Big Kid Science

Inspired by the unique combination of literacy and science in Jeffrey Bennett's series of Science Adventures with Max the Dog, the Summit School District (Colorado) created a district-wide "Make Your Own Max Science Adventure" contest for their first annual "Summit Writes Celebration." More than 100 third and fourth graders submitted entries. Series creator Jeffrey Bennett was so impressed with Logan Weinman's winning entry that he decided to help Logan publish it as Max's Ice Age Adventure.

Logan both wrote and illustrated Max's Ice Age Adventure, a story in which Max and Tori travel back in time to the last ice age, where they encounter a saber-tooth tiger and other adventures. Jeffrey Bennett then added science Q&A boxes to address common questions that children might ask as they read the story. Questions addressed include:

Is time travel really possible?
What is an "ice age"?
Will there be another ice age?
and many more

We hope that the success of the Summit Writes Celebration will inspire other school systems to hold similar efforts in which children can make their own Max Science Adventures. For more information about holding such a contest, write to info@bigkidscience.com.