Inspired by Izayah, Meats publishes third children’s book

"It really gives me a feeling of accomplishment," said Jeff Meats. "I love teaching children and helping them learn new things."
Meats, a 1981 graduate of Concordia High School, will be in Concordia for a signing appearance of his latest children's book: 'Izayah's Space and Time Machine: Mercury'.
Izayah is Meats's great-grandson, who lives with him and his wife in New Mexico.
"Izayah and his mother stay with us while she's studying to be a nurse," Meats said. "I work from 4 a.m. to noon, so when I come home Izayah's my buddy. We're inseparable."
After he graduated from CHS, Meats spent 10 years in the Navy as an E5 Petty Officer, Second Class. He eventually married and settled in New Mexico. In June he and his wife will celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary.
Meats's love for telling children stories began when his own daughter was young. He would compose nursery rhymes and read them to his daughter at night before she went to bed.
"I had all the stories and rhymes for years, and friends kept encouraging me to publish them, so I did."
'Izayah's Space and Time Machine: Mercury' is Meats's third children's book. In this story, Meats tells how he and his great-grandson take a mythical journey to the planet Mercury.
"In the story Izayah and I build a space-and-time machine and we go on a trip to Mercury, and we talk about things like temperature and gravity."
In subsequent books, Meats intends to use the time-travel machine to eventually visit all the planets in the solar system, and go back to prehistoric times on Earth.
"Izayah loves dinosaurs, so in another book we're going to travel back to that era and talk about dinosaurs and what the Earth was like."
Izayah is an integral part of the writing process, and Meats is proud of the effect it has had on his great-grandson.
"Izayah is 6-years old but reads at a Third Grade level. He's won all kinds of reading awards in school."
Meats is grateful for the kind words he receives from so many parents who've read his rhymes and stories.
"That's what really makes it all worthwhile," he said. "To know that you're helping children learn."
Meats will be at the Cloud County Tourism Office on June 10, at 6:30 p.m., to sign copies of his book.