Bug Patrol

by Denise Dowling Mortensen, Cece Bell (Illustrator)

Wee-o! Wee-o! Wee-o! Woo! Bug Mobile coming through! Bugs are a misbehaving bunch, so Captain Bob, insect cop, has a busy beat. The beetles are using their bug mobiles like bumper cars, the roaches are protesting for better housing (down with roach motels!), and the crickets are up late, partying. Can Captain Bob keep the peace and maintain law and order? This enthusiastic, goofy-sweet read-aloud is crawling with fun rhymes, lots of action, endearing bug-eyed characters, and a few lessons in manners, too!

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Storytime, Police, Animals, Juvenile, Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published February 12, 2013

About the author

Denise Dowling Mortensen is the author of five picture books: Good Night Engines, Wake Up Engines, a board book/flip book of both Good Night Engines and Wake Up Engines, Ohio Thunder and Bug Patrol (all published by HMHCO). While listening to bedtime stories as a young girl she developed a passion for words, especially lyrical verse.

She studied Journalism in college and went on to work at CBS News and the Conde Nast Publications. While raising her five children, she freelanced as a copy editor and proofreader. When her youngest child was a baby, she began writing books for young children.

Now, when she's not writing, reading, painting, drawing, eating ice cream, or traveling, she works as a special education assistant in the district office of a local public school district. She lives in a suburb of Chicago.

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Captain Bob of the Bug Patrol is driving around, answering calls wherever he is needed. Be it swarming ants or roaches in need of a new motel, Bob is on patrol and keeping the bug world happy. Neo liked all the things that Bob discovered and thought that he, too, might like to work on the Bug Patrol. Hope it pays well, for when I am retired and reviewing on Goodreads all day long!

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Captain Bob of the Bug Patrol shares his daily routine with the reader in this entertaining picture-book in rhyme, from his 9am beginning, complete with cruller, to his 8pm ending, when he goes home to his favorite insects of all - his family! In between he must contend with: ants who swarm a donut, beetles who get into a fender-bender, spiders on the rampage during a motorcycle rally, a roach picket at the roach motel, and a missing baby flea. It's a busy day for the bug patrol, but Officer Bob keeps his calm and is always there to sort things out...

With a text that reads quite well aloud - "Rowdy ants, / form a line. / Show your manners / when you dine! / Take a crumb, / do a deed. / Share it with / an ant in need" - and emphasizes the importance of both community policing and good citizenship on the part of the general populace, Bug Patrol is a picture-book that also boasts colorful and engaging artwork, done in acrylic and ink in a fun cartoon-like style. The combination makes for an excellent story-time selection. Recommended to anyone looking for children's stories about bugs and/or policemen, or picture-books in rhyme.

[Brian · Rating 1 out of 5]

Psychotic. The bug cop fulfills a weird role in bug society. From telling ants how to eat to driving roaches protesting for a better living condition to the dump, this bug cop seems to bother other bugs for a living. He also lectures the coolest characters in the book (a gang of spiders riding motorcycles doing wheelies) after cornering them in an alley. Weird stuff. Good book for cop lovers I guess.

[JadeShea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bug Patrol was a cute story about a bug being on cop patrol. It was really neat, and a cute way to show some of the things that cops do on patrol.

[Fjóla · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not the type of books I will usually pick up at the library, my four year old actually brought it to me. However, we both ended up enjoying it. It follows a police man (bug) through a whole day, sort of like Policeman Small (but more modern!) The text is in rhyme, catchy, clever, not dumbed down, and some of the vocabulary required explaining, such as "perpetrators" and "picket line". And the humor in the roach demonstrations was mostly lost on my son ... but it was funny. Luckily, speeding and partying aside, there are no "bad guys" in this book, and the even tempered Captain Bob is a real hero. The verse is rhythmic and regimented, much in the spirit of the patrol bug. If you're planning a read aloud, you might want to practice reading through it first, to get the rhythms right. We loved the refrain of "Wee-o, wee-o, wee-o, woo! Bug Mobile coming through". Coincidentally, we have a kid pop song at the house, playing with something similar. Finally, the illustrations by Cece Bell do a lot for this book. While I didn't initially care too much for the drawings, I really like the dot technique employed in the graphics, and it does make the book stand out quite a bit. So, I would normally have rated it 3.5 stars if I could, but considering how much my son enjoyed it I splurge a whole four of them.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

With rhyming text and wonderful phrases intended to be read aloud ["WEE-O! WEE-O! WEE-O!WOO" (unpaged) and that sound exactly like a police siren, this story will grab readers' attention from the first word. Captain Bob, a hard-working police bug, monitors his beat, and does his job. Not only does he have to keep those hard-partying crickets in line, but he must rescue a flea baby, investigate a fender bender, and transport roaches to their new home in a landfill. The bottom of several of the pages contains a bubble with the dispatcher's directions for his next assignment. The humorous text and acrylic and ink illustrations offer an entirely different perspective on the many bugs in our world while paying tribute to an exceptionally dedicated bug.

