Grandma Susie
²I was born and raised in Michigan; our family moved to Connecticut when I was almost ten. I lived there, raising my own family of three, for 34 years. I did my undergraduate work at Sacred Heart Univ. and Southern CT State Univ., graduating with a BS in History.
I moved from the east coast to California in 1990. I began a 20-year career as a Middle School Language Arts, History, and Reading Teacher, adding two MA Ed degrees with Reading Certification to my resume. I retired in 2010 to look after my mom in South Carolina, where I began a second career as an Educational Consultant, Trainer, and Coach for an interactive reading program for struggling readers in several school districts in the Southeast Region. I returned to California in 2015, where I am continuing my work as a consultant for Teachers here in southern California.
I am blessed to have seven amazing grandchildren who are my inspiration and motivation for writing books on early childhood education as ‘Grandma Susie.’ I can write about their personalities and interests and connect with children everywhere. All children have their own unique stories to tell and adventures to experience as they explore and learn about the world around them.
During the 2020 pandemic, I wrote another children’s book,’ When the Sickness is Over,’ based on how my four-year-old grandson viewed this confusing and strange time. He was in remote pre-Kindergarten working on a computer from home. Then he went into his classroom in kindergarten, having to wear a mask. He called it ‘the sickness’ because, through his eyes, masks looked like everyone was sick…. how do children understand the changes the pandemic created for all of us? Maybe a book can help, as books and stories are voices they need and want to hear.
‘When the Sickness is Over’ was written under my maiden name, Lee Johnston, and published by Dorrance Publishing Co.”