An interview with Heather Preusser, presented by The Children’s Book Review
Some people write because they have a story to tell. Others write because they simply must. For Heather Preusser, writing has always been a way to make sense of the world. Whether crafting plays at recess or secretly scribbling in her Trapper Keeper during class, storytelling has long been her superpower.
Fast-forward to today, and she’s the author of Hedgehog Whodunit, the first in a delightfully punny chapter-book series featuring a sleepy but sharp hedgehog detective and his rat sidekick solving animal shenanigans at City Zoo. With book two on the horizon and a third installment already in the works, her stories are packed with heart, humor, and just enough mystery to keep young readers turning pages.
In this interview, Heather talks about writing during the pandemic, the joy of seeing Gal Weizman’s hilarious illustrations come to life, the B.I.C. mantra that changed her creative course, and why iced green tea and children’s cartoons totally count as tools of the trade.
I write because …
Writing is how I’ve always made sense of the world. I have fond memories of sitting next to my mom at the dining room table before I knew how to read or write: We’d fold and staple white sheets of paper together, and then I would tell her a story that she would record. I’d spend hours illustrating it before binding everything with old scraps of wallpaper. I was also the kid who wrote plays during recess and misbehaved by writing stories in my Trapper Keeper (remember those?) instead of paying attention during class.
I read because …
I love escaping into the pages of a book. I love trying on other personalities, identities I can slip into when I want to be someone else.
My latest published book is …
The first in a chapter book series called Hedgehog Whodunit, illustrated by Gal Weizman. Released this past fall from Andrews McMeel, it’s geared toward children ages 6-10 and features a hardboiled hedgehog detective, Hitch, and his tireless rodent sidekick, Vinnie, solving animal antics at City Zoo. Book two, The Carousel Caper, releases on July 8, 2025, and book 3, which is tentatively titled The Protective Order of Peanuts, is scheduled to come out in February 2026.
I wrote this book because …
I wanted to write a fun, rollicking romp. Chapter books are about creating lifelong learners, which meant writing a compelling story filled with humor, action, and mystery. I revised this during the pandemic, so it was the perfect punny escape for me.
The best moment in the writing process was …
When I got to see the illustrations by Gal Weizman. She’s brought so much fun and humor to the series. I couldn’t ask for a better fit—or a more adorable panda in a lemur costume. Here he is attempting to play hide and seek behind a flamingo:
My special place to write is …
A local coffee shop.
Necessary writing/creativity tool …
An iced green tea (see answer above). I’m also a proponent of Bennington College’s slogan for their MFA program: “Read 100 books. Write one.” I’m always reading and studying mentor texts. For Hedgehog Whodunit I fell in love with Doreen Cronin’s Chicken Squad series and watched episodes of The Penguins of Madagascar. (And, yes, watching kids’ cartoons definitely counts as “work”!)
The person who has been my greatest writing teacher or inspiration is …
Jane Yolen. I had the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to attend her and Heidi E.Y. Stemple’s Picture Book Bootcamp twice (okay, make that a twice-in-a-lifetime opportunity), and it changed my writing life. Truly. Jane has a mantra that she shared with us and that I try to adhere to: B.I.C. It stands for Butt In Chair because you can’t get the work done if your butt isn’t in the chair. In fact, here’s a photo I currently have on my bookshelf:
Without Jane, there wouldn’t be a Hedgehog Whodunit. I was sitting around her dining room describing what I was working on: a picture book manuscript I couldn’t get right (oddly enough, that sounds like the project I’m currently working on as well). My critique partners had told me the story wanted to be a chapter book, but for three years I resisted; I was hesitant to dive into a new category I knew nothing about. In her generous way, Jane told me to get my butt in the chair and write the book. So I did.
Currently reading …
A lot of memoirs, as I do a memoir unit with my 9th graders every spring. I just finished Solito by Javier Zamora, Mexikid by Pedro Martin, Almost American Girl by Robin Ha, The Cat I Never Named: A True Story of Love, War, and Survival by Amra-Sabic-El-Rayess (this one made me cry, which was hard to do considering I was listening to the audiobook while running), and Everything Sad Is Untrue (a true story) by Daniel Nayeri (this one made me laugh out loud as did Mexikid).
Favorite bookshop …
Too hard to choose. We have so many wonderful independent bookstores nearby (shout-out to The Read Queen, the Boulder Bookstore, and Second Star to the Right), and they’ve all been very supportive and collaborative.
All-time favorite children’s book I didn’t write…
Growing up, I read all the Nancy Drew mysteries. Every. Single. One. And when updated books emerged in the 1980s in the form of the Nancy Drew Files, I read all those as well. I loved reading about Nancy Drew, an independent and competent young sleuth. Like many readers, I wanted to be Nancy Drew. (I’m still waiting for my blue roadster.) In the interim, I write my own mysteries involving a sleepy hedgehog and a food-loving rat.
Favorite illustrator …
Of course, Gal Weizman; her animals are ridiculously adorable and adorably ridiculous. (My art suggestions now often include a combination of those two words, and I know she’s going to hit it out of the park. Every time.) Other favorites include local illustrator Brizida Magro (Two Wheels and Let Me Call You Sweetheart), Meribel Lechuga (Seaside Stroll and Night Owl Night), Devon Holzwarth (The Story of a Book and Everywhere with You), Felicita Sala (If You Run Out of Words and Dark on Light), Asa Gilland (Flibbertigibbery Words: Young Shakespeare Chases Inspiration and Meena’s Mindful Moment), Marc Boutavant (Wake Up, Woodlands and Barkus) and Jarvis (The Boy with Flowers in His Hair and the Bear and Bird series—my five-year-old and I are eagerly anticipating the next installment!). I could go on…
A literary character I would like to vacation with …
One of John Patrick Green’s InvestiGATORS. With their V.E.S.T.*s (Very Exciting Spy Technology), we’d have everything we need at the press of a button. And I think Mango and Vinnie would enjoy swapping puns.
When I am not reading or writing, I am …
I am probably commenting on students’ writing. Which reminds me, I have 90 Othello essays I need to grade.
About the Book
Publisher’s Synopsis: Hitch the Hedgehog wants nothing more than to nap. But when his informant, Vinnie the Rat, reveals the City Zoo’s panda has gone missing, Hitch is (reluctantly) on the case. Author Heather Preusseur expertly weaves witty and playful text in this chapter book series opener with black-and-white illustrations by renowned illustrator Gal Weizman.
All Hitch the Hedgehog wants to do is nap, but there’s a mystery to solve. Someone changed the sign at the panda exhibit of the City Zoo. Instead of “please feed the panda,” it says, “please free the panda,” and well . . . it’s pandemonium for Hitch! Along with his cohort, partner, and informant Vinnie the Rat, Hitch embarks on an adventure to catch the cagey culprit and return the panda to its bear-y perfect spot.
With hardboiled humor, fun animal facts, and a plethora of puns, Hitch and Vinnie’s detective shenanigans are full of hilarity and heart. This joyful series opener also has over 50 charming black-and-white illustrations, maps, and hidden clues! This book is perfect for fans of Leila and Nugget Mysteries, Enola Holmes, and The Critter Club.
Buy the Book
Discover more books like Hedgehog Whodunit, written by Heather Preusseur and illustrated by Gal Weizman, by checking out our reviews and articles tagged with Detective Books, Mysteries, Puns, and Chapter Books. Be sure to follow along with our Writing and Reading Life series.
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