Dodsworth in Tokyo

Dodsworth, a distinguished mouse, and his witty and rascally friend — a white duck known only as “the duck”—are visiting Tokyo. Join this charming duo as they tour the Land of the Rising Sun, learn about cultural customs, and explore the city landmarks of a fictional, early 20th-century Japan. Along the way, they encounter a bustling city filled with a menagerie of impeccably dressed animal characters. 

From the moment their plane glides over Mount Fuji, Dodsworth begins to worry that the duck will cause trouble. Ever the cautious one, Dodsworth tries to keep his curious friend in line. “We should be on our best behavior here,” he reminds the duck. On their first evening walking in the park, they come across a child playing with a wooden toy. Later, the duck finds the toy abandoned and makes it his mission to return it to the owner. 

At first, things seem uneventful as the pair shares a sushi dinner, visits a museum, and takes a bus tour. But after a rickshaw mishap, a koi pond misadventure, and an outrageous display at a local festival, Dodsworth finds his patience wearing thin. In a moment of exasperation, Dodsworth sighs, “This won’t end well.” Will they manage to keep the trip on track—or will a surprising twist remind them what makes their friendship so special? 

In this charming early reader, a lighthearted story unfolds, featuring themes of humor, friendship, and staying calm in the face of adversity.  Readers also learn more about the endearing duck, including the ironic fact that he can’t swim. Comically, the duck adores sushi and is uncharacteristically polite while enjoying it. Readers will chuckle at the duck’s love for Japanese desserts, his clumsy attempts at bowing, polite conversation, his surprisingly impressive kendama skills (a traditional toy with a handle and ball connected by a string), and his perfectly executed sumi-e painting technique. Dodsworth even uses the duck’s love of sweets—specifically wagashi—as a bargaining tool for good behavior. “If you’re good, wagashi. If you’re not, no wagashi,” he says. The strategy almost works . . . until it doesn’t! 

Dodsworth in Tokyo is ideal for readers with a strong interest in Japanese customs and culture. While the inclusion of Japanese words and advanced vocabulary may present a challenge for younger readers, Egan’s cheerful watercolor and ink illustrations featured on every page offer helpful context clues to support comprehension. Character expressions in the illustrations also enhance emotional understanding. For example, when Dodsworth wades waist-deep into a pond to retrieve the duck, who had ignored the tour guide and fallen in, his furrowed brow says it all: “Dodsworth was soaked, and he was not happy.“ A helpful feature of the story is that most Japanese terms are explained within the text. Some visuals help decode unfamiliar terms, such as arigato and Asakusa. Although Dodsworth is a series, the books can be read independently, as each one follows a unique storyline. The story is well-suited for fluent readers who are ready to follow multiple plotlines.  

Young readers and their parents will relate to Dodsworth’s constant apprehension and the duck’s well-meaning mischief, which seems to follow them throughout their journey in a city defined by “customs and manners and order.” The traditional wooden toy kendama serves as a recurring motif in the story, reappearing in the final scene as a symbol of restitution, helping the duck win the hearts of both Dodsworth and the locals. No matter what chaos unfolds, readers can’t help but root for this lovable character! 

Sexual Content  

• None 

Violence  

• None

Drugs and Alcohol  

• None 

Language  

• None 

Supernatural 

• None

Spiritual Content  

• None