Retired Science Teacher Writes Books To Leave Enduring Legacy To His Grandchildren

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) - A retired science teacher who has a passion for stories says he was inspired to write and publish his own books while playing on the swing set with his grandson.

"I started rattling off a story, Jacob was swinging and we were having a good time," says Brad Rasmussen of Atlantic, Iowa. "I went and put it down on paper so I could remember to tell him."

When his family read the stories, they encouraged him to do more with the fictional tales. He wrote two books calls "Priceless Explorers" and "Sparkling Soul."

"Priceless Explorers is the trip to outer space, in here there are four of our grandchildren, there's Traiblazer, Hoo Hoo 1 and Hoo Hoo 2 and Tranquility," Rasmussen tells CBS affiliate KMTV.

In "Priceless Explorers," they go to the moon, visit the Man in the Moon and then pick up some cheese. They later head to Mars and Pluto.

"Sparkling Soul" is about conservation.

"I was big into the environment so this is all about how to save the environment," he says.

When talking about his stories, Rasmussen gets emotional.

"The Man in the Moon is actually my father in law. I get sentimental about that because when we would go and visit, he would be the last person that you would see waving goodbye as you go home," he explains.

Rasmussen says his stories have a deeper meaning beyond adventures in space.

"This day and age especially with the pandemic, people are looking to be visited, face-to-face, there's too much social media, there's not that close attachment," he says.

Rasmussen's books are a family affair: his wife and kids help him proofread and illustrate.

With the books, his goals are to leave lessons for his grand kids.

"This is going be my vacancy that they can see, there's a legacy here they need to follow: being mindful of other people, taking care of the environment, enjoy putting things together, telling stories," he says.