Susanne Strauss, Children’s Author and Nature Photographer
Inspiring Children’s Creativity and Love of Nature
Susanne Strauss has always been passionate about writing, art, photography, and nature. As an educator, she often incorporated art and natural science activities, such as dissecting owl pellets, into her writing and research classes. After graduating with a Master of Social Work degree, she started an editing business and has been editing theses and dissertations for publication for more than 25 years. She also created Sunnystyle Books to publish children’s books and educational material on nature and animals, inspiring a love of nature in children. Her upcoming book is on monarch butterflies.
Susanne is also an award-winning nature photographer. She has photographed and observed many hummingbirds that have nested and raised their young in her garden. Her photographs inspired the story of Little Jewel in Little Jewel’s Remarkable Journey, a children’s picture book about a baby Allen’s hummingbird. Susanne enjoys traveling to national parks, photographing wildlife, backyard birding, and raising monarch butterflies.
Awards:
Little Jewel’s Remarkable Journey
2020 Purple Dragonfly Book Awards: First Place—Best Photography, Animals/Pets, and Picture Books 6 & Older—and Honorable Mention—Picture Books 5 & Younger
2020 Story Monsters Approved: Picture Books Nonfiction, Illustrations/Photography/Artwork, and First-Time Author
Mom’s Choice Awards Gold Recipient
2021 Feathered Quill Book Awards: Animals—Children’s and Young Adult Finalist
Speaking Engagements and School Presentations:
My school presentations inspire children’s enthusiasm for nature, writing, and photography. Presentations for elementary school students include a book reading or a slideshow presentation of photographs and videos, a discussion on baby hummingbirds or monarch butterflies, and an art or natural science activity. Additional topics include writing a book, researching a topic, and photographing animals. Presentations for middle and high school students spotlight the process of self-publishing a children’s book with photographs, including photographing a subject, writing the story, researching facts, and designing the layout. Virtual visits are available.
Presentation Audience:
Grades K-3
Grades 4-6
Middle School
High School
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