S2: E1: I Spy...Isle Royale by Susanna Ausema

U.P. Notable Books Club

Author Susanna Ausema talks with the U.P. Notable Books Book Club about her award winning picture book "I Spy...Isle Royale" SUSAN AUSEMA spent her childhood summers on Isle Royale. Her father was a park ranger and her mother was a park volunteer for many years. After moving away in her teens, she returned to work at Isle Royale as a seasonal ranger during her college years. There she met her husband, Mike, also a ranger, in 1998. After serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Guatemala, Susanna earned a Master’s Degree in Natural Resources at the University of Wisconsin-Steven’s Point, then worked as a permanent park ranger focusing on educational outreach at Curecanti National Recreation Area, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, and Redwood National Park. When her son, Jasper, was born, Susanna became a stay-at-home mom. When he was two years old, the family moved back to Isle Royale and Jasper began to explore the park as if it were his big backyard. Jasper loves books and Susanna loves to write, so she felt inspired to write a story for him about Isle Royale. After the text was complete, she looked around her pool of talented friends for someone who could illustrate it. None had the time to take on the (pro-bono) project, so Susanna picked up a paintbrush and started experimenting with watercolors. Jasper has helped her judge which styles and techniques are most interesting to a young audience, and together, they’ve created this book. Susanna’s husband is the park’s East District Ranger, so they spend their summer days exploring and adventuring on Isle Royale and reveling in the autumn colors and abundant snow in the Keweenaw Peninsula during the rest of the year. Susanna resumed her work on behalf of national parks in 2015 as the membership outreach manager for the nonprofit Isle Royale and Keweenaw Parks Association. All proceeds from the sale of this book support these parks.