My son loves learning about the planets and the universe.  I as a child also enjoyed learning about the NINE planets.  The mnemonic my elementary school teacher taught us students to memorize the planets was My Very Earthly Mother Just Served Us Nine Pies.  Of course, there are so many other variations like My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizzas (which I think I like better, especially since I like a good slice of pizza). 

So, what’s the problem?

Officially there are only EIGHT planets now!  Sadly, Pluto was downgraded to a dwarf planet. 

This is of course old news as the redefining of Pluto as a dwarf planet goes back to 2006. Although the scientific community enforced this major change into our lives some time ago, it has been a very slow journey to the state of acceptance.  There are still so many books on bookshelves everywhere describing wonderful facts about the NINE planets.  People still talk about the NINE planets in conversations.  Bookstores still sell publications about the NINE planets.

How do we explain all this to the little ones?  What is appropriate to avoid any confusion with what they learn in school?

Here are two board books with the eight planets:

• 8 Little Planets, by Chris Ferrie   

• Solar System, by Jill McDonald (includes Pluto, but describes it as a dwarf planet)

So what is a good mnemonic for the eight planets?  If we don’t come up with something creative, our very earthly or educated mother will be serving us nothing!

(Shown in picture above – Uncle Goose Planet Blocks)