The Dodsworth Adventures series by Tim Egan

Review by: Renny Fong (edits by Shien Chiou)

About the author/illustrator:

Tim Egan is the author and illustrator of several offbeat and humorous tales for children. Born in New Jersey, Tim moved to California to attend the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. He still lives in southern California with his wife, Ann, and their two sons. His latest books are the Dodsworth Adventures chapter books.

About the book series:

The Dodsworth Adventures series is an award-winning series of early reader chapter books (kids ages 4-8) featuring Dodsworth, a complacent mouse, and his traveling companion Duck. Dodsworth wanted adventure. He wanted to see the world. He especially wanted to visit New York City, Paris and London. What he didn’t want was to be joined by a duck. A crazy duck. A duck that misbehaves. Young readers will laugh out loud at the duck’s silly antics as Dodsworth has the unexpected adventure of his life in the Big Apple . . . and beyond.

My take on the book:

Scoot over, Gingerbread Man!  There’s a new troublemaker in town, making his way through New York City, Paris, and London!  Meet Dodsworth, whose solo adventure gets crashed by his favorite Diner’s willful and impetuous Duck.  Responsible and anxious Dodsworth searches high and low in each city for the constantly disappearing and reappearing Duck.  This chase becomes Dodsworth’s real adventure.

Children will love reading or listening to these three easy-to-read chapter books, written and illustrated by Tim Egan – Dodsworth in New York City, Dodsworth in Paris, and Dodsworth in London.  The beautiful watercolor illustrations alone will captivate your child’s imagination, and Duck’s shenanigans will be certain to drive you and your child as crazy as Dodsworth.   When Duck bows his head down and seems sorry for what he’s done, you turn the page and find out he actually just fell asleep!  Then, just when Dodsworth seems to have reached his boiling point, Duck finds a way to simmer him down and make peace… again and again and again.

Dodsworth and Duck bring the odd couple back in these funny refreshing stories full of personality and surprises.  I’m so glad my wife discovered them! Next stop for Dodsworth and Duck? Rome in Spring 2011!