by Tim Egan

Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, $14.99, 32 pages

Dodsworth and his friend the duck are together again on an Italian adventure. Author and illustrator Tim Egan transports readers to new places in Dodsworth in Rome. This traveling team will have readers laughing at their playful antics. The heartwarming illustrations, done in watercolor and ink, capture the beauty of the Eternal City and the fun of travel, especially with a friend. From their seats on a scooter, Dodsworth and the duck pass the Coliseum, the Pantheon, and the Trevi Fountain. The duck is most interested in getting some gelato; while Dodsworth gets three scoops, the duck orders seven! Kids will enjoy the humor that the duck adds to the story. When he notices that the Sistine Chapel doesn’t feature one duck, he takes matters into his own hands (feet) and decides to spruce up the masterpiece. He doesn’t want to check out the Flea Market because he does not particularly like fleas. What will happen when their suitcase with all the money disappears? Children who fall in love with Dodsworth and the duck should check out their adventures in London, New York, and Paris. With another city under their belt, who knows where this pair will go next?

Reviewed by Kathryn Franklin