The Day Moon and Earth Had an Argument

Gr 1-3–In Duff’s comic treatment of issues of a personal and planetary nature, Moon and Earth have an argument. Readers are not told what the rift is about, but it seems permanent, and Moon becomes a petulant drifter, hopping from planet to planet, even non-planet Pluto, but giving Uranus the cold shoulder. Jupiter and Saturn already have moons, Mercury is too quick, and anyway, the closer Moon gets to the sun, the hotter her surface. She’s the only one with pronouns, and comes with opinions, disdaining the post of 81st moon for Jupiter, but joining the dance party over at Saturn. The call of home is too much for this prodigal pouter, who quickly apologizes as Earth is apologizing to her, and her cycle is restored. Vola envisions Moon as a long-legged orb with a backpack, and depicts the local universe in the festive, drenched colors of a piñata; the whole journey has a Mardi Gras vibe. Behind the party, though, are solid facts about the planets, painlessly woven in, while back matter clarifies the material further.