The Crystal Falls Community District Library, in partnership with the U.P. Publishers and Authors Association, has scheduled author events with winners of the U.P. Notable Book List, with the next event involving Upper Peninsula author and park ranger Susanna Ausema.

She will present her award-winning children’s book “I Spy… Isle Royale” at 7 p.m. Sept. 9 on the Zoom platform. Contact Evelyn Gathu in advance at egathu@uproc.lib.mi.us or 906-875-3344.

The UPPAA called the book “a colorful and educational romp through Michigan’s only national park.”

The events are open to all U.P. residents free of charge. The book can be be purchased from the Isle Royale & Keweenaw Parks Association website at www.irkpa.org.

SUSANNA AUSEMA

The UPPAA provided a biography on Ausema.

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 National Park 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, Ausema earned a master’s degree in natural resources from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens 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, Ausema became a stay-at-home mom. When he was 2 years old, the family moved back to Isle Royale where 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,” the UPPAA said.

After the text was completed, she looked around her pool of friends for someone who could illustrate it. None had the time to take on the pro bono project, so Ausema picked up a paintbrush and started experimenting with watercolors.

Jasper has helped her judge what styles and techniques are most interesting to a young audience, and together, they created the book.

Ausema’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,” the UPPAA said.

Ausema resumed her work on behalf of national parks in 2015 as the membership outreach manager for the nonprofit IRKPA. All proceeds from the sale of this book support these parks.

“I Spy… Isle Royale” was a 2020 Publication of the Year winner through the Public Lands Alliance.

According to the Isle Royale & Keweenaw Parks Association website, young explorers can learn “about the plants and animals that have made this rugged wilderness island their home.” Older readers also will be able to delve more deeply into their exploration of Isle Royale through nature notes on each page.

The 40-page full-color book comes in paperback with a soft-touch cover.

More information about the U.P. Notable Book list, U.P. Book Review and UPPAA can be found on www.UPNotable.com

The UPPAA was established in 1998 to support authors and publishers who live in or write about Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The nonprofit association has more than 100 members, with many of their books featured on the organization’s website at www.uppaa.org.

Christie Mastric can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 250. Her email address is cbleck@miningjournal.net.