LSUS education professor to debut children's book at local observatory's star party

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LSUS education professor to debut children's book at local observatory's star party

SHREVEPORT - Some writers will engage in physical activity to generate story ideas as the blood courses through the body to the brain.

LSUS education professor Cay Evans came up with the idea for her new book series while working out, but inspiration came from personal trainer Stuart Burgess.

The series features the main character Stuart, a young boy, and his dog Sealy, who accompanies his human friend on various adventures.

Burgess is an avid astronomy nerd, and Stuart's latest journey in the series centers around learning about the stars. His love of astronomy began as a child through time spent gazing at the stars with his grandmother, Chere'.

"Look Up Sealy" follows the pair's education about the stars and finding something bigger than themselves. The book features accurate drawings of constellations like Orion's Belt and the Big and Little Dippers.

"The real Stuart is a funny person who tells these ridiculously hilarious stories, and I morph them into books," Evans said. "One day when we're working out and walking, he's talking about the stars and all kinds of crazy science facts and information."

"Those stories turned into a book about how Stuart and Sealy look up at the stars, and about how God named the stars and knows us by our names. It explores the nature of talking about the universe and God and something bigger than ourselves."

Evans learned about the Shreveport-Bossier Astronomical Society, Inc., and thought that a book signing at the Shreveport Observatory could be an engaging way to attract families.

Organization president Cran Lucas is combining Evans' book signing with the group's Star Party on Nov. 2 at the Shreveport Observatory. The observation session will be held from 7-10 p.m. The observatory is located about eight miles south of Shreveport on Hwy. 175.

Lucas, a biochemistry professor at LSUS, said he thought the combination of the events would widen interest for both Evans and the astronomical society.

"A Star Party is where we have a bunch of telescopes set up, and people can come out and observe the moon, planets, stars, nebula - any number of things depending on the time of year and what's up in the sky," Lucas said. "What's exciting for us is when we have a lot of families come out with young kids.

"The first time a young child looks through a telescope at the moon's craters or at Saturn and its rings, it's a mind-blowing experience."

Lucas got hooked on astronomy as an 8-year-old in Dallas when his neighbor set up a homebuilt telescope.

"One night he pulled it out, and a throng of kids from the neighborhood descended on his driveway," Lucas recalls. "The first time I saw the moon through a telescope, it was just galvanizing.

"We hope we can do that for kids. We have so many adults that come to the star parties and have never looked through a telescope, so it's amazing the first time they get to see that, too. Our goal with the star parties is to share our love of astronomy with the public."

The book "Look Up, Sealy" is the third book in the Stuart series, all of which have been released this year.

The series starts with "Stuart Just Wouldn't" about the importance of wearing your seatbelt.

The second book in the series titled "What's This All About? A Dentist in My Mouth?" is about Stuart avoiding a dentist trip and how to make that trip fun.

Stuart's dog Sealy is named in honor of two of Burgess's friends who died in their service as Navy SEALs.

To learn more about Evans and the book series, visit thestuartandsealystore.com.

Can't make the Nov. 2 star party? The observatory hosts star parties roughly four times each year depending on weather and cloud cover.

To learn more about the observatory and the Shreveport-Bossier Astronomical Society, visit the group's website.