Dot & Jabber and the Big Bug Mystery

Dot & Jabber

by Ellen Stoll Walsh

Dot and Jabber, mouse detectives, try to solve the mystery of the disappearing insects, in a delightful story which provides information about how insects and animals use camouflage. Jr Lib Guild.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Mystery, Fiction, Animals, Juvenile

40 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 2003

About the author

Ellen is the daughter of Joseph Adolphus (a businessman) and Nell (Orum) Stoll; married David Albert Walsh (a professor), August 25, 1964; children: Benjamin Martin. She was educated at Maryland Institute of Art, B.F.A., 1964; attended University of Minnesota, 1966-69.
She lives in upstate New York.

Reviews

[Matt]

Dot and Jabber are wonderful mice detectives and they have quite the case on their hands. While seeing a handful of insects before them, these small bugs disappear into thin air a few moments later. Baffled, these two go in search of clues to help them solve the mystery. It would seem that not only the insects, but those that normally hunt them are missing, leaving the case to be even more confusing and complicated. However, with the help of some deductive reasoning, Dot and Jabber follow the clues and solve the case, while also learning a little about enemy detection prevention. Neo liked this piece and was able to decipher most of the words, as well as explain some of the science being discussed. He’ll be sure to keep an eye open for insects, especially those that are trying to evade him.

[Claudia]

This book is about two mice detectives named Dot and Jabber. They want to know why they could see the bugs at one point but couldn’t see them the next. They walk through the forest and keep running into animals that keep disappearing, they attribute the disappearance to the animals hiding from things that eat them. They finally figure out that the animals are hiding in plain sight, blending into their surroundings. They use this knowledge to find the bugs that disappeared at the beginning of the story.
This was a cute book that taught a lot about the animal kingdom. I think kindergarteners would really like the illustrations because they were uniquely drawn. The idea of the mice being the detectives was cuter than watching two humans look for bugs.
This book could definitely be used in the classroom to teach about animal camouflage. The pages had bug hidden within them and it would be a good idea to have students look for them to see how good animals can camouflage.

[Natalie]

There were bugs all around Dot & Jabber, and then there weren't! Where did they go? This is a fun "mystery" for little ones to try and solve. The best part of it is that it's solution lies in science and learning about how bugs and animals camouflage to hide. This is also a book that encourages children to keep an eye out for "mysteries" to solve that are in the everyday, just lying around them in plain sight.

[Becky B]

Dot & Jabber are looking at bugs and then they can't see them any more! The two detectives immediately get on the case of the missing bugs.

This is a fun way to approach science topics, like a mystery. A great intro to camouflage for little ones, and a fun beginner mystery. Close observers will be able to pick out the bugs in the illustrations.

[Sarah]

Dot and Jabber become confused when some insects that they are marveling at disappear suddenly. Young readers will enjoy looking for camouflaged bugs on each page. Endnotes describe camouflage in further detail. This is a really fun easy reader to introduce this science subject. I've also always loved that collage-style art.

[Alex]

I enjoyed this book because I like camouflage. I did not like this book because I do not like bugs.

[Goshen PL Childrens]

Read at Storytime on July 12th
Theme: Favorite Stories

[Whitney Byers]

The genre of this book is mystery. One unique feature of this book is that the main characters are mouse detectives which is fun for children. The grade that this book could be used for is K-2nd.

[Joy Keil]

Clever.

[Erin]

Perfect book for its intended age group. A great way to introduce the concept of camouflage in nature. It was fun looking for the hidden bugs in the art.

[Jean O'Shea]

Dot and Jabber and the Big Bug Mystery by Ellen Stoll Walsh is a picture book about two mouse detectives trying to solve the mystery of the disappearing insects. Cut paper illustrations support the story’s theme of camouflage. The books includes a discussion about insects and camouflage. This is a strong example of a Pre-K-2nd grade picture book.

The “bugs” delightfully blend into the cut paper illustrations driving the curiosity of the two mice. They sort out the mystery through their dialog with each other and their companion animals among the rocks.

Interest Level:
Pre-K-2nd
Age:
4-8yrs
Genre:
Fiction
Subject:
Mystery

From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 1-The mouse detectives are back in another eco-mystery. When all the bugs in their meadow suddenly disappear, the mice interview a sparrow and a rabbit and observe some butterflies, finally discovering that the bugs have used camouflage to hide from their predators. The story is simple and unremarkable, but Walsh's illustrations add interest. The distinctive cut-paper collages step nicely off the page for a 3-D look, and the earthy greens and browns are gentle and calming. A note on insects and camouflage is included.
Shelley B. Sutherland, Niles Public Library District, IL
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Kirkus Review
An outstanding combination of preschool/kindergarten story with nature information…Excellent.

[Maria Estrada]

This mystery book is about 2 mouses, Dot and Jabber, that go on a bug mystery. They were at the meadow and then all of a sudden the bugs had disappeared. They began to look for clues to find their mystery of finding the bugs.

This is a good book for the little ones learning about mystery since it shows how you discover mysteries. Over all, it was a good book but I do recommend it more to the younger ones because I think the older kids might find it boring. The illustrations in the book are made of cut paper so they are very interesting to look at. The author is also the illustrator of the book. The words in the book are easy to understand so I think it is a great book for the younger ones.

[Heidi-Marie]

I love the cut-paper collage technique for illustrations. These are pretty cute mice, too. A fun story of hidden things in plain sight. It wouldn't be very good for a storytime read because the audience wouldn't be able to pick out the bugs on all the pages. A lapsit read would be good for it, though. And the book is probably just a tid too young for the K-5 age group. But still a cute book.

[Lyn]

Dot and Jabber are mouse detectives. When all the bugs disappear the meadow, Dot and Jabber set out to find out where the bugs are hiding. This picture book mystery tells a humorous story explaining camouflage.

[Dawn]

I really like this author. My kids love her books.

[Emily]

interesting concept - good to use for insect lessons - not totally captivating - interesting illustrations

[Bree]

Notes:
Read three books in this series, all cute
Paper collage illustrations are engaging
Simple mysteries are great for ages 3-4

[Janet]

Collage art is always a favorite of mine and it lends itself well to the subject of this book camouflage in nature. Text is a little wordy and doesn't flow as well as I would like a story to flow.