By Allison Larson
CNN journalist and Chanhassen resident McKenna Ewen has published a children’s book, “The Biggest Splash,” inspired by the Lake Minnetonka community.
Ever tried paddleboarding on a lake only to get rocked by a rogue wave? Or watched someone cast a fishing lure into someone else’s way? Lake life is beautiful, but sharing the water isn’t always easy.
That’s the dilemma at the heart of “The Biggest Splash,” a newly released children’s book by Chanhassen resident McKenna Ewen.
Ewen works as a journalist and producer for CNN, where he travels the country producing stories and assists with the network’s local news coverage. But for his latest project, he wanted a creative outlet that was purely about having fun.
“You have people who love to use the lake in different ways,” he said. “It creates an incredibly lively and energetic environment on the lake, but sometimes people can get into each other’s way.”
In his rhyming children’s book, each time a new character is introduced, the lake becomes more chaotic until eventually no one can use the lake. By the end of the book, the characters learn to work together and form their own waterskiing pyramid, inspired by the Lake Minnewashta water ski show.
McKenna Ewen’s wife, Michele, is a former show skier with the Twin Cities River Rats and part of the Lake Minnewashta Water Ski Team. She sparked his love for watersports and encouraged him to write the story.
“When my wife and I moved here in 2022, we couldn’t believe there was a neighborhood ski team just down the street,” Ewen said. “When my wife joined the team, she hopped right up to the second tier of the waterski pyramid. It was just like she was 13 again. It was incredible!”
Ewen hosted a book launch for “The Biggest Splash” at Excelsior Brewery and was featured at the recent Lake Minnewashta Water Ski Show, where his kids performed. Before summer break, he also visited multiple preschool and elementary schools to read his book and do activities with the kids.
“The Biggest Splash” is available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Bookshop.org. Bulk and signed copies can be requested through thebiggestsplash.com.
