523.492 – Pluto

A list of choices for replacing old books about Pluto, the dwarf planet in the library children’s/YA collection.
pink numbers = Horn Book Guide rating / red numbers= Follett grade level / green numbers=Lexile
text level correlation chart–compares several different leveling systems

On August 24, 2006, Pluto, once considered the 9th planet in our solar system, was officially reclassified as “dwarf planet.” Books on Pluto that were published before that time should be weeded from the children’s collection.

*Top Choice*
When is a Planet Not a Planet?: The Story of Pluto by Elaine Scott (Clarion, 2007) 2 / 7.8 / 980 / K-4

Recommended by at Least One Source

Kindergarten-Grade 4
Pluto: A Dwarf Planet by Thomas K. Adamson (Pebble Plus – Capstone, 2007) 4 / 2.4 / 430
Dwarf Planets by Fran Howard (Buddy Books: The Universe – ABDO, 2008) 4 / 3.0
Pluto: From Planet to Dwarf by Elaine Landau (A True Book – Children’s Press, 2007) 5.2 / 820
Let’s Explore Pluto and Beyond by Helen Ormer (Space Launch! – Gareth Stevens, 2007) 3.9
Pluto : The Dwarf Planet by Greg Roza (Our Solar System. GS Leveled Reader — Gareth Stevens, 2010) 2.5
The Planet Hunter: How Astronomer Mike Brown’s Search for the 10th Planet Shook Up the Solar System by Elizabeth Rusch (Rising Moon, 2007) 3 / 3.8

Beginning Chapter Book Fiction
Stink: Solar System Superhero by Megan McDonald (Candlewick, 2010) G2-4

Grades 5-8
Dwarf Planets (2nd ed.) by Robin Birch (New Solar System – Chelsea House, 2008) 4 / 5.4 /
Ice Dwarfs: Pluto and Beyond by David Jefferis (Exploring Our Solar System – Crabtree, 2008) 5.8 / 1020 /

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Available in the Service Center Collections

Kindergarten-Grade 4
When is a Planet Not a Planet?: The Story of Pluto by Elaine Scott (Clarion, 2007) 2 / 7.8 / 980 / K-4

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Not Necessarily Recommended, But In-Print

Kindergarten-Grade 4
A Look at Pluto and Other Dwarf Planets by Anna Kaspar (Astronomy Now – PowerKids, 2007) 5.2 /
Why Isn’t Pluto a Planet? by Steve Kortenkamp (First Facts – Capstone, 2007) ~5 /
Dwarf Planets: Pluto, Charon, Ceres, and Eris by Nancy Loewen (Amazing Science – Picture Window, 2008) 2.9 / 750 /
Uranus, Neptune, and the Dwarf Planets by Rosalind Mist (Solar System – QEB, 2008) 4.0 /
Pluto and Other Dwarf Planets by L. L. Owens (Child’s World, 2011) / 3.6 /
Pluto by Colleen A. Sexton (Blastoff! Readers. Exploring Space — Bellwether Media, 2010) 3.0 /
Pluto: A Dwarf Planet by Gregory Vogt (Early Bird Astronomy – Lerner, 2009) X / 4.0 /
Pluto: A Dwarf Planet by Ralph Winrich (First Facts – Capstone, 2007) 4 / 2.6 / 670 /

Grades 5-8
The Dwarf Planet: Pluto by Kristi Lew (Space! – Benchmark, 2009) 7.1 /
Destination Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto by Giles Sparrow (Destination Solar System – PowerKids, 2010) 6.3 /

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Last updated January 15, 2010