Willard teacher publishes first children’s novel
Chris Moreau may teach at Willard Elementary School, but her name soon will be well-known in all 35 of Spokane’s elementary schools.
The longtime music teacher recently published her first children’s novel, “The Professor’s Telescope,” and Spokane Public Schools officials purchased enough copies for every elementary school library. The book is also in the process of being presented to the school board for approval so it can be used in the classroom.
“I can hardly wait,” Moreau said. “It’s so exciting.”
The book is the culmination of more than two years of work for Moreau, 48, and her husband, Mickey. The book teaches readers about astronomy through the adventures of Professor Strang and two of his students, Eric and Meredith. Eric and the professor are named after Eric Strang, the observing coordinator for the Spokane Astronomical Society who has earned the nickname “The Professor” over the years. Meredith is the name of the Moreau’s daughter, a freshman at Shadle Park High School.
“My husband and I have always just been crazy about astronomy, and we wanted to help kids be crazy about astronomy,” Moreau said. “They are explorers of the future.”
Both Moreau and her husband are former members of the Spokane Astronomical Society, and are current members of Kid’s Cosmos, a nonprofit educational resource for teachers, students and astronomers. A percentage of their book sales will benefit the organization.
The book is published by Windows of Discovery Publishing, created by the Moreaus. The name came from a dream the couple once had to open a telescope shop.
“We were going to open (a shop) here years ago, but we didn’t think there was demand enough for it,” Moreau said. “So we kept the name around all these years.”
Copies of the book are available online at www.theprofessorstelescope.com and at Auntie’s Bookstore, where a reading and book signing is scheduled for Dec. 18 at 7:30 p.m. For more information, visit the Web site.
St. George’s holiday celebration
St. George’s School will host a Holiday Boutique on Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 7 p .m. in the historic Davenport House on the school grounds, 2929 W. Waikiki Road.
The event will feature gifts, crafts and artwork for sale, as well as espresso and treats by the fire inside Louis Davenport’s summer home.
Arts and crafts for sale include quilts by Debbie Mumm, beaded jewelry and handbags by Marilyn Fisher, Appalachian-style reed baskets by Betsy Aguirre and Jan Garske, paintings by Spokane Watercolor Society member Linda Smith, and a yarn-spinning demonstration by Salene Sheridan.
The event is free and open to the public. For directions or more information, go to www.sgs.org, or call 466-1636, ext. 306.