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Egan, Tim
11 Reviews
(2)
1-3
The humor in Egan's globe-hopping series about Dodsworth and his duck friend has always stemmed from the characterization of duck-as-id, and, happily, this installment doesn't break the pattern. A plot thread involving a lost toy leads to a much-anticipated moment of mayhem and to the reminder that our troublemaker has a good heart. As usual, droll watercolors illustrate the pair's tour of popular attractions.
Reviewer: Christine M. Heppermann
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
March, 2013
(2)
1-3
Though Dodsworth manages to stop his capricious travel companion from adding waterfowl to the Sistine Chapel's ceiling, he can never prevent all the duck's mischief--and Egan's fans wouldn't want him to. Touring their fourth great city, the pair's back-and-forth is as priceless as usual, while the witty, understated ink-and-watercolor illustrations once again take in the sights--the Colosseum, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, etc.
Reviewer: Christine M. Heppermann
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
May, 2011
(2)
1-3
A talented duck, Egan demonstrates, has cross-cultural appeal. In their third outing, the duck accidentally boards a London bus without Dodsworth--leaving the latter to assume the refined fowl in the fancy hat standing nearby is just his friend putting on an act. As usual, Egan's wit is as sharp as the fashion sense of the assorted animals populating his droll ink and watercolor illustrations.
Reviewer: Christine M. Heppermann
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
November, 2009
(2)
1-3
Dodsworth the rat and his duck friend say banjo (the duck's mangling of bonjour) to Paris. While the duck's antics and his once-adversarial relationship with Dodsworth have been toned down, he still puts on a good show. Egan's refined ink and watercolor illustrations depict a Paris populated by nattily dressed animals, where the duck can get into trouble at multiple landmarks.
Reviewer: Christine M. Heppermann
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
January, 2009
(2)
K-3
Hodges's pet duck (Friday Night at Hodges' Cafe) is a less-than-ideal travel companion for dapper rat Dodsworth. Egan's witty understatement, along with the urbane watercolor and ink illustrations, documents Dodsworth's wild duck chase through New York City. While following crazy waterfowl might not be everyone's dream vacation, Egan proves you can see a lot of interesting things that way.
Reviewer: Christine M. Heppermann
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
September, 2007
(2)
K-3
Thrift store proprietor Dodsworth spends his days watching TV and napping. On one of his junkyard runs, however, Dodsworth discovers a pink refrigerator. "Make pictures," a note on the outside says; inside are a sketchbook, paint, and brushes. The book's worthy message, while not at all subtle, is refreshingly delivered without pretense. The unfussy, muted illustrations are rendered with Egan's characteristic restraint.
Reviewer: Kitty Flynn
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
March, 2007
(4)
K-3
Cardigan the moose stops to smell an apple pie; the next thing he knows, he's on trial for stealing it. When the observant judge calls for a visit to the scene of the crime, Cardigan is exonerated. It's a letdown that the clues to what happened are fairly obvious, but Egan's fans will appreciate his droll humor and deadpan ink and watercolor drawings.
Reviewer: Kitty Flynn
(1)
K-3
Edna the cow, tired of the lack of levity on the farm, wants to shake things up a bit: "We've got to get Farmer Fred to laugh. I mean, it's okay to be serious, but not all the time." Everyone agrees to try, cracking themselves up in the process. But not Farmer Fred. When the animals leave in disgust, Fred (who's serious, not heartless) lightens up...but just a bit. Egan's offbeat, understated humor is used to good effect in the highly amusing text and art.
Reviewer: Kitty Flynn
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
September, 2003
(4)
K-3
Out-of-work short-order cook Sheldon, a pig, overcomes his fear of Halloween, wolves, and thunderstorms (and lands himself a job) when he helps capture a mad scientist bent on ruling the world. This parody of old-fashioned horror movies may strike young readers as more absurd than funny, but Egan's fans will appreciate his familiar understated humor, evident in both text and art.
Reviewer: Jennifer M. Brabander
(4)
K-3
Mysterious stranger Marley is staying at Ellington Lodge in exchange for doing the painting that lodge-owner Preston has been ignoring; Preston has been concentrating on his checkers winning streak. When Marley beats Preston at checkers, sore-loser Preston convinces his friends that the dog is a sorcerer, and the rumor spreads out of control. The illustrations lack variety, but fans of Egan's animal characters will fall under Marley's spell.
Reviewer: Kitty Flynn
(4)
K-3
A raccoon named Skunk and his losing bowling team decide to turn criminal and end up becoming pawns in a bank robbing scheme orchestrated by a clever goat and his partner, the "sheep lady." Skunk's narrative, accompanied by ink and watercolor illustrations of the nattily dressed cohorts, re-creates the feel of an old-time gangster movie, but the story is only mildly amusing.
Reviewer: Christine M. Heppermann
11 reviews
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