Families who loved The X-Files: Earth Children Are Weird by Kim Smith often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.

Reach for this book when your child starts hearing suspicious thumps under the bed or seeing spooky shadows on the wall at bedtime. This story features two young best friends, Dana and Fox, as they navigate their first backyard campout. While Fox is convinced every rustle is an alien visitor, Dana uses logic and science to find the truth. It is a wonderful tool for validating a child's imagination while providing a comforting, scientific framework to de-escalate nighttime fears. The vintage aesthetic and playful nod to pop culture make it an engaging read for parents and children alike, perfectly suited for the 4 to 8 age range where the line between reality and fantasy is often blurred.