Janet was born in Washington, D.C. and spent much of her life in the Northern Virginia suburbs. After earning a master’s degree in education from George Mason University, she began a vocation in training, curriculum development and instructional design. Working with government agencies, nonprofit associations, and corporations, her career included assignments in D.C., Detroit, and both coasts of Florida. Janet currently lives in Tucson, Arizona. In 2022, Janet identified specific challenges for young children isolated by the Covid 19 pandemic. It was particularly acute in language development for preschool and kindergarten programs. Drawing on her experience as a certified preschool director (now retired), and her educational background, she created Millie Mermaid Wants to Go to School. This interactive story has a fun question-and-answer format that encourages children to voice their feelings and experiences. According to feedback from educators and families, this book has contributed to increased engagement and participation. (www.milliemermaid.com). Building on this approach, Janet began developing a new interactive series highlighting the animals and plants of the Sonoran Desert.