With an M.S. and Ph.D. in Astrophysics, Jeffrey Bennett specializes in mathematics and science education, spending most of his time as a writer, along with speaking to audiences ranging from elementary school children to college faculty.

He is the author of best-selling college textbooks in four distinct subject areas: astronomy, mathematics, statistics, and astrobiology (life in the universe). Together, these books have sold more than 1 million copies. He is also the creator and author of elementary school level book, The Wizard Who Saved the World and of the children’s series, Science Adventures with Max the Dog, which includes Max Goes to the Moon, Max Goes to Mars, and Max Goes to Jupiter.

Through his “Max Goes to Schools” donation program, he has donated more than 16,000 copies of his children’s books to elementary school libraries across the nation. Jeff is also the founder of Big Kid Science, a company dedicated to educating and inspiring children with the wonders of science.

 

We are excited to welcome award-winning author Jeffrey Bennett to our Spotlight.

MCA: Hi Jeff, now that you have an award-winning product, what are your goals for 2013?
Jeff: I’m busy with a great many projects. For children, I’m working on Max Goes to the International Space Station, a “prequel” to the other books in the Max Science Adventure series.

There are tentative plans for it to get its first official reading on publication day by an astronaut aboard the station.We’re promoting a new planetarium show based on my book Max Goes to the Moon, and we’re working to secure funding for follow-up shows based on other books in the series.

I’ve launched a new exhibit for the National Science Teachers Association conventions called “Ask an Astronomer,” in which we’ll bring professional astronomers to conferences to answer any and all questions the teachers might have.

On other fronts, I’ve started writing a blog for the group Earth Protect, focusing on issues of climate and energy. I’m working on new editions of my college-level textbooks in astronomy, statistics, and math.

For the public, I’m promoting my new book Math for Life (also a Mom’s Choice winner), and am working on new books on science teaching and on Einstein’s theory of relativity.

Finally, I’m working to expand my book donation program—through which I’ve provided books to more than 10,000 elementary school and other school libraries in the US—into other nations through partnerships I’ve formed with the United Nations Office of Outer Space Affairs, the Asia Foundation, and the International Astronomical Union’s outreach office in South Africa.

 

MCA: How do you think your Mom’s Choice Award will help you attain your goals?
Jeff: It’s a great honor to have received the Mom’s Choice Award. Honestly, I’m too new to this to know exactly how it will help, but certainly I hope it will increase the number of people who hear about my books.

I’m also hoping that I might get more opportunities to speak to groups or do assemblies at elementary schools. And, of course, I hope that many moms will post reviews of my books on various websites and social media sites.

MCA: Can you tell us about what motivated you to write your books?
Jeff: I always focus all my books around three main goals.

(1) Education: Teach real and sophisticated science in a fun and entertaining context, and in a way that encourages children and adults to learn together.
(2) Perspective: To provide perspective on our own planet and species by picturing them in a larger context.
(3) Inspiration: To inspire children to dream of how much better the world could be if they work hard and if we all work together. In the case of The Wizard Who Saved the World, I particularly wanted to take the issue of global warming and show kids and parents what it means to our future in a way that might inspire everyone to stop arguing and find real solutions.

 

MCA: Since you launched The Wizard Who Saved the World, what has been your most rewarding experience in promoting or sharing it with the public?
Jeff: On a personal level, my most rewarding experiences are always my elementary school visits. There’s nothing better than being in front of a couple hundred elementary school kids and watching them get inspired about science and literature.

On a more abstract level, I’ve been particularly excited that I was able to work with the Colorado PTA and the Jared Polis Foundation to donate a copy of The Wizard Who Saved the World to every one of the 1,000 public elementary school libraries in my home state of Colorado.

 

MCA: Can you share with us what you learned about yourself as an writer in creating your award-winning books?
Jeff: Although I’ve written a lot of books before, The Wizard Who Saved the World was one of the most difficult, because it tackles subject matter that usually depresses people, and I instead wanted to turn it into a story that would provide inspiration.

So I suppose what I learned about myself is that I could venture at least a little bit out of my usual comfort zone and do something a little different.

 

MCA: As a new honoree, do you have any questions you’d like some of the “old hands” to answer for you?
Jeff: That’s a tough one, but I suppose I’d ask this: While I’ve been very happy with the reception The Wizard Who Saved the World is receiving, and enjoy the fact that I’ve been able to donate so many copies to schools, the truth is that sales have been dismal.

So I’d sure appreciate any suggestions on how to translate the nice comments that people make about the book into actual sales!

The Wizard Who Saved the World
written by Jeffrey Bennett; illustrated by:
by Big Kid Science, 2011-2012

Silver: Children’s Picture Books / Science & Technology

El mago que salvó el mundo (spanish)
written by Jeffrey Bennett; illustrated by:
by Big Kid Science, 2011-2012

Silver: Children’s Picture Books / Science & Technology

Math for Life
by Jeffrey Bennett
Roberts and Company Publishers, 2011

Silver: Adult Books – Non-Fiction

 

Contact, Connect, and Network with Jeff

The Alumni Spotlight is a periodic feature on the official Mom’s Choice Awards® blog. It is part of our ongoing effort to “shine the spotlight” on you and your award-winning, family-friendly products, services, and media.