[Khristina Cress · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm an ECE student in my second to last year, so I'm scrambling to find material to build a library before I dive in to teaching. Bug Patrol is spectacular. There's rhyming, sound effects, tons of potential for science related tie-in activities, and the "Wee-o! Wee-o! Bug Mobile coming through!" is a repeated sentence in the book that kids will love to repeat with you.

Bug Patrol is a must for ECE teachers and for parents with young children. Plus the the illustrations are too adorable-colorful and unique.

[Holly Bryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

My son absolutely loves this book, and it is so much fun to read aloud with him! Before he coukd read on his own, he would do the "chorus" (for lack of a better word) with me, as he learned the words and rhythm after I read it once. Now, HE can read the book to ME, and it's still just as much fun! This book is perfect if your little one loves all things police-related, as mine does (along with firemen, EMTs, even animal control - anything having to with emergencies and rescue!). Highly recommended.

[Madeline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yay for Bug Patrol! I won this book at a First Reads giveaway. I just received the book in the mail and read it instantly. The book is about a police officer, Captain Bob. Captain Bob is called to several incidents where he solves the situation in a kind and peaceful way. The author uses rhymes to tell her story and teaches respect for police officers. Nice children's story.

[Haworth Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bug Patrol combines two subjects that kids love...police officers and bugs. This book is sure to be a fun read aloud as Captain Bob of the bug patrol races through town solving crimes and keeping the resident bugs safe and happy. The rhyme of this book runs nice and smooth. Kids will love making the police "Wee-o, wee-o, wee-o" sound.

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[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

This rhyming book is a great and unconventional way to talk about how police help in the community. Although all of the ‘perps’ are bugs doing various activities, it is great to be able to talk about how human police’s jobs are similar. The pictures are fun and friendly—a good read-aloud and interactive story.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny and clever rhyming text that details a day in the life of a bug patrol officer. Readers will enjoy the funny events that make up Captain Bob's day and they will enjoy the rhyming text and repeated phrases that propel the book forward.

[Maddypictures · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little long, but lots of fun, and easy to shorten up, I think. The repeating phrase, "Wee-o! Wee-o! Wee-o! Woo!Bug Mobile coming through!" is sure to make this a storytime favorite. Large colorful illustrations.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun rhyming story with appealing insectoid characters. Good choice for read aloud.

[Elisabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read aloud for older kids - and pretty cool vocab words sprinkled in. Officer Bob is one busy bug - but one cool customer through all of the crazy insect situations he encountered. *whew*

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

I know I would have loved this as a young'n.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

short rhymes. cute pictures.

[Jeanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hey, it rhymes. Fun book follows the bug patrol as it deals with problems. I think kids would really get into the pages with the siren.

[Kendra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I NEED TO RAP THIS TO SOME KIDS. Seriously, though, I think this would be so fun to do with a career unit. I'm keeping it mind for next we are asked about community helpers.

[Marina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute, rhyming story. Police car sounds make it pretty fun to read.

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming and filled with witty details, this story about a police bug makes a terrific, rhythmic read-aloud.

[Kerri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I reviewed this on the Haworth Library's goodreads page. Follow the Library's reviews there.

[Amy Mccarty]

!!!1/6/14 MD

[Ben Hicks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bug patrol was about a bug police officer who has to deal with different bugs. He was very good with the different types of bugs misbehaving and how to help everyone involved.

I liked this one, it was a good story and wonderful rhymes.

I would use this to help teach rhymes, and what is good behavior such as listening to authority figures.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awesome illustrations, be sure to check them out. A fun story about a bug police who spends his day making all the insects safer. Fun sound effects to get the listeners involved a bit make this a nice group read aloud.

[Haley Muench · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bug patrol is a really good book for younger kids. I think it shows that police are doing their job and it can be super fun. It would be a great book for career day or something along those lines, because most kids growing up think about becoming cops as one of the main options.

[Haley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had consistent pictures and text that carried a cute and fun story all the way through. It was a quick read that kids can happily enjoy and keep up with.

[MrsBuv · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of our favorite reads!

[Bill · Rating 3 out of 5]

The "urban ants" line is a little problematic.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clever world of bugs.