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The Girl Who Named Pluto: The Story of Venetia Burney
An empowering, inspiring--and accessible!--nonfiction picture book about the eleven-year-old girl who actually named the newly discovered Pluto in 1930.
When Venetia Burney's grandfather reads aloud from the newspaper about a new discovery--a "ninth major planet" that has yet to be named--her eleven-year-old mind starts whirring. She is studying the planets in school and loves Roman mythology. "It might be called Pluto," she says, thinking of the dark underworld. Grandfather loves the idea and contacts his friend at London's Royal Astronomical Society, who writes to scientists at the Lowell Observatory in Massachusetts, where Pluto was discovered. After a vote, the scientists agree Pluto is the perfect name for the dark, cold planet.
Here is a picture book perfect for STEM units and for all children--particularly girls--who have ever dreamed of becoming a scientist.
When Venetia Burney's grandfather reads aloud from the newspaper about a new discovery--a "ninth major planet" that has yet to be named--her eleven-year-old mind starts whirring. She is studying the planets in school and loves Roman mythology. "It might be called Pluto," she says, thinking of the dark underworld. Grandfather loves the idea and contacts his friend at London's Royal Astronomical Society, who writes to scientists at the Lowell Observatory in Massachusetts, where Pluto was discovered. After a vote, the scientists agree Pluto is the perfect name for the dark, cold planet.
Here is a picture book perfect for STEM units and for all children--particularly girls--who have ever dreamed of becoming a scientist.
40 pages, Hardcover
First published May 14, 2019
6 people are currently reading
381 people want to read
About the author
Alice B. McGinty
78 books35 followersAlice Blumenthal McGinty is an American writer of children's books.
McGinty was born in 1963 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She attended Indiana University and the University of Illinois. McGinty is Jewish. She is a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.
McGinty was born in 1963 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She attended Indiana University and the University of Illinois. McGinty is Jewish. She is a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews
April 18, 2021
The Girl Who Named Pluto: The Story of Venetia Burney Wow, I didn't know a young English girl (Venita Burney) named Pluto! The story is told in an engaging way, filling in the details to make a well-rounded story out of the incident, and I appreciate the way that Ventia's grandfather supported her intellectual curiosity and championed her idea for the planet's name. The illustrations, while not my particular cup of tea, are effective. This is a neat book to share with children because it's always great for them to see young people contributing to the world in ways that typically seem reserved only for adults. Speaking of which, don't miss the Author's Note, which mentions that the instrument on board NASA's New Horizons launch in 2006 was named the Venita Burney Student Dust Counter and was the first instrument on a NASA mission designed and operated by students! The Author's Note also addressed the dwarf planet designation and Venita's response to it. There's also a Selected Bibliography.
July 3, 2021
4.5 stars - borrowed this from the library. A wonderful example of the fruits of a Charlotte Mason education! We will use this for our Special Study on astronomy and also for Tales (Greek Myths). The science of relations in action!
February 28, 2021
I was looking for a book to share with my students for Women's History Month, so I am excited that I found this book at my public library. I like so many things about this book: the idea that one child can make a difference, that her teacher and family inspired her to learn, the use of dark colors in the book to fit Pluto's location from the sun and the idea she had to be patient. Two thumbs up! I also like the back matter including how Venetia felt about Pluto being classified as a dwarf planet.
August 13, 2021
Fascinating! Had no idea a schoolgirl named Pluto. Thank goodness for her well-connected family that led to the circumstances of this happening. A great picture book biography to show kids the impact they can have.
February 19, 2022
“What a marvelous link between science and story!” Yes, Venetia, this book certainly is.
July 9, 2020
Hey! I didn’t know this! So that is always cool, finishing a picture book that gives you info that you didn’t have before. Pluto, planetary underdog, was named by a young girl. I mean, a young girl with connections to the Royal Astronomical Society, but still. I liked the art, and I liked that it told a story that is not well-known.
April 15, 2023
Es el primer libro que leo en inglés, y siento que fue un gran comienzo porque entendí casi un 85%, me siento muy orgullosa de mí, por otro lado es una historia que nunca había visto, y realmente es muy interesante, de cómo ella pensó en el nombre, como su abuelo envío esa recomendación, aparte las ilustraciones son muy bonitas ❤️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 1, 2022
..ļoti burvīgs stāsts (un ilustrācijas). balstīts uz patiesiem notikumiem.
