Children's Author & Teacher
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Hedgehog Whodunit
a chapter book series
published by Andrews McMeel
The Children's
Book Review Best Chapter Books of 2025
Amazon
Editors' Pick:
Best Books
Ages 6-8
Colorado
Children's Book
Award Nominee
2027
Bertarelli Photography
About
Growing up in Maine, Heather Preusser read all the Nancy Drew mysteries. Every. Single. One. Now she writes her own mysteries featuring a hardboiled hedgehog detective and his tireless rodent sidekick solving animal antics at City Zoo. When she’s not writing or teaching, Heather bikes the European countryside, attempts to learn ridiculously long German words (Formfleischvorderschinken*, anyone?), and plays with her six-year-old, a budding boxitect. She and her family live in Colorado.
Heather earned a BA in English and art history from Williams College, an MA in education from the University of Colorado, and an MFA in creative writing from the University of Southern Maine. A National Writing Project fellow, Heather has seventeen years of experience teaching both middle and high school English. She is represented by Janine Le at JLLA.
*ham
Chapter Books
The Protective Order of Peanuts
Available
2026!
Picture Books
Author Visits
A National Writing Project Fellow, Heather has 19 years of classroom teaching experience. She loves visiting schools, talking to students, and getting them excited to read and write!
"Heather Preusser brought her passion and excitement for reading and writing with her, decked out in her yellow rain boots and Hedgehog dress to present to our 1st through 4th graders! Heather is a natural presenter, bringing her fun energy and relatable stories to share with our very eager students! I have never seen our kids so engaged and excited to read!" -- Jessica Purdy, K8 Librarian, Prospect Ridge Academy
"[W]e had a GREAT author visit this morning for my K-3 kiddos. Local author, Heather Preusser, came and shared her picture book and chapter book series. She is a teacher as well and it shows! Her presentation was engaging, had kids talking, sharing, predicting, participating, and she adapted her talk as needed based on the group." -- Kelly Lichty, Teacher Librarian, Louisville Elementary
"I had Heather Preusser present to my kiddos in grades K-3. She was great! Her presentation was age appropriate and very engaging! Well worth having her visit your school." -- Jonathan Warshaw, Teacher Librarian, Foothill Elementary
News & Events
"My Writing and Reading Life" on The Children's Book Review, April 12, 2025
"Simply 7" interview on Jena Benton's blog, July 7, 2025
Guest post on Kathy Temean's "Writing and Illustrating, July 8, 2025
"Using Cartoons as Mentor Texts" on Kids' Book Review, August 21, 2025
"Using Blake Snyder’s 'Beat Sheet' as a Revision Tool" on GROG, August 27, 2025
"Writing Chapter Books Humor" on Writers' Rumpus, November 25, 2025
"16 of the Best Early Readers and Chapter Books of 2025" on The Children's Book Review, December 11, 2025
"Vivid Voice Techniques" on Coaching Kidlit Podcast, January 7, 2026
"How to make a carousel, an engineering design lesson" on Patricia Newman's LitLinks
March 11, 2026
"The Heather Preusser Whodunit!" on You May Contribute a Verse Podcast, July 28, 2026