Books with author Janet Pedersen

Buried deep within the desert, Turtle Springs holds secrets – far more than Keegan Crowe bargains for when she returns in search of her elusive past. The fourteen-year-old orphan discovers that her parents were members of a mysterious society dedicated to preserving lost magic – a group destroyed for its knowledge and powers. The ancient elements are at war, and time grows short. A legendary treasure must be found if the world is to be saved, and Keegan now holds the key. But the savvy young hacker rejects her family’s legacy. With steely-eyed skepticism, she undertakes a quest to avenge her parents while challenging the outlandish claims. Keegan soon finds, however, that reality holds more than meets the eye. Digging for answers, the teen stumbles upon the deepest riddle of the town and her identity. And from the ruins of lost civilizations to the halls of the nation’s capital, her fate becomes embroiled in a life-or-death struggle against a sinister threat hidden in a world brimming with mystical powers, fabled creatures, enchanted objects, and the never-ending battle between good and evil.

Old Sophie lives all alone and yearns for someone to talk to. Her wish comes true one day when she hears some birds sing to her. “Nice lady, sweet lady,” they seem to say. Sophie is so delighted that she bakes her most delicious bread for them. But before long, their sweet twitters and tweets turn into greedy squawks and screeches. Soon, Sophie is weary of kneading, weary of baking, and very weary of birds. What to do? What to do?Winsome, Eastern European–inspired watercolors and a lively narrative come together for a fresh, clever, and original tale that has all the makings of a modern classic.

Old Sophie lives all alone and yearns for someone to talk to. Her wish comes true one day when she hears some birds sing to her. “Nice lady, sweet lady,” they seem to say. Sophie is so delighted that she bakes her most delicious bread for them. But before long, their sweet twitters and tweets turn into greedy squawks and screeches. Soon, Sophie is weary of kneading, weary of baking, and very weary of birds. What to do? What to do?Winsome, Eastern European–inspired watercolors and a lively narrative come together for a fresh, clever, and original tale that has all the makings of a modern classic.

Thea’s science project grows unusually tall in this funny twist on the classic Jack fairy tale. Thea decides to plant some old bean seeds and watch them grow as her science project. And grow they do—into a giant beanstalk. Savvy young readers will recognize elements from the classic “Jack” fairy tale, such as a harp and golden egg, but the haughty grown-ups that Thea writes to for help do not. Thea receives letters and comical advice from a plethora of dim “experts,” ranging from botanist to symphony conductor to zoologist. Thea’s Tree playfully combines curriculum areas, including science, language arts, and storytelling into a clever tale kids will love.

It starts with a case of hiccups during story time at the library. And that leads to an outrageous and hilarious adventure involving a hippo, a little sister, an overturned ice cream cart, a librarian who’s afraid of heights, and a stack of library books that must be returned—on time and in good condition—if the narrator is going to get her very own library card. And nothing could be more wonderful than that!Brightly colored, energetic illustrations make the most of the slapstick humor in this rollicking readaloud.