Synopses & Reviews
People, children especially, have been baffled, bewildered, and even outraged by the fact that Pluto is no longer called a planet. Through whimsical artwork and an entertaining dialogue format,
Plutoand#8217;s Secret explains the true story of this distant world. Providing a history of the small, icy world from its discovery and naming to its recent reclassification, this book presents a fascinating look at how scientists organize and classify our solar system as they gain new insights into how it works and what types of things exist within it. The book includes a glossary and bibliography.
Praise for Pluto's Secret
"Pairing a lighthearted narrative in a hand-letteredand#150;style typeface with informally drawn cartoon illustrations, this lively tale of astronomical revelations begins with the search for Planet X.and#8221;
and#151;Kirkus Reviews
"This picture book offers a fresh, positive perspective on Pluto, showing that its change of status is not a demotion but a correction."
and#151;Booklist
"Light-hearted imagining of a gregarious Pluto.and#8221;
and#151;Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"Fun readingand#133; The book provides a factual history of our faraway 'dwarf,' and on its companion icy worlds, and on the discovery of Kuiper-like bands around other stars."
and#151;School Library Journal
Award
New York Public Libraryand#8217;s annual Childrenand#8217;s Books list: 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing 2013
and#160;
Review
"Through engaging and child-friendly language, Scott discusses the history ... behind the discovery of the nine planets.... A great resource." School Library Journal, Starred
"Beautifully designed.... A good choice for updating astronomy collections." Booklist, ALA
Illustrations include photographs of astronomers and outer space; artists' renderings of simulations, such as a protoplanetary disk forming around a star; and diagrams of various planetary features. A glossary, recommended readings and websites, and an index round out the book.
Horn Book
Horn Book
Color photos and diagrams are both attractive and informative, and slightly oversized fonts makes the subject seem less daunting.
Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"This is a great example to show students the power of research...an outstanding title." LMC January 2008 Library Media Connection
Synopsis
Space and planets are topics of endless fascination to kids and part of every grade-school curriculum. Yet because of the history-making reassignment of Pluto from planet” to dwarf planet” on August 24, 2006, all books on the solar system are now out of date.
Enter When is a Planet Not a Planet? The Story of Pluto by Elaine Scott, an esteemed writer of non-fiction for children. Scott is the first to put the answer to the title question into terms simple enough for a very young audience to understand, based upon the new definitions determined by the International Astronomical Union.
Well-researched and accompanied by large, awe-inspiring photographs and paintings, this exciting new book makes clear what astronomers have argued about for decades.
About the Author
Margaret A. Weitekamp, PhD, curates the National Air and Space Museumand#8217;s Social and Cultural Dimensions of Spaceflight collection. She lives in Burke, Virginia. David DeVorkin, PhD, is Senior Curator, History of Astronomy and the Space Sciences, at the Museum. He lives in Kensington, Maryland. Diane Kidd is an award-winning illustrator of childrenand#8217;s books and is Early Childhood Manager at the Museum. She lives in Takoma Park, Maryland.