June 5, 2019
Pluto, everyone's favorite underdog, received its mythology-inspired name from a bright, inquisitive eleven-year-old girl whose grandfather had connections with notable astronomers. When I placed a library request on this picture book biography, I expected that it told the story of a woman scientist, but the unexpected true story of schoolgirl Venetia Burney naming a planet is even more interesting. The author and illustrator convey this unique history in an attractive, child-friendly way, and the author's note in the back confirms that the book is historically accurate and did not take imaginative liberties. I like everything about this book, and highly recommend it to kids, educators, librarians, and adults who enjoy juvenile nonfiction.
September 10, 2019
Evocative art and a storyline that will introduce a likely unfamiliar person to kids and adults alike.
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December 17, 2025Three thoughts about this book, which I found charming. One is a "Huh?"; one is a "Worth considering"; one is just kind of nice to think about as well.
Huh? --> "Grandfather sends a check to Miss Claxton, thanking her for her teaching. With the money, the school purchases a gramaphone...and names it Pluto. Venetia is a hero!" Wait, what? What makes Venetia a hero? Because she came up with the name Pluto? Because her grandfather wrote the school a check? Because the school bought a gramphone with said check? Dude. She doesn't need to be "a hero!" to be a person of interest. This interjection is neither necessary nor applicable.
Worth considering --> I found an article by a dude who poops on the Burney parade by pointing out other people who separately batted about the name Pluto. And I will confess that the reason I found this article is because I myself went looking, wondering how plausible it was that Burney was the first person to think of or suggest the name. Certainly it seems to suggest itself, given the existence of Jupiter and Neptune. But that said, and although Nunberg concludes that "it isn't plausible that Venetia really was the first person to suggest the name of Pluto," I never find anything in his article to rule her out, because the "window" for her naming it is so specific: Fri. March 14, 1930, at the breakfast table, with her grandfather passing on her suggestion to H.H. Turner, who sends it via telegram to Lowell Observatory on March 15. Every other date or general time frame mentioned in "Another Plutonian Casualty?" (August 27, 2006 http://itre.cis.upenn.edu/~myl/langua...) is just sort of some time thereafter. The New York Times story about the two Italian scientists breaks ten days later, on March 25th, and the guy Nunberg really seems to believe was slighted, William Henry Pickering, reportedly said he had been using it "privately."
My dude. "Privately" using and "planning" to suggest it are obviously not the same as *suggesting* it. And then Pickering *disavows* the name later when he decides that the characteristics of the planet now being called Pluto don't square with the planet(s) he hypothesized after all. For my money, that still leaves us with our girl Venetia Burney. Which is not to deny this was a very interesting little article. (Seriously. I enjoyed learning about the other personalities involved.)
Kind of nice --> The book kicks off with a lovely episode in which Miss Claxton, Venetia's teacher, takes the kids on a walk to give them a sense of vast distances and differences of size between the sun and planets Mercury through Saturn. In the Selected Bibliography at the back, I found a link to a page about "Miss Claxton describing the planet walk; Grandfather's letter to Miss Claxton." The original link was defunct, but you can find it via the Wayback Machine (https://web.archive.org/web/201107281...) or doing some clever keyword searches in conjunction with the root web site, amblesideonline. Anyway, my takeaway for this was, not only was Venetia a genuinely clever clever clogs with a well-connected scientist grandpa, she had a pretty awesome teacher as well. 8)
Huh? --> "Grandfather sends a check to Miss Claxton, thanking her for her teaching. With the money, the school purchases a gramaphone...and names it Pluto. Venetia is a hero!" Wait, what? What makes Venetia a hero? Because she came up with the name Pluto? Because her grandfather wrote the school a check? Because the school bought a gramphone with said check? Dude. She doesn't need to be "a hero!" to be a person of interest. This interjection is neither necessary nor applicable.
Worth considering --> I found an article by a dude who poops on the Burney parade by pointing out other people who separately batted about the name Pluto. And I will confess that the reason I found this article is because I myself went looking, wondering how plausible it was that Burney was the first person to think of or suggest the name. Certainly it seems to suggest itself, given the existence of Jupiter and Neptune. But that said, and although Nunberg concludes that "it isn't plausible that Venetia really was the first person to suggest the name of Pluto," I never find anything in his article to rule her out, because the "window" for her naming it is so specific: Fri. March 14, 1930, at the breakfast table, with her grandfather passing on her suggestion to H.H. Turner, who sends it via telegram to Lowell Observatory on March 15. Every other date or general time frame mentioned in "Another Plutonian Casualty?" (August 27, 2006 http://itre.cis.upenn.edu/~myl/langua...) is just sort of some time thereafter. The New York Times story about the two Italian scientists breaks ten days later, on March 25th, and the guy Nunberg really seems to believe was slighted, William Henry Pickering, reportedly said he had been using it "privately."
