THEY’LL BELIEVE ME WHEN I’M GONE

Young Max may be surrounded by laughing skeptics, but he’s utterly convinced that aliens are going to take him away from his pesky big brother Gordon, broccoli, and similar nuisances. Do you doubt? Max gets the last laugh when little purple people really do sweep down to carry him off, leaving one of their number behind to take over the chores and be fussed over by Mom and Dad. Davis fills each scene with close-ups of pop-eyed human figures beneath zany haircuts, and leaves Max flashing a smug thumbs-up as his flying saucer departs. More wish-fulfillment featuring the contentious sibs introduced in My Last Chance Brother (2002). (Picture book. 6-8)