Janie Suss grew up on the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland and has always been very active in the outdoors. The Chesapeake Bay is home to a wide variety of birds, including ducks, geese, swans, seagulls, herons, eagles, and ospreys. Janie’s yard and pier were welcome stops for many of these birds and permanent homes for others. Observing and researching them had become a passion! She hopes that sharing this compelling story will encourage others to learn more and develop a better appreciation for the lives of these beautiful creatures, as well as other wildlife.

     Janie is number six in a family of eleven children, and has two children of her own, Gus and Sadie. In her writing, she draws similarities between her own family life and that of Oscar and Olive, teaching that even though they are birds, they seem to experience a lot of the same things we do!

     In an age of gadgetry, video games and family gatherings around the TV, she fears that eyes are not watching the right show. Oscar and Olive Osprey offer endless entertainment and inspired her to share her love of family and nature by writing her book, “Oscar and Olive Osprey:  A Family Takes Flight.”

     With years of research supplementing first-hand observations, you will learn from her book the life cycle, migration, habitats and hunting skills of these magnificent birds. She illustrates through a family of ospreys the joys and life-challenges experienced by both parents and children, all of which is designed to educate and entertain.

     As a speaker she tailors each talk to the age of her audience. Janie Suss has made numerous presentations to elementary schools, environmental groups, educators, civic organizations..... nature lovers of all ages.  Her enthusiasm for these birds not only raises one’s awareness of them, but instills an appreciation of wildlife that encourages personal observation and involvement.

     Janie is proud to say that The Mom's Choice Awards® has named “Oscar and Olive Osprey: A Family Takes Flight” among the best, recognizing excellence in family-friendly media. Parents, educators, librarians and retailers rely on MCA evaluations when selecting quality materials for children and families.  A sampling of the judges includes: Dr. Twila C. Liggett, ten-time Emmy-winner, professor and founder of PBS’s Reading Rainbow, and Julie Aigner-Clark, Creator of Baby Einstein.

About the Author