The book follows four friends called the Subthesis Squad: Curious Bunny, Professor Hoot, Subby the Robot, and Detail Dog. Each one stands for a different part of doing research, so when your child gets to know the characters, they're also getting to know the steps. You can meet all four on the characters page.
The four friends
Curious Bunny, the Questioner
A fluffy, floppy-eared bunny with big round glasses and a magnifying glass, always asking "Why?" Curious Bunny stands for the first step of research: noticing things and asking questions. Your child meets Bunny on page 2, looking at a ladybug.
Professor Hoot, the Mentor
A wise owl in a mortarboard cap who knows a lot about books. Professor Hoot stands for learning what other people have already discovered before you start, and guides the Squad through the Library of Leaves in Chapter 2. First appears on page 3.
Subby the Robot, the Organizer
A round robot with an antenna and a heart on its tummy screen. Subby helps the Squad organize ideas, sort information, and crunch numbers, and stands for technology and AI tools in research. First appears on page 4.
Detail Dog, the Analyst
A beagle with a pencil behind his ear and a clipboard in his paw. Detail Dog loves counting and checking lists, and stands for data analysis. He takes the lead in Chapter 5. First appears on page 5.
How they work together
No one character does the research alone. Curious Bunny's question starts things off, Professor Hoot helps find what's already known, Subby keeps everything organized, and Detail Dog makes sure the counting is right. On page 78, Comparing Notes, Cat and Dog hold up their clipboards to check whether their notes match. It's a good picture of research as a team effort.
A question to ask your child
"Which character are you most like?" Kids who love asking why often pick Bunny. Kids who love sorting pick Subby or Detail Dog. There's no wrong answer, and it's a nice way to show your child that every kind of thinker has a job in research.
To learn more about the Squad's leader in Chapter 1, read Meet Curious Bunny.