Pluto Rocket: New in Town

Gr 1-4–When alien Pluto Rocket lands on Earth to investigate and carry out her secret mission, she buddies up with the first Earthling she sees: a fashionable pigeon named Joe Pidge. From there, the two go on a variety of adventures, often revolving around Pluto Rocket’s excitement and unfiltered magic, which pairs well against Joe’s brashness and obliviousness. The ending of the third chapter hints at exploring more of Pluto’s home planet and truly moving the story forward, a welcome contradiction to similar stories that are content to spin their wheels, and it will be fascinating to see this series develop. Gilligan’s offbeat, random humor ensures that the stories are fresh, and the laughs are genuine, such as ending a story with a merry-go-round hat that can shoot French fries. The simple yet charming character design nicely matches the understated color palette, placing the focus on the humor and the developing friendship.