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On the Air with Dr. Doodlebug

Illustrated by Merrill Rainey
Hardcover
8.25"W x 10.25"H x 0.42"D   | 14 oz | 34 per carton
On sale Oct 21, 2025 | 40 Pages | 9781662640025
Age 4-8 years

Something bugging you? Ask Dr. Doodlebug: He's our on-the-air bug expert! Presented in a bright colorful comics-style and buzzing with insect facts and personality, young readers are introduced to a story with a question-and-answer format that is both engaging and entertaining. Perfect for fans of Elise Gravel’s Disgusting Critters series.

From award-winning creators Susan E. Goodman and Merrill Rainey comes something really fun: a radio show in a book! Meet our bug expert: Dr. Doodlebug. Dr. D hosts a radio talk show called On The Air With Dr. Doodlebug, where he answers the burning questions bugs have. Why does a caterpillar get SOOO hungry before . . . changing? How can lightning bugs use less electricity? With terrific repartee and fabulous illustrations, this comic book-style story will enchant bug enthusiasts, their adults, and educators alike. Bring all your questions. Dr. Doodlebug’s got the answers!
Susan E. Goodman is the author of more than thirty nonfiction books for children, including How Do You Burp in Space?: And Other Tips Every Space Tourist Needs to Know; See How They Run: Campaign Dreams, Election Schemes, and the Race to the White House; All in Just One Cookie, an ALA Notable Book; and On This Spot: An Expedition Back Through Time, a Washington Post Top Picture Book of the Year. She lives in Boston, Massachusetts. View titles by Susan E. Goodman
Growing up, Merrill Rainey spent most of his Saturday afternoons watching monster movies, drawing superheroes, and going on imaginary adventures with his brothers. Today, he is a cowboy-boot-wearing, award-winning illustrator, designer, and paper engineer. Merrill likes to experiment with tools and uses marker, cut paper, or water-soluble graphite to create his illustrations. He has served on faculty at the Highlights Foundation and is currently the illustrator coordinator for the northern Ohio chapter of the SCBWI. Merrill lives in the historic town of Whitehouse, Ohio, with his editor (his wife), subject matter experts (his kids), and very opinionated coworkers (one pup, a toad, two goldfish, and some crabby hermit crabs). Visit littlerainey.com. View titles by Merrill Rainey
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★ "Dr. Doodlebug is the friendly and knowledgeable host of a webcast into which other insects call for advice. The questions and answers are substantive and interesting, with just the right level of detail... The insect's-eye point of view is not just fun, it also gives reasons for and meaning to the questions and answers. Rainey's art is integral to the story. Much of it is told in graphic-novel-style panels, and Dr. Doodlebug sketches doodles (of course!) to help answer the other insects' questions. The playful writing integrates plenty of insect puns (e.g., a gnat named Gnatalie), and the colorful cartoon illustrations will easily hold readers' attention. Imaginative and engaging, this mix of fact and fiction makes learning about insects fun." —Booklist, starred review

ON THE AIR WITH DR. DOODLEBUG Book Trailer

Classroom Activities for On the Air with Dr. Doodlebug

Classroom activities supplement discussion and traditional lessons with group projects and creative tasks. Can be used in pre-existing units and lessons, or as stand-alone.

(Please note: the guide displayed here is the most recently uploaded version; while unlikely, any page citation discrepancies between the guide and book is likely due to pagination differences between a book’s different formats.)

About

Something bugging you? Ask Dr. Doodlebug: He's our on-the-air bug expert! Presented in a bright colorful comics-style and buzzing with insect facts and personality, young readers are introduced to a story with a question-and-answer format that is both engaging and entertaining. Perfect for fans of Elise Gravel’s Disgusting Critters series.

From award-winning creators Susan E. Goodman and Merrill Rainey comes something really fun: a radio show in a book! Meet our bug expert: Dr. Doodlebug. Dr. D hosts a radio talk show called On The Air With Dr. Doodlebug, where he answers the burning questions bugs have. Why does a caterpillar get SOOO hungry before . . . changing? How can lightning bugs use less electricity? With terrific repartee and fabulous illustrations, this comic book-style story will enchant bug enthusiasts, their adults, and educators alike. Bring all your questions. Dr. Doodlebug’s got the answers!

Creators

Susan E. Goodman is the author of more than thirty nonfiction books for children, including How Do You Burp in Space?: And Other Tips Every Space Tourist Needs to Know; See How They Run: Campaign Dreams, Election Schemes, and the Race to the White House; All in Just One Cookie, an ALA Notable Book; and On This Spot: An Expedition Back Through Time, a Washington Post Top Picture Book of the Year. She lives in Boston, Massachusetts. View titles by Susan E. Goodman
Growing up, Merrill Rainey spent most of his Saturday afternoons watching monster movies, drawing superheroes, and going on imaginary adventures with his brothers. Today, he is a cowboy-boot-wearing, award-winning illustrator, designer, and paper engineer. Merrill likes to experiment with tools and uses marker, cut paper, or water-soluble graphite to create his illustrations. He has served on faculty at the Highlights Foundation and is currently the illustrator coordinator for the northern Ohio chapter of the SCBWI. Merrill lives in the historic town of Whitehouse, Ohio, with his editor (his wife), subject matter experts (his kids), and very opinionated coworkers (one pup, a toad, two goldfish, and some crabby hermit crabs). Visit littlerainey.com. View titles by Merrill Rainey

Praise

★ "Dr. Doodlebug is the friendly and knowledgeable host of a webcast into which other insects call for advice. The questions and answers are substantive and interesting, with just the right level of detail... The insect's-eye point of view is not just fun, it also gives reasons for and meaning to the questions and answers. Rainey's art is integral to the story. Much of it is told in graphic-novel-style panels, and Dr. Doodlebug sketches doodles (of course!) to help answer the other insects' questions. The playful writing integrates plenty of insect puns (e.g., a gnat named Gnatalie), and the colorful cartoon illustrations will easily hold readers' attention. Imaginative and engaging, this mix of fact and fiction makes learning about insects fun." —Booklist, starred review

Media

ON THE AIR WITH DR. DOODLEBUG Book Trailer

Teacher Guides

Classroom Activities for On the Air with Dr. Doodlebug

Classroom activities supplement discussion and traditional lessons with group projects and creative tasks. Can be used in pre-existing units and lessons, or as stand-alone.

(Please note: the guide displayed here is the most recently uploaded version; while unlikely, any page citation discrepancies between the guide and book is likely due to pagination differences between a book’s different formats.)

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