Mr. Chicken Arriva a Roma

Mr. Chicken, a giant birdlike creature with large fangs and a no-nonsense glare, fulfills his dream of visiting Rome in his third picture book. With a woman named Federica as his guide, Mr. Chicken samples gelatos and pastas, sees famous ancient structures, and imagines himself a gladiator during a nap (while he’s sleeping, tourists queue up to stick their hands in his mouth, à la the city’s Mouth of Truth). Hobbs, Australia’s current Children’s Laureate, delivers an irreverent tribute to the Italian capital. While Rome is the Eternal City, this story is entirely contemporary: the throngs of visitors, including Mr. Chicken, are glued to their smartphones in almost every scene. Ages 4–8. (June)