DOTTY

Ida is ready for a new year at school—complete with her new lunchbox and her imaginary friend, Dotty. Dotty is no subtle, live-in-the-pocket, garden-variety imaginary friend. She is a large, horned buddy with giant red polka dots that match Ida’s festive T-shirt. Ms. Raymond, Ida’s teacher, seems unperturbed by Dotty or any of the other extra friends who accompany her new pupils—from Keekoo, Katya’s tiny braid-inhabiting friend, to Benny’s sharp-toothed Spike. As the year goes by, some of these imaginary friends stop attending school, but not Dotty. When classmates make fun of Dotty, Ida’s large, quiet friend shows her real power. Denos’s whimsical ink illustrations show a confident, freckled girl with her own sense of style, sure of her place in the world whether she has Dotty in tow or not. She includes pleasing touches just right for elementary-school fashionistas: Ms. Raymond’s scarf warns careful readers of a surprise at the end, and Ida’s dotted clothing ties her to her friend forever. A charmer. (Picture book. 4-9)