The Shrew Detective is praised in the Wall Street Journal

What wonderful surprise to see Minerva Shrew and her cousin Tenacity in the Wall Street Journal!

When Margi found out her excited heart beat almost as fast as a shrew’s —1,200 times a minute! It’s so wonderful to see readers falling in love with this small detective determined to do big things!

OUr favorite quote:

Ms. Preus, who won a Newbery Honor for her middle-grade novel “Heart of a Samurai” (2010), delights in wordplay and puns, gleefully weaving in winking references to other fictional sleuths. Though she may occasionally doubt her merits in this grand tradition of investigators, Minerva proves herself more than up for the challenge. As Tenacity admiringly puts it, that’s “one shrewd detective.”

Podcast: Meg's Reading Room

Ep 129: Small Creature, Big Dreams with Margi Preus

In this episode of Meg’s Reading Room, Margi discusses her newest middle-grade novel (and mystery series!), The Shrew Detective: The Case of the Pilfered Pearls.

Other books and authors mentioned in this episode include:

• Harriet the Spy

• Pippi Longstocking

• Island of the Blue Dolphins

• The Correspondent

• The Bell in the Lake

• This is Happiness

• Mary Oliver

Celebrate the launch of the Shrew Detective!

Meet Minerva Shrew, the detective you didn’t see coming, probably because she is only two inches long, including her tail.

Although she is small, she wants to do big things, like solve the mysteries of life and the universe. In spite of her size, she has a capacious intellect, a vast vocabulary (attributable to her wallpaper, pages of a human dictionary), and, owing to her breakneck metabolism, a gigantic appetite for gourmet bug snacks!

Join the fun:

Get a sneak peek into THE SHREW DETECTIVE: The Case of the Pilfered Pearls at Red Balloon Bookshop, May 21 at 6 pm and Zenith Bookstore, May 23 at 11 a.m. with a short reading, a treasure hunt, a mystery game, and plenty of bug snacks (Lice Krispie treats? French flies? Croiss-ants?) Fun for tykes and grown-ups alike! 

What the reviews are saying:

“This pick will thrill advanced early readers and seems ready-made for family read-togethers. A pint-size and plucky delight!” — Booklist starred review

“a radiant series opener” — PW starred review

“a delightfully entertaining series opener. . . an intriguing and educational mystery” — SLJ starred review

“Wordplay, smart solution, a fantastic mystery, and shrew facts? Meet your new favorite detective!” — Kirkus starred review

Society of Midland Authors Announces 2026 Award Winners and Honorees

Snowshoe Kate is a honoree!

The Society of Midland Authors today announced its annual awards, honoring its choices for the best books by Midwestern authors published in 2025. In each category, a panel of literary judges chose a winner as well as honorees whose work was also deemed worthy of recognition.

Margi’s book, Snowshoe Kate and the Hospital Built for Pennies, was an honoree for the children’s reading round table award for children’s nonfiction.

The category winner was Laurie Lawlor, Many Voices: Building Erie, the Canal That Changed America. Other honorees include:
— Ruth Spiro, How to Explain Climate Science to a Grown-Up
— Katie Venit, Cassini’s Mission: A Spacecraft, a Tiny Moon, and the Search for Life Beyond Earth

You can see the complete list of all 2026 winners here >

Snowshoe Kate is featured in Snowshoe Magazine!

Who knew there was a magazine dedicated to snowshoe enthusiasts?

It was wonderful to chat with reporter and avid snowshoer, Rick Stedman, about Dr. Kate. Margi was touched by this thoughtful review.

“Written as a fully illustrated picture book, Snowshoe Kate and the Hospital Built for Pennies is ideal for readers ages 6–9. But its message—community, perseverance, and compassion—resonates well beyond that range.

Available through major booksellers, this is a story that earns two thumbs up for its engaging narrative, rich historical detail, and heartfelt illustrations. It’s the kind of book that keeps readers engaged from start to finish—whether they’re six or sixty.

In fact, my grandson William, an avid reader, will soon be receiving a copy for his ninth birthday.”

You can read the full review and interview with Margi at www.snowshoemag.com >