Publisher's Synopsis
A Boy Named Pluto is an entertaining, yet educational book about the solar system that integrates multiple levels of analogy and parallel references in telling the story about Pluto being reclassified as a dwarf planet. On the surface, the book tells how a group of human-like friends rally around one of their own in an attempt to save him from an undesirable situation. The touching and heartfelt analogy presents to readers the struggle children have in desiring to be socially accepted. Below the surface, the readers are exposed to a correlating story about the solar system, teaching children and adults a variety of factual information about planets, heavenly bodies, and space. The creative blending of these approaches is a key attribute of the book. The authors artistically tell a story about Pluto and the planets as if they are humans living in a neighborhood together. When they hear the news that Pluto will no longer be a planet, the group collectively attempts to get the decision reversed so that Pluto can remain like them. They join together in a quest to appeal the decision in court. The story is full of fact-based references that subtly teach the reader about the solar system, such as the example of Vinny (aka Venus, the brightest planet in the sky) being described in the book as the brightest intellectually of the group. Ursula (Uranus) states in the book "my mind is spinning in different directions," representing the planet Uranus unusual rotation of spinning top-to-bottom instead of side-to-side. The book includes a reference section that identifies each of the facts/reference information cleverly cited throughout the human-like story to enable readers to cross reference and uncover the interesting relationships between the characters and their planet counterparts. A Boy Named Pluto is an innovative and creative book that is an excellent educational tool for youngsters to learn about space and science using real-life correlations for exceptional memory retention. At the same time, the book presents a feel-good, happy-ending story about helping others in need. Readers of all ages, regardless of their curiosity about science, will find the book interesting and entertaining.
