JUNE 8 • 2023 | 17
H
ow many people can trace the start
of their professional dream life
to fourth grade? Suzanne Jacobs
Lipshaw of Waterford can. It was in fourth
grade that she penned and submitted for
publishing her first children’s book Boogie
the Snail. The book was illustrated by
Suzanne’s best friend and next-door neigh-
bor Karen (Shore) Wisialowski. The girls
earned the first badge of any professional
in their chosen fields, a thoughtful and
encouraging rejection letter.
Lipshaw was born in Detroit and grew
up in Oak Park and Southfield. By fourth
grade at Leonhard Elementary, she loved
reading and writing. Harriet the Spy, written
and illustrated by Louise Fitzhugh, captured
Lipshaw’s imagination and opened the
doorway to the possibility of being a profes-
sional writer.
In elementary school, Lipshaw recalls
being in awe of her now lifelong friend Jan
(Goldstein) Frank. Lipshaw was amazed at
the speed with which Frank would com-
plete books and return to the library for her
next read. Seeing this motivated Lipshaw to
build the skill of quick reading and reading
more and more. To this day, both women
are friends and love reading. The two, with
their spouses, enjoyed the March 2023
Motor City Mission to Israel.
At Southfield-Lathrup High School,
Lipshaw served as co-editor of Dimensions,
the student newspaper. Following gradua-
tion, Lipshaw was Michigan State bound.
She knew, without hesitation, writing was
her passion and looked for classes and pro-
grams of study that would lead to a profes-
sion centered around writing.
She considered journalism but did not
see herself as the pushy-type pursuing the
story no matter what. She thought about
focusing on communication or public rela-
tions. Ultimately, though, her choice mar-
ried writing with her second passion
— the joy of working with children.
Lipshaw spent many summers as
a camper and later staff member at
Willoway Day Camp. “There is so
much joy being with chil-
dren,
” Lipshaw shares.
With that in mind, she
applied to the Michigan
State University Elementary
Intern Program, which she
began in her second year of
undergrad. The program
cohort consisted of just 30
students who all shared
a passion and drive to
become elementary school
educators.
After graduation from
MSU, Lipshaw started
working as a teacher.
Initially, the opportunities
available were to substitute. Soon though,
she found herself working with special
needs students and absolutely fell in love
with this population. Lipshaw went on to
earn a master’s in special needs education
from Oakland University and then taught
special needs students at Eton Academy
in Birmingham, Baldwin Elementary in
Rochester and Moraine Elementary in
Northville. In 2021, Lipshaw retired from
being a full-time educator.
It is no surprise that today Lipshaw is an
award-winning, published author of engag-
ing and formative children’s literature. Her
debut picture book, I Campaigned for Ice
Cream: A Boy’s Quest for Ice Cream Trucks,
is the true story of a 9-year-old boy who
fought town hall to get the law banning ice
cream trucks changed. This April, Mighty
Mahi, Lipshaw’s second book, illustrated by
Dorothy Shaw, celebrated its first year on
the shelf.
Mighty Mahi shares
the true story of a green
sea turtle’s journey from
a near-death encounter
with human debris to a
two-year rehabilitation
under the care of spe-
cialists made possible
with the investment of
ordinary people.
Mighty Mahi goes beyond storytelling. It
opens the reader’s curiosity and imagina-
tion to a life of engagement and possibility.
Why just get sad or mad? Why not step
up to the occasion and shape a better and
brighter future?
Lipshaw aspires to continue publishing
books that engage and inspire readers.
She has four children’s books ready for
publication. She is currently working on her
first middle-grade novel targeting third- to
seventh-grade readers. Like all of Lipshaw’s
earlier works, this book, too, will foster
an appreciation for the natural world and
expand on how each person can make an
impact and be a kind and careful steward of
our magnificent planet and universe.
Order Mighty Mahi through your favorite independent
bookstore. Learn more about Suzanne at
www.suzannejacobslipshaw.com.
YEVGENIYA GAZMAN
Children’s book author shows that kids
can make a difference.
‘Growing Young
Minds’
YEVGENIYA GAZMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Suzanne
Jacobs
Lipshaw