Additional information
by Jeffrey Bennett (Author), Alan Okamoto (Illustrator)
Winner: 2016 ILA CBC Children's Choice List This is the updated "Perseverance Edition" (named for the latest rover on Mars) of the first children's book ever launched into space and read aloud by astronauts from the International Space Station Come with Max as he takes off on his next exciting science adventure, this time joining astronauts on the first human mission to Mars. Equipped with a specially designed spacesuit, Max sniffs for signs of microscopic life. Will he find any? Read the exciting story to find out, and to learn how his trip to Mars helps his young friend Tori reflect on the beauty and fragility of our own planet Earth. Max Goes to Mars is more than just a fun story. Educationally designed "Big Kid Boxes" along the sides of the pages help children and parents learn about Mars as the adventure unfolds. This new edition is fully updated to incorporate the latest scientific discoveries about Mars. COMING SOON: Max Goes to Mars is being made into a major planetarium show/movie, release in early 2026.
Author Biography
Astrophysicist Jeffrey Bennett has written numerous books for children, educators, college students, and the public. He served as a visiting senior scientist at NASA headquarters, co-led development of the Voyage Scale Model Solar System (Washington, D.C.), and created the free Totality app. His children's books were the first selected for Story Time From Space (books read aloud by astronauts on the ISS). Awards include the American Institute of Physics Science Communication Award (2014) and the Klopsteg Education Award (2023) from the American Association of Physics Teachers. Alan Okamoto (1957- 2012) was born at the " Birth of the Space Age." His mother claims to have purposefully sculpted his head to be as round as a " perfect space helmet." His father was a farmer and civil engineer who rode his trusty tractor while wearing what Alan understood to be a spacesuit. On weekends, Alan and his siblings would explore the California Central Valley countryside, where they farmed and played in the mud. Exploring opened their minds to nature, as they exercised their imaginations and observations. Alan was greatly honored when his work was flown in space. Jeffrey Bennett, winner of the 2013 American Institute of Physics Science Communication Award, is an astrophysicist and educator who proposed the idea for and helped develop the Voyage Scale Model Solar System-- the first science-oriented exhibit approved for permanent installation on the National Mall in Washington, DC. He is also the author of children's books, including those in the Science Adventures with Max the Dog series and The Wizard Who Saved the World. He lives in Boulder, Colorado. Alan Okamoto was a children's book illustrator and a space artist who completed commissioned work for the Air Force, numerous aerospace corporations, and college textbooks.
