Max Goes to the Space Station

(Max viaja a la estacion espacial – Spanish; also available in Japanese)
by Jeffrey Bennett, illustrated by Michael Carroll

Book 4 of the Max Science Adventure Series

As read from the International Space Station for Story Time From Space in English and Japanese!

Max Goes to the Space Station is the long-awaited prequel to Max Science Adventure books that began with Max Goes to the Moon. That first book opened with a parade celebrating Max’s heroics on the Space Station. Now, in Max Goes to the Space Station, you’ll learn just how Max saved the day. You’ll also learn lots of science, including the real reason why astronauts are weightless in space. (Hint: it’s not because of a lack of gravity!)

Like all the books from author Jeffrey Bennett, Max Goes to the Space Station 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.

It’s no wonder that all the prior books in the series have won multiple awards, are recommended Grades K-8 by the National Science Teachers Association, and are now part of the Story Time From Space  books  read from orbit by astronauts aboard the International Space Station.

WINNER— Golden Duck Award 2015
SELECTION — Story Time From Space, launched to International Space Station in 2014
National Science Teachers Association Recommends List, Grades K-8
Space.com “Best Space Books and SciFi” Reading List

Resources for Max Goes to the Space Station

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

Reviews

“The artwork is plentiful, colorful, and realistic. The material has been vetted by a baker’s dozen of educators (and one astronaut) and should blend seamlessly into the curriculum.”
— School Library Journal

“An engaging book … [and] an excellent resource to teach pre-school and elementary school children about the International Space Station and how astronauts and people from so many countries have helped to make it a reality. … will have a lasting effect on the reader and encourage him or her to someday pursue a career in the sciences, technology or space.”
— National Space Society (review by Susan Raizer)

“How many children’s books can you honestly say have been to space? Jeffrey Bennett’s tale (Get it? It’s about a dog) about a dog called Max and his adventures to the International Space Station is not only an accurate look at what life in space is like — it actually joined the station’s library in 2014 as part of the Story Time from Space project. With illustrations by famed space artist Michael Carroll, “Max Goes to the Space Station” takes the titular pooch on a voyage to the station by way of NASA’s Johnson Space Center and Kennedy Space Center, with readers learning all sorts of fun facts about spaceships, the space station and life in weightlessness on the way. Max even helps the station crew through an emergency. The book is great for kids of all ages, and includes “Big Kid Boxes” on the science of space for older kids age 8 and up. Bennett has also written “Max Goes to the Moon” (another space traveler) and tales that send Max to Mars and Jupiter.”
— Space.com “Best Space Books Reading List, Review by Tariq Malik

“Another outstanding Max book for children, teachers and caregivers. The series is a must for school and home libraries. The reader gets a great story and much background information.”
— Mark Levy, Adjunct Associate Professor of Education, St. Johns University

“Fabulous!! My son and I have read all five of Jeffrey Bennett’s children’s space books. I think the best thing about them is that, as my son grows up, more and more of the information in the margins is accessible to him. It feels like a new book every time we pick it up!! I would highly recommend this book to families and teachers looking for a way to hook their children into science curriculum.”
— Sharon Posthumus, Middle School Science Teacher, Boulder, CO

Additional Thanks

Models: Artist Michael Carroll uses models for the characters in his paintings, and thanks the following individuals for their willingness to be photographed and painted into the story:
Starring Cosmo as Max
Rachel Webb as Tori
Lado Jurkin as Commander Grant
Dave Schmitt as Tori’s dad
Nathan Webb as Tori’s brother
Lea Wright as the woman with the ISS business card
Sara Allen, Corey Ramlet, Rose Kingham as other children in the story
On selected pages you’ll also recognize Astronaut Alvin Drew and the artist for the first two Max books, Alan Okamoto (1957-2012).

Classroom Reviewers: The following teachers read prepublication drafts of the book with their classes, providing valuable feedback to the author and illustrator:
Valerie Binnie, Highland Primary, Snowflake AZ
Dorothy Clouser, St. Teresa School, Titusville FL
RuthAnn Fillman
Barb Gosney, Fireside Elementary, Phoenix AZ
Heather Gray, Navajo County AZ
Kathy Horstmeyer, Lower Merion School District
Theresa Roberts, Jefferson County Traditional Middle School in Louisville, KY
Cathy Robinson, Hiram Elementary, Hiram GA
Ellie Scheman, Jefferson Elementary School, Mesa AZ
Elini Vilardi, Mayer Elementary School, Mayer AZ
Sherra Wahl, Sequoia Village School, Show Low AZ
Jonathan Warshaw, Foothill Elementary, Boulder CO

Proofreaders – English Edition
Ashley Taylor Anderson
Val Wheeler, Casey Middle School, Boulder CO

Proofreaders – Spanish Edition
Yvette Rivera, Casey Middle School, Boulder CO
Eliezer Gonzales, Independent Publishers Group