My dude. "Privately" using and "planning" to suggest it are obviously not the same as *suggesting* it. And then Pickering *disavows* the name later when he decides that the characteristics of the planet now being called Pluto don't square with the planet(s) he hypothesized after all. For my money, that still leaves us with our girl Venetia Burney. Which is not to deny this was a very interesting little article. (Seriously. I enjoyed learning about the other personalities involved.)
Kind of nice --> The book kicks off with a lovely episode in which Miss Claxton, Venetia's teacher, takes the kids on a walk to give them a sense of vast distances and differences of size between the sun and planets Mercury through Saturn. In the Selected Bibliography at the back, I found a link to a page about "Miss Claxton describing the planet walk; Grandfather's letter to Miss Claxton." The original link was defunct, but you can find it via the Wayback Machine (https://web.archive.org/web/201107281...) or doing some clever keyword searches in conjunction with the root web site, amblesideonline. Anyway, my takeaway for this was, not only was Venetia a genuinely clever clever clogs with a well-connected scientist grandpa, she had a pretty awesome teacher as well. 8)
April 9, 2020
The Girl Who Named Pluto: The Story of Venetia Burney is a children's picture book written by Alice B. McGinty and illustrated by Elizabeth Haidle. It recounts how the newly discovered planet nine was named Pluto and the little girl who suggested it.
Venetia Katharine Douglas Burney, as an English girl of 11 years old, was credited by Clyde Tombaugh with first suggesting the name Pluto for the planet he discovered in 1930. She was living in Oxford, England, at the time. As an adult she worked as an accountant and a teacher.
McGinty's text is rather simplistic, straightforward, and informative. McGinty's quiet story posits that any individual with a passionate interest can make a lasting contribution to the world. Backmatter includes an author's note and bibliography. Haidle's layered, semi-opaque washes of blue-gray ink with rusty red accents impart a gravitas that supports the significance of Venetia's contribution and, echoing sepia-tone photos, emphasizes her place in history.
The premise of the book is rather straightforward. In 1930 Oxford, young Venetia Burney's curiosity about the planets is sparked when she and her classmates conduct a planet walk around their school, placing objects to represent the known planets. When a ninth planet is discovered, Burney suggests to her grandfather, a former head librarian at the Oxford library, that it should be named for the Roman God Pluto, and he shares the name with a professor at the Royal Astronomical Society. The day before she turns 89, Burney views Pluto through a telescope for the first time.
All in all, The Girl Who Named Pluto: The Story of Venetia Burney is an inspiring and beautifully illustrated retelling of how the former beloved planet Pluto got its name and the little girl who named it.
Venetia Katharine Douglas Burney, as an English girl of 11 years old, was credited by Clyde Tombaugh with first suggesting the name Pluto for the planet he discovered in 1930. She was living in Oxford, England, at the time. As an adult she worked as an accountant and a teacher.
McGinty's text is rather simplistic, straightforward, and informative. McGinty's quiet story posits that any individual with a passionate interest can make a lasting contribution to the world. Backmatter includes an author's note and bibliography. Haidle's layered, semi-opaque washes of blue-gray ink with rusty red accents impart a gravitas that supports the significance of Venetia's contribution and, echoing sepia-tone photos, emphasizes her place in history.
The premise of the book is rather straightforward. In 1930 Oxford, young Venetia Burney's curiosity about the planets is sparked when she and her classmates conduct a planet walk around their school, placing objects to represent the known planets. When a ninth planet is discovered, Burney suggests to her grandfather, a former head librarian at the Oxford library, that it should be named for the Roman God Pluto, and he shares the name with a professor at the Royal Astronomical Society. The day before she turns 89, Burney views Pluto through a telescope for the first time.
All in all, The Girl Who Named Pluto: The Story of Venetia Burney is an inspiring and beautifully illustrated retelling of how the former beloved planet Pluto got its name and the little girl who named it.
August 20, 2019
You'll finish this book in 10 minutes tops! But I still found it super enlightening and interesting to read. I had no idea that Pluto's name was proposed by a young girl, and it makes me really happy that her suggestion was actually taken seriously and chosen.
Now, I was really upset when it was decided that Pluto would not be part of the solar system and was reclassified. I grew up learning that the solar system is made up of 9 planets, and it ended with Pluto, the smallest one of them all. It feels strange to me that now I will be teaching my children that the solar system is actually comprised of 8. Reading this story though, it's made things even more interesting for me. I can still teach my kids about Pluto and tell them the story of how it was named and what's become of it.
