XO, Exoplanet

by Deborah Underwood, Jorge Lacera (Illustrator)

Overview

"When the planets spot something new in the galaxy, they start a letter-writing exchange that gets a little heated (for a planet) over just who gets to be called what and why. This funny fiction also teaches about planets, exo and otherwise." —TODAY

From bestselling author Deborah Underwood comes a lively and heartwarming letter writing exchange between all the planets in outer space to show the power of perspective.

It was an ordinary day for Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, (and don't forget Pluto, the dwarf planet). The planets were circling the Sun, staring into space, until suddenly they spot something else in their Solar System. What could it be? Who could it be? The planets have no idea but they're circling to find out. Whatever it is that something is most definitely, absolutely, without a doubt NOT a planet.
 
So begins an out-of-this-world pen pal exchange between the planets and an exoplanet:
 
Dear Exoplanet,
We are excited to have you in the galaxy!
XO,
Planets
 
Dear Planets,
It is nice to hear from you! But what is an exoplanet? Does it mean "excellent planet"?
XO,
Exoplanet
 
Paired with vibrant illustrations from Jorge Lacera, this STEM-friendly story, told mainly through letters, reminds readers what happens when we consider another person's point of view.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780759557437
Publisher:	Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	11/16/2021
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	1,130,405
Product dimensions:	8.80(w) x 11.20(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Deborah Underwood is the author of numerous books for children, including Outside In, Interstellar Cinderella, XO, Exoplanet, and New York Times bestsellers The Quiet Book, The Loud Book, and Here Comes the Easter Cat. She lives in Northern California and invites you to visit her online at deborahunderwoodbooks.com.
 
Jorge Lacera was born in Colombia and grew up in Miami, Florida. He graduated from the Ringling College of Art and Design. He illustrated the picture book Zombies Don't Eat Veggies, with his wife Megan Lacera. He lives in Canada.

Editorial Reviews

10/11/2021

“The planets were swirling around the sun, as usual,” writes Underwood, when Neptune, peering through binoculars, spots another planet “circling another star, far, far, away!” The planets dispatch a “welcome to the galaxy” letter, but when they blithely address the recipient as “Exoplanet”—a planet outside the solar system—civility fails to launch. The planet insists that since it’s circling “MY sun,” the solar system planets are the real exoplanets; the squabble escalates, playground-style. Lacera’s digital cartoons render planets as vivid characters: Jupiter, the blowhard leader, turns beet-red with rage, egged on by minion moons. A passing comet finally points out that who’s “in” or “out” depends where one stands—or, as the planets sum up, “To us, you are an exoplanet. But to you, WE are the exoplanets. But no matter what anyone calls us, we are all round objects that travel around a star,” delivering a contemporarily incisive message with a light touch. Ages 4–8. (Nov.)

Publishers Weekly

Air & Space Smithsonian Best Children's Book of the Year

"When the planets spot something new in the galaxy, they start a letter-writing exchange that gets a little heated (for a planet) over just who gets to be called what and why. This funny fiction also teaches about planets, exo and otherwise."

—TODAY

"An imaginative way to consider other points of view."—Air & Space Smithsonian

“A contemporarily incisive message with a light touch.”

—Publishers Weekly

“A rollicking reminder to reserve judgment before traveling in another’s orbit.”

—Kirkus Reviews

“A teachable moment in differences and conflict resolution. [XO, Exoplanet is] a delightful purchase that creates accessible paths to learning more.”—School Library Journal

“With a tidy combination of STEM content and social emotional learning, this approachable picture book can do double duty.”—Booklist

From the Publisher

11/01/2021

PreS-Gr 2—Planets from our solar system send letters of love and friendship to an exoplanet, learning that different perspectives provide opportunities to grow. Bright digital art depicts anthropomorphized planets with fashion statements and personalities to match. Saturn's large eyeglasses mirror its rings, while Uranus wears a knitted cap as it's colder than other planets since it's farther from the sun. Jupiter, larger than all the others, dictates letters like a CEO. Underwood weaves in the definition of an exoplanet clearly, and the pun of signing XO as missives fly back and forth in "space express" rockets creates great read-aloud moments. The crux of the story, whether our solar system's planets are the exoplanets or the other planet is the exoplanet, causes disruption. A comet resolves it by pointing out how this is based on point-of-view. Comparisons of which planets are big or small, hot or cold, are discussed in relation to the sun, and this provides a teachable moment in differences and conflict resolution. A scientific note is included. VERDICT A delightful purchase that creates accessible paths to learning more.—Rachel Zuffa, Case H.S., Racine, WI

School Library Journal

2021-09-24
What’s the difference between a planet and an exoplanet? Depends on your point of view.

Lacera kits Mercury out with a winged helmet, Neptune with a pool toy, and the other major planets (plus Pluto, for, the author admits, sentimental reasons) with like regalia, plus faces, adding jocular notes to this planetary parable on proper perspective. The action begins when the planets spot a new one orbiting another sun and send it a welcoming letter. Alas, hardly has this developed into a regular correspondence than a sharp difference of opinion arises—both sides insisting that no, they’renot the exoplanets, or, as Mars puts it: “Exoplanet SCHMECKSOPLANET! We’re planets!” A passing comet breaks the stalemate by pointing out that Earth looks like a big planet to Mercury but a small one to Jupiter and that Mars is hot compared to Uranus but cold next to Venus, causing the planets to realize that “It all depends on how you look at things.” One apologetic letter later, interstellar amity is restored. Underwood doesn’t make the underlying point about the value of tolerating differences here on Earth explicit, but even younger audiences should get the memo…when they are not giggling at the sight of the planets playing poker while they wait or Jupiter’s many smiling moons—or, more soberly, taking in the prodigious amount of space trash floating about. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A rollicking reminder to reserve judgment before traveling in another’s orbit. (Picture book. 6-8)

Kirkus Reviews