A Place for Pluto

by Stef Wade, Melanie Demmer (Illustrator)

Overview

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 board book combines a popular science topic with character education themes of self discovery, acceptance, and friendship.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781684460045
Publisher:	Capstone
Publication date:	07/01/2018
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	136,957
Product dimensions:	9.50(w) x 10.50(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	5 - 8 Years

About the Author

Stef Wade used to write about cardboard boxes, but thinks writing books is far more exciting. She was the co-creator and writer for the former cooking and home blog Haute Apple Pie. Stef holds a BA in advertising from Marquette University and an MBA in Integrated Marketing Communication from DePaul University. Stef is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). She currently resides in the greater Milwaukee area with her husband and three boys.

Melanie is an American artist born and raised in Plymouth, Michigan. She has been drawing since she was a little girl. Back then, her favorite canvas was pavement and her go to medium was sidewalk chalk. Nowadays, Melanie likes create artwork digitally but also enjoys using watercolor, markers, colored pencils, and acrylic paint. Oh, and sometimes a pinch of glitter too!  Melanie is a 2013 graduate of the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, Michigan where she earned a BFA in Illustration. The Michigan-native has since relocated to Los Angeles, California to pursue a career in illustration and design.

Interviews

• A fresh approach to a common science theme - mixes science with Character Ed  • Addresses the need for books on acceptance and self-awareness

Editorial Reviews

07/26/2019

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

School Library Journal

2018-04-25
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)

Kirkus Reviews