How to Teach Grown-Ups about Pluto
by Dean Regas

4 out of 5 stars

This book explains the history of planet discoveries and why the decision was made to make Pluto into a dwarf planet. You will learn how objects in space are classified as asteroids, comets, dwarf planets, moons, and of course the eight planets.

I loved the attractive design of this book! The artwork is so cute and fun, and Pluto is depicted as this scrappy little ice planet guy with a happy expression. I love that the book sort of personifies the planets in a funny way! It makes the features of the planets and other space objects really memorable.

The writing really grabs your attention and makes the information interesting. It’s like reading an exciting story about the history of the people who discovered different planets and asteroids. I also like that the book addresses the fact that some people really are upset about Pluto not being a planet, and it’s okay to be upset and emotional about it. But the author encourages the reader to embrace changes in science as new discoveries are made, and look at all the facts logically.

I didn’t like the sassy attitude of the premise of children teaching grown ups about science. I know it’s supposed to be funny and cute, but sometimes it came across as too aggressive and disrespectful.
If you want to open up a conversation with an adult and talk about how new scientific discoveries have changed the definition of a planet, is it really best to start with the attitude that the other person is ignorant and “set in their ways”?
It’s not cute. It’s belligerent, and the book assumes that there will be an argument and that the adult will be difficult to talk to. That’s not a healthy attitude for anyone! Instead of approaching it with an attitude of learning together, this book encourages children to approach it like a contest of knowledge to prove that they “know more” than the other person. Can’t we just learn together side by side? Does it have to become an argument between the “educated” person and the “ignorant” person? I was very disappointed in this approach.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher/author in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.