Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
Whitehall resident Shirley Baustian is known for her friendly smile and wonderful personality - but did you know she is an accomplished children's book author as well as illustrator?
Her children's book series "Good Friends," which features a moose and his mouse friend, was spawned from a misunderstanding of language.
"We were in Sweden when a friend of mine said, looking way off in the distance, 'Oh!! Look!! A mouse just went by!' and I laughed because I was amazed by how great his eye sight was! Then he realized he had used the wrong English word - he meant MOOSE!" This slip -up gave Baustian her two main characters, a mouse and a moose, who go on adventures together. As the series progresses, new characters join the fun. Her first two books were illustrated by another Whitehall local, Patsy Jensen. When Baustian wanted to create a third book, but Jensen was unavailable, Baustian took art supplies in hand and ventured into new territory.
"I never thought I'd illustrate anything - but I loved it!"
Baustian's books are available for $10 - she will be set up at the local Farmer's Market, as well as at Beats & Eats this summer.
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