Also, I loved the teacher's methods of teaching the children how far away each planet was from the other by counting steps around the neighborhood. In fact, I might just still that method when teaching my own children.
Definitely recommend reading this book.
Now, I was really upset when it was decided that Pluto would not be part of the solar system and was reclassified. I grew up learning that the solar system is made up of 9 planets, and it ended with Pluto, the smallest one of them all. It feels strange to me that now I will be teaching my children that the solar system is actually comprised of 8. Reading this story though, it's made things even more interesting for me. I can still teach my kids about Pluto and tell them the story of how it was named and what's become of it.
Also, I loved the teacher's methods of teaching the children how far away each planet was from the other by counting steps around the neighborhood. In fact, I might just still that method when teaching my own children.
Definitely recommend reading this book.
March 8, 2021
Featured in a grandma reads session.
Who would have thought I'd read two books this week set in Oxford, England???
This is the story of Venetia Burney - a granddaughter whose grandfather was was head librarian of the Oxford library. She had many questions about the solar system as that is what her class had been working on. A lively exchange happened between them. Soon the newspaper reported the sighting of a new planet, not yet named. Venetia followed the pattern of the other planets' names and suggested Pluto. Pluto the cold, distant and non-approachable. Grandpa uses his connections and after a while they receive word back that . . . wait! I will leave the rest to you. . .
A book my group enjoyed! The illustrations support the story and are in muted tones and neutrals.
3.5 stars to Pluto for joining the team!
Who would have thought I'd read two books this week set in Oxford, England???
This is the story of Venetia Burney - a granddaughter whose grandfather was was head librarian of the Oxford library. She had many questions about the solar system as that is what her class had been working on. A lively exchange happened between them. Soon the newspaper reported the sighting of a new planet, not yet named. Venetia followed the pattern of the other planets' names and suggested Pluto. Pluto the cold, distant and non-approachable. Grandpa uses his connections and after a while they receive word back that . . . wait! I will leave the rest to you. . .
A book my group enjoyed! The illustrations support the story and are in muted tones and neutrals.
3.5 stars to Pluto for joining the team!
October 14, 2019
Really engaging picture book biography of Venetia Burney, the eleven-year-old girl who named the newly-discovered-then-planet Pluto. Venetia shared a love of learning with grandfather, a retired Oxford librarian and they were fascinated by the story of the newly discovered planet. When Venetia suggested a name for it, her scientific world connected grandfather passed it on. Months later they learned the name had been selected.
Based on a true story of two people with wonderful and curious minds, this is an inspiring and rewarding book. I loved Haidle's illustrations that had a real feel of the time and also really extended the story. Back matter includes more information about Venetia and her life and a bibliography. End papers have labeled constellations.
Based on a true story of two people with wonderful and curious minds, this is an inspiring and rewarding book. I loved Haidle's illustrations that had a real feel of the time and also really extended the story. Back matter includes more information about Venetia and her life and a bibliography. End papers have labeled constellations.
June 30, 2019
Venetia Burney, a young girl growing up in England was responsible for the naming of Pluto. Intrigued by an activity that she did in school in which they mapped the planets to scale, she brought her enthusiasm home to her grandfather, who worked in the Oxford library. When the discovery of Pluto becomes news, she creatively, and intuitively suggests to her grandfather that the planet be named Pluto. Through his connections, her name becomes the unanimous name of the then new planet. The history of how her name came to be is retold in this book.
September 18, 2019
It's not what you know, it's who you know - like a grandfather who's a friend of someone in the Royal Astronomical Society. Venetia suggests Planet X be named "Pluto" and has to wait a long time while it sifts through the channels until it reaches Clyde Tombaugh at the Lowell Observatory who likes the idea. As a reward, her grandfather gives Venetia's school the money to purchase a gramophone - that they name "Pluto."
It's a sweet story with very good illustrations that might work in storytime as the text is simple and direct.
It's a sweet story with very good illustrations that might work in storytime as the text is simple and direct.
June 28, 2020
This is a wonderful book about an 11-year-old girl who actually named the planet Pluto! This would be a wonderful read aloud for elementary students and would show them that anything is possible! As science progressed through the years, and NASA built Robotic spacecraft to actually visit the now dwarf planet in the year 2006, young students actually designed an instrument that was part of that NASA mission! And in 2015 they named a crater on Pluto after this young girl, Venetia Burney (Burney Basin)!
