Pluto's Secret

January 15, 2013
Is it a planet? A dwarf planet? What's up with that mysterious body that, even in our best telescopes, floats tantalizingly at the edge of visibility? Pairing a lighthearted narrative in a hand-lettered-style typeface with informally drawn cartoon illustrations, this lively tale of astronomical revelations begins with the search for "Planet X." It then sweeps past Pluto's first sighting by Clyde Tombaugh and its naming by 11-year-old Venetia Burney to the later discovery of more icy worlds--both in our solar system's Kuiper belt and orbiting other stars. Meanwhile, sailing along with a smug expression, the mottled orange planetoid is "busy dancing with its moons. / Cha-cha / Cha-cha-cha" and Kuiper buddies as it waits for Earth's astronomers to realize at last that it's different from the other planets ("BINGO!") and needs a new classification. Ceres inexplicably rates no entry in the gallery of dwarf planets, and the closing glossary isn't exactly stellar ("World: Any object in space"), but fans of Basher's postmodern science surveys will feel right at home with the buoyant mix of personification and hard fact. A rare chance to shine for the former ninth planet. (photos and additional detail, "Note from the Museum," suggested reading, bibliography, index) (Nonfiction. 9-11)

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April 1, 2013

Gr 2-4-Published in association with the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, this whimsical look at what once was the smallest planet is more serious than the colorful cartoon illustrations and the text of Plutonian thoughts might lead readers to believe. The ninth planet from its discovery in 1930 to its demotion in 2006, Pluto has been revealing more of its "secrets" as technology improved, and is now considered a "dwarf planet" in the Kuiper belt. The informal text covers such events as the naming of this new object ("'Yuck!' thought the little world" at most of the suggestions). This chattiness makes for fun reading ("I'm not worried. Whatever you call me, I'm fine out here," said Pluto), but deftly imparts scientific knowledge about deep space investigation, the process of change due to new data, and the cooperative effort of astronomers to formalize such changes on a global level. The book provides a factual history of our faraway "dwarf," and on its companion icy worlds, and on the discovery of Kuiper-like bands around other stars. A more straightforward history of Pluto's discovery complete with some black-and-white photos, a who's who of people and astronomical objects, and suggested further readings and websites are appended. A "Note from the Museum" describes the convention and process whereby Pluto received its new designation. A lighthearted and informative presentation.-Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 1, 2013
Grades 1-4 This inventive picture book upends the indignation of Pluto's defenders with a simple story. For as long as the solar system has been the solar system, the icy little world we call Pluto has enjoyed dancing with its moons and spinning on its side in a tilted orbit. He was not happy when Percival Lowell announced the discovery of a ninth planet, a GREAT BIG ONE, though he did approve of the choice of Pluto as his name. He knew he was different from the planets, and he always wanted to be identified with his friends in the Kuiper belt. When astronomers finally declared him to be a dwarf planet or a Kuiper belt object, his reaction was BINGO! Created with ink, watercolors, and colored pencils, cheerful artwork illustrates the text. The back matter features well-captioned photos and straightforward information. Written by two curators at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, this picture book offers a fresh, positive perspective on Pluto, showing that its change of status is not a demotion but a correction.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)