Martha Freeman is inspired by the students she meets when visiting schools, and by her three children. She is the author of many books for children of all ages, including the Chickadee Court mysteries: Who Stole Grandma's Million-dollar Pumpkin Pie?; Who Stole Uncle Sam?; Who Stole Halloween?, a Texas Bluebonnet Award nominee; and Who Is Stealing the 12 Days of Christmas? Her website is www.marthafreeman.com.

First Kid Tessa loves pets, so when she finds out that a hissing cockroach at the National Zoo might meet a terrible fate, how can she resist adopting it? The rest of her family are not so thrilled, especially when the giant cockroach turns up missing. Did it escape? Or was it stolen? Who besides Tessa would want a cockroach? There is more to this bug than meets the eye in the sixth book about three mystery-loving kids (and one too-energetic dog) who live in the White House.