, sweet, and just strange enough to keep a six-year-old from zoning out during the bedtime routine.

Age Fit

Perfect for the 4-8 crowd. It's simple enough for a preschool read-aloud but the 'definitely human' irony lands best with kids who are starting to get sarcasm.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

The story centers on the Li family's radical kindness and hospitality toward strangers, modeling empathy without being preachy.

Imaginative

The central conceit—aliens who are obviously not human insisting that they are—is a clever, humorous setup that invites kids to think about perspective.

Safe

As a picture book from a reputable children's publisher focused on kindness, there are zero content red flags beyond a slightly startling midnight crash.

Enriching

It offers a gentle entry point for discussing how we treat people who look different or come from elsewhere, wrapped in a silly sci-fi package.

Parent Info

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Why It Might Be Great

Subverts the scary alien trope by making the visitors bizarre but needy rather than threatening.
Models radical kindness through Mr. and Mrs. Li, who prioritize helping over being weirded out by blue skin and big eyes.
Pushkin Children's Books pedigree ensures the writing and art are a step above the usual mass-market fluff.

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What to Watch For

The midnight crash at the start of the book might be a tiny bit startling for the most anxious toddlers, but the tone shifts to comedy quickly.

Conversation Starters

"Why do you think the visitors kept saying they were 'definitely human' even though they looked so different?"
"If someone very strange crashed into our house and asked for help, what's the first thing we'd do?"
"What makes a person a 'human'—is it how they look or how they act?"

Deep Dive

The Art of the 'Un-Invasion'

Most stories about things crashing into houses at midnight involve a lot of screaming and a military response. We Are Definitely Human takes the opposite path. By centering the story on the Lis—a couple whose primary trait is being 'very kind humans'—the book turns a sci-fi setup into a study of empathy. It's the kind of story that works because it trusts kids to get the joke: the visitors are clearly not human, but their desire to be seen as such is deeply relatable.

Pushkin Children's has a knack for picking titles that feel like future classics because they don't talk down to their audience. The humor here is dry and situational. It’s perfect for that transition age where kids are moving from simple 'cat sat on a mat' stories to narratives with a bit of irony and subtext.

It stands out among 2025 picture book releases because it has a bit more bite. It's less about a heavy-handed moral lesson and more about a vibe of quiet, absurd generosity. It's a great pick for a rotation that needs a break from the loud and the frantic.

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