A Place for Pluto

by Stef Wade (Author) Melanie Demmer (Illustrator)

Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade
Pluto got the shock of his life when he was kicked out of the famous nine. His planet status was stripped away, leaving him lost and confused. Poor Pluto! On his quest to find a place where he belongs, he talks to comets, asteroids, and meteoroids. He doesn't fit it anywhere! But when Pluto is about to give up, he runs into a dwarf planet and finally finds his place in the solar system. This feel-good picture book combines a popular science topic with character education themes of self discovery, acceptance, and friendship. It has bonus material in the back matter to support curriculum.
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Kirkus

Make space for this clever blend of science and self-realization. (Picture book. 6-8)

School Library Journal

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

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9781684460939
Lexile Measure
560
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Capstone Editions
Publication date
July 01, 2019
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV039060 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Friendship
JUV039050 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Emotions & Feelings
JUV029000 - Juvenile Fiction | Nature & the Natural World | General
JUV039140 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance
Library of Congress categories
Identity
Picture books
Identity (Philosophical concept)
Solar system
Pluto (Dwarf planet)
Dwarf planets

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