A Place for Pluto

May 15, 2018
If Pluto can't be a planet--then what is he?Having been a regular planet for "the better part of forever," Pluto is understandably knocked out of orbit by his sudden exclusion. With Charon and his four other moons in tow he sets off in search of a new identity. Unfortunately, that only spins him into further gloom, as he doesn't have a tail like his friend Halley's comet, is too big to join Ida and the other asteroids, and feels disinclined to try to crash into Earth like meteoroids Gem and Persi. Then, just as he's about to plunge into a black hole of despair, an encounter with a whole quartet of kindred spheroids led by Eris rocks his world...and a follow-up surprise party thrown by an apologetic Saturn ("Dwarf planet has a nice RING to it") and the other seven former colleagues literally puts him "over the moon." Demmer gives all the heavenly bodies big eyes (some, including the feminine Saturn, with long lashes) and, on occasion, short arms along with distinctive identifying colors or markings. Dressing the troublemaking meteoroids in do-rags and sunglasses sounds an off note. Without mentioning that the reclassification is still controversial, Wade closes with a (somewhat) straighter account of Pluto's current official status and the reasons for it.Make space for this clever blend of science and self-realization. (Picture book. 6-8)

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July 26, 2019

PreS-K-This is a lighthearted introduction to the galaxy, written in the style of typical picture books. The character, who in this case is Pluto, tries to discover where he fits in. The text reads, "Then one day, Saturn, with her rings flashing, and Jupiter, with his entourage of moons beside him, told Pluto the worst news ever. You're not a planet anymore. You're not big enough. Sorry." Pluto then goes on a journey to figure out where he belongs. The silly, fun approach to the storytelling will appeal to young readers while helping to build vocabulary and basic knowledge of terms. Readers discover Pluto's place isn't with Halley's Comet, the asteroids, or the meteoroids. Anthropomorphic cartoon illustrations complement the text and keep the mood light as Pluto learns that he belongs with the dwarf planets Eris, Haumea, Makemake, and Ceres. Even the back matter is glib and humorous. The headline, "What's the Deal with Pluto?" explains that Pluto was discovered in 1930 as the ninth planet in the solar system. But in 2006 Pluto was determined not to be a planet anymore ("Bummer."). VERDICT A good introduction to space for young children. The illustration and text make this a perfect choice for storytime or one-on-one sharing.-Robin Sofge, Prince William Public Library System, VA

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