Max Goes to Mars
Second Edition

(Max viaja a Marte – Spanish; also available in Japanese)
by Jeffrey Bennett, illustrated by Alan Okamoto

Book 2 of the Max Science Adventure Series

As read from the International Space Station for Story Time From Space!

In this exciting sequel (to Max Goes to the Moon), Max Goes to Mars tells the story of how Max and his friends help lead the first human mission to Mars. There, you’ll learn how Max helps makes one of the most important discoveries of all time. After returning home, Max and Tori reflect on the beauty and fragility of our own planet Earth. As with all the books in the Max Science Adventure series, Max Goes to Mars includes “Big Kid Box” sidebars that explain the science that lies behind the scenes of the picture book story; topics covered include “How Far is Mars?,” “Water on Mars,” and “Is There Really Life on Mars?”

Like all the books from author Jeffrey Bennett, Max Goes to Mars is designed to work simultaneously on three different levels:

• Education comes in the scientifically accurate content.
• Perspective comes in the way the book helps children (and parents) learn to see themselves and our planet in a new light.
• Inspiration comes in encouraging children to dream of how they can help make the world a better place, and perhaps travel to space themselves someday.

Max Goes to Mars is truly the perfect book for kids, parents, and teachers.

SELECTION — Story Time From Space, launched to International Space Station in 2014
INTERNATIONAL LITERACY ASSOCIATION, Children’s Choices List 2016
WINNER — Learning Magazine Teachers’ Choice Award 2010
WINNER — Young Voices Foundation Gold Award, Children’s Picture Book (Legacy) 2009
WINNER — Creative Child Magazine Preferred Choice Award, Educational Book 2009
National Science Teachers Association Recommends List, Grades K-8

Resources for Max Goes to Mars

About the Author and Illustrator
“Secrets of the paintings” and other page-by-page notes

Reviews

“A rousing success… Its brisk plot is enhanced both by Alan Okamoto’s colorful illustrations and by clearly explained scientific information.”
— National Science Teachers Association “Recommends”

“Max is a great book for elementary school-age kids, [and] might be even better suited to adults… Parents and teachers … are provided the answers to the most commonly asked questions about Mars.”
— Sky and Telescope

“A book that can easily grow with the child…provides a very nice (and scientifically accurate) introduction to an interesting topic and conveys the excitement associated with scientific discovery.”
— Astronomy Education Review

“Max Goes to Mars takes students on a fictional journey to Mars through the eyes of a friendly dog named Max. Readers of all ages will enjoy the story, but upper elementary students will appreciate the “Big Kid Boxes” designed to give readers scientific information about the story. The intersection of science and story is strong in this book!
— International Literacy Association (Children’s Choices List, 2016)

“Fuels young readers’ interest in space travel, while explaining difficult scientific concepts in an easy-to-understand manner.”
— Mercury Magazine

“A fun and educational story that all future Martians are sure to enjoy.”
— National Space Society (review by Marianne Dyson)

“A wonderful children’s book  with great technical details and scientific information. … inspires students to think about the future and plan their own adventures.”
— Mansel A. Nelson, Program Coordinator, Tribal Environmental Education Outreach, Northern Arizona University

“A must have in any elementary school classroom. Max is an adorable dog that my students love! His adventures keep my students engaged, but that is not all this book has to offer. It is chock full of super interesting facts that fascinate my students as well.”
— Tracy Taylor, Elementary Teacher, Colorado

“Wonderful!! One can read these books over and over and learn something new each time. They are loaded with science and are informative to all levels of budding scientists! I highly recommend them!”
— Sharon Posthumus, Middle School Science Teacher, Boulder, CO

“A wonderful blend of storytelling and accurate science [with]  plenty of additional space facts to inspire the adults that read the books with their children. Well written, well-illustrated and a fabulous read!”
—  Steve Sherman, Living Maths, South Africa

“An outstanding book … Both children and adults will find the story and artwork, as well as the factual information, motivating and exciting. Teachers of elementary and middle schools will find the book the perfect interdisciplinary tool.”
— Mark Levy, Adjunct Associate Professor of Education, St. Johns University

Summary

Max Goes to Mars begins where Max Goes to the Moon left off, with Max getting ready to go on the first human mission to Mars. This time, the trip is too long for his human friend Tori to go along, but she helps him prepare. On Mars, Max makes one of the most important discoveries of all time. After returning home, Max and Tori reflect on the beauty and fragility of our own planet Earth.

• The book is fictional but scientifically accurate throughout. Even the illustrations are based on the best current science.
• Each page of the story stands on its own but also has “behind the scenes” science lessons that are explained in more detail in “Big Kid Boxes” along the sides of the pages.
• Even very young children will love the story, while the science elements make it appeal to older kids well.
• Teachers and parents will also learn from the Big Kid Boxes, which can help them answer the questions that young children are likely to ask and make the book ideal for parent/child interaction.
• The book includes ideas for activities that can be done at home or in the classroom.
• The book also focuses on the emotional side of pet ownership, as the trip takes Max away from home for more than 2 years and helps Tori realize how she should appreciate their time together.
• The book is designed to inspire all children – for example, the main characters besides Max are a young girl, named Tori, and the African American commander of the Mars mission, named Commander Grant.