Lisa Mueller, Author

Join young ladybug Dot, as she embarks on a journey to discover the meaning of a "good deed," after being told by her mother that she must earn spots on her back by performing good deeds. 

Dot has several adventures along the way, coming to the rescue for several friends. Imagine her surprise to return home to see her back is adorned with black spots! Children will enjoy the colorful illustrations, that show spots magically appearing on Dot's back after she helps each friend. 

Dot's Spots celebrates the innocence of childhood, and reminds us that sometimes simply being kind is the only answer we need.

Jasper the rooster lives on a farm with his animal friends. But there is a big problem: Jasper is secretly scared of the dark! Instead of his usual dawn chorus of cock-a-doodle-doos, he's snoozing away. His pals rally to boost his courage, but getting Jasper to face the darkness is no simple task.
Will Jasper ever shake off his shadowy jitters?
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Dive into this charming tale where friendship and bravery light up the night. Japer the Brave reminds us that sometimes we all need a nudge to conquer our fears!

​​Lisa Mueller, Author


​Lisa Mueller recently retired from a 23 year career in Special Education. Having worked in several different classrooms, she saw instances of bullying firsthand, and the impact it had on the victims. She has always advocated for inclusion for children with special needs, knowing that fellow peers also benefit from sharing a classroom with students with differing abilities. She utilized positive teaching moments to help prevent instances of bullying. 

Lisa is an award winning author, and an avid reader. She understands the importance of reading to children from infancy through childhood.  Dot's Spots, Lisa's debut book, is the winner of the Pencraft Seasonal Best Book award in the Animals category, and was the Runner-Up in the Animals category for the entire year. Dot's Spots also received a Five Star review from Readers' Favorite in August of 2025. 

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​"Children are made readers on the lap ​of their parents." ​
​- Lisa Mueller

​Lisa lives in Oklahoma with her husband, daughter, and grandson. She is a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. Her second book, Jasper the Brave, will be released on January 8, 2026. Lisa is published with Solander Press. ​

Review:

​"Have you ever wondered why some ladybugs have spots and some don't? Dot's Spots by Lisa Mueller answers that very question, but in a non-scientific way. Readers are introduced to Dot, who asks her mother why she doesn't have spots like her. Her mother tells her it's because she must do good deeds to earn her spots. So, Dot goes on a hunt to find others in need of help. Along the way, she meets several others from the bug world who need her help, like a spider, a worm, and a butterfly. In the end, not only does Dot have spots like her mother, but she's proud that she was able to help some new friends, too.

As an educator, I found Dot's Spots by Lisa Mueller to be a very thoughtful story. Since young children always want to help, they will be able to identify with Dot's need to help others. I also think it will be a great book to use for discussions on empathy, being helpful, and being a good friend. It could also be paired with simple classroom activities, like having students draw their own "good deed" spots on paper ladybugs. Students will find Kashif Qasim's illustrations engaging with their soft colors, playful expressions, and charming insect details. After seeing all the bugs in the story, kids will surely want to tell which of them was their favorite. While this book doesn't scientifically tell children why some ladybugs have spots and some don't, it does a great job of teaching the life lesson of helping others." - Jennifer Senick, Readers' Favorite
Ella's Way, where kindness starts early.