Everyone knows that Pluto has been crossed off the list of planets, but how did it happen, and why?  In The Planet Hunter: The Story Behind What Happened To Pluto (Rising Moon/Cooper Square Press), readers follow the story of astronomer Mike Brown, who grew up fascinated by the night sky.  Determined to discover a new planet, Mike’s surprising findings changed the face of astronomy.  This exciting picture book biography helps kids understand that science is done by real people and is unfolding right now.  The book includes the most up-to-date information on Pluto and comes with a poster of the new solar system.

According to Crayola, the average American child wears down 730 crayons by his 10th birthday.  A Day With No Crayons (Rising Moon/Cooper Square Press) celebrates creativity with a colorful story for kids ages 4-8.  When Liza’s mother takes away her beloved crayons, Liza’s world suddenly turns gray.  She angrily squirts blue toothpaste into the sink and stomps through brown mud puddles, then begins to discover a world of color all around her.  Mixed-media illustrations celebrate the theme with playful nods to Vincent Van Gogh, Jackson Pollock, and “found art.” 

In Will It Blow? Become a Volcano Detective at Mount St. Helens (Sasquatch Books), kids are challenged to solve the mysteries surrounding Mount St. Helens’ latest eruption.  Since fall 2004, earth-shattering forces have been rumbling underneath the mountain, building a lava dome higher than the Empire State Building.  Readers become detectives on the cutting edge of science as they try to predict whether a deadly mudflow or red-hot explosion is imminent.  Based on extensive interviews with USGS scientists, the book includes quotes from real volcano detectives as well as fun, hands-on activities.  Creative, fresh, and lively, it’s the most up-to-the-minute volcano book on the shelves.

Elizabeth Rusch’s first children’s book, Generation Fix, was a Smithsonian magazine Notable Children’s Book and a finalist for the International Reading Association’s Children’s Book Award and the Oregon Book Award.  A former managing editor of Teacher magazine and contributing editor to Child and Fit Pregnancy, Rusch has published more than 100 articles in such national magazines as Muse, Read, American Girl, Harper’s, Mother Jones, Parenting, and Backpacker.  She is the recipient of a Kay Snow Literary Award, a Maggie Award, and an Oregon Literary Fellowship.  The Portland, Oregon, author grew up in South Carolina and Connecticut and holds degrees from Duke University and the University of California at Berkeley.  Visit her online at www.elizabethrusch.com.

# # #

A Day With No Crayons
Written by Elizabeth Rusch, illustrated by Chad Cameron
Published by Rising Moon/Cooper Square Press
Publication date November
Ages 4-8 • 32 pages
ISBN 13: 978-0-87358-910-9
List Price: $15.95 (hardcover)

The Planet Hunter: The Story Behind What Happened To Pluto 
Written by Elizabeth Rusch, illustrated by Guy Francis
Published by Rising Moon/Cooper Square Press
Publication date November
Ages 4-8 • 32 pages
ISBN 13: 978-087358-926-0 (hardcover)
List price: $15.95