ACCESS DIGITIZED EDITION
Guide/Reviews Database
PICTURE BOOKS
Rex, Adam

Pluto Gets the Call

48 pp. | Simon/Beach Lane | November, 2019 | Trade ISBN 978-1-5344-1453-2 $10.99 | Ebook ISBN 978-1-5344-1454-9
(1) K-3 Illustrated by Laurie Keller. Rex and Keller dramatize Pluto's demotion to dwarf planet status in this smart and playful offering of informational comedy. Rex's wry and engaging text is told completely through dialogue among Pluto, the planets, and other celestial bodies; Keller's kinetic mixed-media illustrations include "a bunch of sideline planetary commentary." After receiving "the call" from Earth scientists, a dejected Pluto reluctantly acquiesces to giving a tour of the solar system, since readers "were probably hoping to hang out with a real planet." The remaining eight planets, each with a unique personality and (randomly chosen) gender, are introduced to readers through interesting facts ("If you tried to stand on Jupiter, you'd just fall right through him") and funnily informative jokes ("Neptune is pretty icy. And gassy. I'm not being mean, he just is"). The visually jam-packed pages range from complex panel layouts set against solid white backgrounds to luminous double-page spreads of the immense, maternal Sun. A genuinely moving testimonial by the benevolent Sun extolling the value of Pluto's new role ("You're the planet who doesn't get to be a planet anymore. And people love you for it") beautifully wraps up this expertly crafted ode to Pluto, science, and underdogs everywhere. Back matter consists of solar-system facts and an author's note.
Reviewer: Patrick Gall | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2020

RELATED 

PICTURE BOOKS

Born Ready
by Patterson, Jodie
PICTURE BOOKS

The House of Grass and Sky
by Ray, Mary Lyn
PICTURE BOOKS

The Dog's Gardener
by Storms, Patricia
PICTURE BOOKS

And I Paint It
by Kephart, Beth
PICTURE BOOKS

Poem in My Pocket
by Tougas, Chris
More

Get connected. Join our global community of more than 200,000 librarians and educators.

This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

We are currently offering this content for free. Sign up now to activate your personal profile, where you can save articles for future viewing.

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?