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. This 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. The book can thereby be enjoyed by people of all ages: Young children can enjoy the story alone while bigger kids learn the science concepts that lie behind the scenes. Parents and teachers can use the boxes and the end-of-book activity to create a family or classroom learning experience. This edition incorporates the latest scientific discoveries about Mars. The English-language original was the first children's book ever launched into space and read aloud by astronauts from the International Space Station.