Little Pluto

Illustration by Jasleen Ashta

Book Design & Illustration by Jasleen Ashta

Once upon a time, there was a celestial baby. He was very naughty and loved teasing everyone.

A little boy came across the baby and named him Pluto.

He made Pluto a planet and introduced him to the other planets.

Pluto made all 8 planets his friends - Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.

Pluto played Ring-a-ring o’ roses with his friends, around the Sun, all day and night. They would laugh and pester the Sun.

Ring-a-ring o’ roses, A pocket full of posies, A-tishoo! A-tishoo!

We all fall down.

Mercury being very fond of Sun, stayed closest to him.

Mercury would tell Sun all about Pluto’s mischiefs.

Pluto being his naughty self, used to run farthest from the Sun.

And the Sun could never catch him.

Pluto’s best friends were Mars, Saturn, and Earth.

Whenever Pluto teased them, Mars would turn red with his giant volcanoes erupting and Saturn would open his rings.

Earth always maintained her calm like a blue marble, no matter what. Someone told Pluto that the boy who saw him first lives on Earth.

One day, Mr. SPACE came and told Pluto that he can’t be a planet anymore.

Pluto started crying and asked, “Why?”

Mr. SPACE said, “You are too small Pluto, you can’t be a planet. Look at Jupiter, he is so big. Planets have to be big enough to be considered one.”

Pluto cried the whole night.

Uranus and Neptune stayed nearest to Pluto.

They came to console him and told him, “How does it matter that you aren’t a planet anymore? We will still play together and roam around the Sun.”

Venus also joined the others and asked, “Why are you crying, Pluto?

Look at yourself, you are so lucky, you have 5 moons and I have none.”

Like a loving father, Sun comforted Pluto and said, “Don’t cry, my child. You are my favourite. I love everything about you. Nothing can change that.”

Pluto became cheerful listening to everyone and started playing again. He still plays Ring-a-ring o’ roses around the Sun with his friends.

Pluto is happy and has great friends.

So what, if he isn’t a planet anymore!