Mars is the setting for my newest book, Sam and the Dragon, a chapter book for kids ages 9-12! I will announce the release date very soon. Today I came across a really fun site all about Mars with activities for kids. NASA is sending a spacecraft called Orion to Mars in December. Orion will carry a microchip with people’s names on it, just for fun. If you’d like to send your name or a “postcard” to Mars, you can follow the links on this site. There are lots more free activities, too! Have fun!
Here’s the link: http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/participate/funzone/
Books 'n stuff by Donna 
My favorite is Cidney Swanson’s Saving Mars series. Love those books!
This sounds brilliant!
I agree! And it’s a great way to get kids excited about space travel! Adults, too…
I think getting kids excited about space travel is one of our best hopes for the future. And I am personally a little bit obsessed with Mars myself – a huge fan of Kim Stanley Robinson’s wonderful Mars Trilogy.