Pluto Visits Earth!

Gr 1–3—Pluto, the former planet, is disappointed that he has been downgraded to a dwarf planet. In an attempt to restore his status, he decides to visit Earth to plead his case. An astronomer informs him that he is much too small to be a planet. Although he tries to convince the man that he has a very big heart, it is not until a young boy tells him he is special whether he is big or small that Pluto is happy to return to his place in the Milky Way. Illustrations are done in ink with colored dyes in a cartoonish style that helps to anthropomorphize the Milky Way planets. The author attempts to make a humorous tale with a fairly spare text, but it falls a little flat. And the audience for the book is unclear: "'I'm madder than a Martian!' Pluto called out to his three moons. 'Do I look small?'" The illustrations seem to target youngsters who would not understand that Pluto has three moons or that Saturn (might be vain because he) has such beautiful rings. Whatever the intended audience, the story is very thin and does not hold interest.—Mary Hazelton, Elementary Schools in Union, Washington & Waldoboro, ME