Presenting an excerpt from new children’s picture book The Three Little Aliens and the Big Bad Robot, a futuristic update on the old fable, written by Margaret McNamara and illustrated by Mark Fearing, out this week from Schwartz & Wade.

At their Ma’s encouragement, Bork, Gork, and Nklxwyz (try saying that one), strike off on their own to find their own place in the universe. The three little aliens are happily settling into their new homes when the infamous Big Bad Robot flies in to crack and smack and whack their houses down! A chase across space ensues as the three little aliens search for a way — any way — to thwart the monstrous robot.

The Three Little Aliens and the Big Bad Robot comes complete with a labeled guide to the Milky Way on the endpapers.

[Check out gorgeous pages from The Three Little Aliens and the Big Bad Robot]