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February 23, 2023When Venetia's grandfather shared the exciting news of the 9th planet's discovery, she felt inspired to suggest that it should be named Pluto. With her grandfather's encouragement, he contacted the Royal Astronomical Society in London to relay the suggestion to the scientists at the Lowell Observatory in Massachusetts - the place of Pluto’s discovery. After a vote, Pluto was officially chosen as the name of this dark, cold planet, a nod to the underworld of Roman mythology. Venetia's curiosity and knowledge initiate discussions about women's impact in STEM.
July 17, 2019
A very interesting story! I had no idea that the name Pluto was actually suggested by a student! Just goes to show what a curious mind can come up with.
I liked how kid-friendly the text was. It could very easily have been about any other student that kids today would know.
I do wish that there had been more numbers of steps given between planets - that way teachers could re-enact the lesson after reading this book!
I liked how kid-friendly the text was. It could very easily have been about any other student that kids today would know.
I do wish that there had been more numbers of steps given between planets - that way teachers could re-enact the lesson after reading this book!
July 18, 2019
This was a wonderful storybook that details Venetia Burney’s early life and the story of how her grandfather helped her get her name for Pluto recognized. The artwork was magnificent and the story heart-warming. In the Author’s Notes there are even quotes from Mz. Burney as an adult on the removal of Pluto’s planetary status. Overall, a wonderful introductory biography of Venetia Burney sure to amuse all!
September 24, 2019
Loved this picture book about the girl who named Pluto! Alice McGinty opened with a wonderful story of Venetia in school with her teacher and classmates that provided the perfect example of her lifelong love of astronomy. This picture book biography is a STEM book for every elementary classroom bookshelf -- demonstrating that we can all make a difference.
In addition to the well-researched text are beautiful illustrations that carry the reader forward and into the pages.
In addition to the well-researched text are beautiful illustrations that carry the reader forward and into the pages.
June 10, 2020
This is a very enjoyable read with beautiful illustrations about the Discovery of Planet X and the naming of it, by Venetian Burney in England. I’m glad the library had it. This was especially fun for me for two reasons, I had read the book The Search for Planet X and then the bibliography references AmblesideOnline. We study the planets and start learning about Greek and Roman Mythology next year in school so I’ll be adding this book to the reading! So fun.
June 21, 2023
Well done. Story of Venetia Katharine Burney (famous grandfather Madan and well connected Uncle) combines her interest in Astronomy and Roman Gods to suggest Pluto as a name for a newly discovered planet
Criteria
Timeline: no
Author's Note:yes
Illustrator's Note-no
Primary Source/Summary of Source: yes
Text Level- good level for MS
Quotes: no
Topics: biography, picture book, narrative style
*YES (eh)
RS-Yes
Criteria
Timeline: no
Author's Note:yes
Illustrator's Note-no
Primary Source/Summary of Source: yes
Text Level- good level for MS
Quotes: no
Topics: biography, picture book, narrative style
*YES (eh)
RS-Yes
June 19, 2019
How did the former planet Pluto get its name? Why a school girl is one to come up with it as Pluto is Neptune's brother in Roman mythology. A neat biography with a story I was unfamiliar with. End note does explain that Pluto is no longer a planet and even interviews Venetia for her opinion - she thought it should still be a planet.
March 22, 2020
Our son has an abiding interest in space. This last week, with preschool closed, I asked what topics he wanted to explore while at home, and he chose "Space and Planets." So I ordered a few more books to assist with that and saw this one, which looked promising. He wanted to read it as soon as he saw it and really enjoyed it.
November 10, 2020
The Girl Who Named Pluto: The Story of Venetia Burney by Alice B. McGinty is a nice book about how a young girl named the planet Pluto after learning about other planets and moons in the solar system. This book is best suited for kids 2-5th grade depending on their reading level. I also really like the illustrations.
June 19, 2019
I absolutely love biographies..especially ones with beautiful illustrations and a fascinating new person to meet. I'd never heard the story about Venetia Burney...the young girl who is responsible for naming Pluto!
July 5, 2019
Who would have thought it was a little girl that named Pluto? Great story!
One of my favorite As it Happens stories on CBC was the one where people vented their anger over Pluto no longer being a planet. This book even addresses that in the afterward.
One of my favorite As it Happens stories on CBC was the one where people vented their anger over Pluto no longer being a planet. This book even addresses that in the afterward.
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October 10, 2019Terrific picture book biography about a girl whose curiosity was encouraged by her mom and grandfather. When a new planet was discovered, she thought Pluto would be a great name. Her well-connected grandfather writes a letter. Fascinating story.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews