Local Artist Illustrates New Book of Island Flora, Fauna: 'M is for Mackinac: A Nature Alphabet'

This article first appeared in the June 15, 2023 weekly edition of the Mackinac Island Town Crier.

About eight pages into author Katy Klimczuk’s and illustrator Kate Dupre’s new book, “M is for Mackinac: A Nature Alphabet,” is the page dedicated to “H” is for horses. It takes up two whole pages, with two gorgeous chestnut-colored horses and carriages lined up and down one of the Island’s picturesque streets. In the bottom right corner are two of the only people featured in the whole book: a little girl with blonde hair and a blue shirt riding a tandem bicycle, smiling back at the reader.

The little girl is Mrs. Klimczuk riding around the Island with her mother when she was seven years old. Mrs. Klimczuk had handed Ms. Dupre a photo of herself and her mom on the bike, asking Ms. Dupre to hide them somewhere in the watercolor illustrations. It’s one of her favorite parts of the book.

“[It’s] a really special thing,” Mrs. Klimczuk said. “It’s young me, and the seed is being planted for my love of Mackinac.”

“M is for Mackinac: A Nature Alphabet,” is a book that takes the reader on an alphabetic nature tour of Mackinac Island. It is Mrs. Klimczuk’s first published book. She has a background as a teacher and reading specialist, and has spent a lot of time with children’s books, curating them, and loving them when she was growing up. She started writing about 10 years ago, taking it up more seriously around 2020. She has always loved Mackinac Island, visiting when she was young and eventually getting married on the Island. Now she visits with her own children and wanted to fill the hole she saw in celebrating its “natural wonders and landscape.”

“I wanted to highlight the nature more than anything,” she said.

She included iconic Island landmarks, such as Arch Rock, and some of the lesser known features of the Island to encourage people to explore. Some of the popular letters required tough decisions, while others required some extra creativity.

Ms. Dupre, whose watercolor illustrations are featured on every page, said Mrs. Klimczuk reached out to her to collaborate a few years ago. Mrs. Klimczuk had been following her work online and wanted someone local for the project to bring the text to life, and Ms. Dupre rose to the task.

Ms. Dupre grew up on the Island as a seasonal resident, which she credits as inspiring her creativity.

“Growing up here allows you to play and create,” she said. “You kind of feel like you can do whatever you want.”

Ms. Dupre went to school for graphic design and was primarily painting with acrylics until 2019 when she started painting with watercolors after opening the Watercolor Cafe.

“I figured that would be appropriate,” she said. Ms. Dupre is mostly self-taught, she said, and enjoys the process and strategy that goes into watercolor paintings. Ms. Dupre illustrated another book, “Goodnight, Mackinac Bridge” by Emily Havlena.

Mrs. Klimczuk gave Ms. Dupre a lot of creative control with the illustrations. She worked to capture not only the letter but also the Island in each page, which was a challenge sometimes, she said. But it was an exciting feeling when she nailed it. She took about three months to complete all the pieces.

“I just wanted to see how you could fit as much of the Island in one image as possible,” Ms. Dupre said.

Mrs. Klimczuk said she loved the perspective that Ms. Dupre brought to the book having grown up on the Island, especially the way she depicted the cover from the angle of the water.

“That’s just a really interesting point of view that others wouldn’t have thought about,” Mrs.

Klimczuk said.

Ms. Dupre is honored and humbled hearing praise about the book. It serves as a reminder of how much influence art can have on others. Between her paintings and Mrs. Klimczuk’s words, it has been overwhelmingly positive, Mrs.

Klimczuk said.

Even though the book they worked on together is now published, Mrs. Klimczuk and Ms. Dupre met in person for the first time this month. Mrs. Klimczuk was on the Island for the Lilac Festival Saturday, June 10, and Sunday, June 11.

The original artwork for the book will be showcased at Mackinac Island Public Library in July, with a reception Saturday, July 1, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. The artwork will also be for sale.

“I’m all about finding your peace through Mackinac Island’s serene beauty,” Ms. Dupre said. “I think that this book highlights that and celebrates it. It’s really like a dream project.”