A PERFECT PLACE FOR TED

A sweetly illustrated and mostly satisfying picture book about belonging.

Ted is “a smart dog with his own sweater,” but nobody notices him at the pet store, so he decides to join the circus. Nobody notices him there, either. After trying a few other activities (pet-pageant contestant, guard dog) with the same result, a deflated Ted is heading back to the pet store when he sees a notice seeking a “furry friend for Dot.” He does “his best to make a good impression” (if readers aren’t loving Ted by now, they have no heart), and Dot notices him. He has found where he belongs—or has he? Dot brings Ted home, and a page turn reveals her cozy house—full of cats. (It turns out fine, though.) The illustrations, with their muted color scheme, nicely complement the deadpan humor of the text and are sprinkled with details that young readers may enjoy discovering. The major problem of the book is the final spread, introducing a knitting joke that feels tacked-on, despite the sweater that Ted wears throughout.

But never mind—this humorous story with its lovable protagonist is a keeper nonetheless.