 Through
Fall 2011, I have donated more than 16,000 Big Kid Science books to more than 10,000 public elementary school
libraries and educators around the nation and world (scroll down for list). If your school district or organization would like to be considered for a future donation, please read the FAQ below and contact me; supply is obviously limited, so I can only accept limited donation requests with each printing of the books. Meanwhile, I also make Big Kid Science books available at a bulk (10 or more copies) educational discount of $10 per copy (plus shipping), provided the books are for classroom/school use only.
*** DONATION PROGRAM FAQ
***
Q: Why have you donated so many books?
A: Two reasons: (1) My main goal in writing children's books is to inspire
kids about both space and science more generally. Clearly, having books
in school libraries, where they can be used by both teachers and students,
is a great way to achieve my goal. (2) Public school libraries generally
have very limited budgets for new books, so getting a science book for
free is something they'll usually appreciate. Between the two reasons,
it's "win-win" all around.
Q: Who is eligible to receive donated books?
A: The donated books are intended for public elementary school libraries,
one book per school. For logistical reasons, I donate the books only through
relatively large school districts or other regional entities, which receive the books
centrally and take responsibility for distributing them to individual
schools.
Q: What must a school system/organization do to get the books?
A: Preference is given to districts that have plans to incorporate the books
into science or literacy curricula. The only other requirements are: (1) The
school system agrees to distribute one book to each elementary school
library in the system. (2) Prior to distribution, someone affixes a sticker
to the inside cover of each book to indicate that the book was donated
by the author. (3) The books are sent to the libraries with a letter or flyer that will let the librarians know how they came
to receive a copy of the book and how they can use the book effectively.
Q: Is there any cost to the school systems?
A: No. I pay for the books and shipping costs to the central location. And to answer another
common question: No, I do not receive any tax break for these donations.
Semi-complete list of donations to date:
Every public elementary school in the following systems has received Max Goes to Mars along with other books indicated (total number
of donation books in parentheses):
- Alaska
- Anchorage (65)
- Iditarod (9)
- Kenai Peninsula (35)
- Alabama
- Huntsville (3)
- Phenix City (7)
- Arkansas
- Batesville (4)
- Bentonville (7)
- Branch (1)
- Bryant (7)
- Cherry Valley (2)
- Fayetteville (10)
- Gentry (2)
- Harrison (5)
- Helena (4)
- Hot Springs (4)
- Jonesboro/Nettelton (11)
- North Little Rock (14)
- Rogers (14)
- Springdale (1)
- Walnut Ridge (14)
- Arizona
- Tucson (80)
- Indian Reservations in AZ and NM (216)
- Calilfornia
- Culver City (5)
- Folsom Cordova (19)
- Fullerton (17)
- Humboldt County (80)
- Los Angeles Unified (450)
- Manchester 1)
- Manteca (23)
- Mariposa County (7)
- McKinleyville (2)
- Mendocino County (8)
- Point Arena (2)
- Poway (22)
- Round Valley (2)
- San Bernardino (40)
- San Diego City and County - Moon, Mars, Jupiter (~1400)
- San Francisco Unified (80)
- Santa Clara County (255)
- Sonoma County (122)
- Stockton (10)
- Sunnyvale (10)
- Tulare County (150)
- Upper Lake (2)
- Ventura County (131)
- Colorado:
- The entire state - Moon (935)
- The entire state - Mars (935)
- Boulder Valley - Jupiter, Wizard (75)
- Denver Public Schools - Jupiter (100)
- Jefferson County - Jupiter (100)
- Connecticut
- District of Columbia Metro area (600), including:
- DC City
- Prince Georges County
- Montgomery County
- Charles County
- Calvert County
- Fairfax County
- Arlington
- Alexandria
- Falls church
- Florida
- Brevard County (55)
- Orange County (115)
- Georgia
- Atlanta metro region (456)
- Springfield (7)
- Hawaii: The entire state (225)
- Illinois
- Chicago (552)
- Dolton -Riverdale District (6)
- Girard (1)
- Kaneland (4)
- Sycamore (4)
- Indiana
- Bedford (11)
- Zionsville (7)
- Kentucky
- Green River Educational Cooperative (192)
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- see "District of Columbia Metro area"
- Massachusetts
- Arlington (6)
- Danvers (7)
- Michigan:
- Ann Arbor - Moon, Mars (42)
- Rest of state; selected schools (750)
- Minnesota
- Inver Grove Heights (4)
- St. Paul - Moon, Mars (104)
- Mississippi: The entire state (960)
- Missouri:
- Joplin - Moon, Mars, Jupiter, Ice Age (64)
- Nevada
- New Mexico
- Indian Reservations in AZ and NM (216)
- New York
- New York City - Moon and Mars (1600)
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oregon
- Estacada (3)
- Fern Ridge (3)
- Forest Grove (10)
- Hood River (6)
- Medford (14)
- Newport (6)
- Oregon Trail (5)
- Salem-Keizer (45)
- Sheridan (2)
- Pennsylvania
- Delaware County (72)
- Lower Merion (8)
- Saxonburg (3)
- Sharon Hill (4)
- Rhode Island
- East Bay Educational Collaborative (240)
- Texas
- Austin - Moon, Mars, Jupiter (240)
- Bastrop (6)
- Dallas , selected districts (54)
- Grand Prairie (23)
- Houston (196)
- McKinney ISD (17)
- Nacogdoches (6)
- Refugio ISD (1)
- Spring Branch ISD (25)
- Vanderbilt (2)
- Waco (36; all 3 books mixed)
- Vermont: The entire state (270)
- Virginia
- Charlottesville/ Albemarle County (34)
- Roanoke/Salem City and County - Moon, Mars, Jupiter, Wizard (160)
- see also "District of Columbia Metro area"
- Washington, DC: see "District of Columbia Metro area"
- Washington State
- Eastern region, selected districts (360)
- Wisconsin
- Beloit Turner (2)
- Madison (32)
- Sun Prarie (6)
- West Virginia (90), including
- Berkeley County
- Grant County
- Hampshire County
- Hardy County
- Jefferson County
- Mineral County
- Morgan County
- Ohio County
- Pendleton County
- Tucker County
- Wyoming
- Cody (4)
- Laramie/Cheyenne (26)
- CANADA
- Ontario, selected schools (216)
Additional special donations:
- NASA CORE educator's network - Moon (1100)
- NASA space educators conference 2011 - Mars (600)
- NASA space educators conference 2012 - Moon (600)
- Schools and community centers of the Harlem Children's Zone - Moon, Mars, Jupiter (300)
- Shriners Hospitals/Lullalee events - Moon, Mars, Jupiter (72)
- Heart of America Foundation - Moon, Mars, Jupiter (105)
- MGR Foundation - Wizard (500)
- Project RxRead, Charleston SC - Moon (24)
- USA Science Festival 2012 - Moon, Mars, Jupiter, Wizard (400)
- Schools in South Africa, Kenya, Ethiopia - various titles (~200)
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