Dot & Jabber and the Great Acorn Mystery (Green Light Readers: Level 2)

PreS-Gr 1 Dot and Jabber, two mouse detectives, "need a mystery to solve," so they try to figure out how an acorn arrived at the spot where a little oak tree is growing as there are no other oak trees in sight. They approach their investigation with the calm intensity only older readers will connect with Dragnet. As they pursue the facts, they observe that oak trees grow from acorns, acorns from oak trees, there is a large oak across the meadow, and squirrels transport and bury acorns. While the evidence is circumstantial, it is good enough for the furry twosome. They snack on extra acorns and look forward to the next mystery. The variety and texture of the materials used in the earth-tone illustrations are superb. The eight-inch square size is large enough to share with a tidy group while quite manageable for small hands. Walsh has some sturdy laurels to rest on after Mouse Paint (1989), Mouse Count (1991), and Mouse Magic (2000, all Harcourt), but these mouse detectives can stand on their own. Scientific tidbits are included on the last page to enlighten the curious. Gentle enough for pre-nap or bedtime but engaging enough for any time, this well-written, visually pleasing picture book is a good choice for all collections.--Jody McCoy, The Bush School, Seattle, WA

Copyright 2001 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.