Go to the website of the textbook publisher. Some of the major textbook publishers are Harper-Collins, Prentice-Hall, Houghton Mifflin, and McGraw-Hill Publishers.
Navigate to the section of the website designed for educators. Although each publishing house’s website is unique, each will have tabs or links to direct students and instructors to the appropriate (separate) textbook information.
Select your state. Some websites, Houghton Mifflin’s site for example, will ask that you select the state in which you’re teaching. Others, like McGraw Hill, will simply ask you to refine your search in terms of the level of your students and the subject area of the material.
Find a textbook that interests you. Each publisher offers a variety of materials for a variety of subjects. Selecting the right material for your course will depend on the course objectives and your own personal teaching tastes.
Find your representative, which you can do by choosing the link on the website. Textbook publishers staff sales representatives all over the country, and these representatives will send sample copies of texts and answer any questions you may have the website doesn’t specifically address. Additionally, once you’ve made contact with your local representative, often she will take it upon herself to keep you informed of any new material in your discipline.
The sales representative search will provide you with a name, an email and a phone number through which you might contact your rep.
Contact your rep and request a copy of the textbook you’re interested in reviewing.