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Ted
Ted is a smart dog, with his own jumper. But he has lived at the pet store for as long as he can remember and nobody seems to notice him. Will Ted ever find the perfect place to live?
32 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2013
2 people are currently reading
58 people want to read
About the author
Leila Rudge
20 books8 followersI was born in England and spent my first few years making mud pies with three sisters, two brothers and Jeni from number 15. Not long after completing an Illustration Degree at Bath Spa University, I jumped on a plane to Australia in search of the sunshine.
In 2009, I illustrated my first children’s book Duck for a Day, which was shortlisted for the CBCA Book of the Year Award - Younger Reader’s category. No Bears, my second collaboration with Meg Mckinlay also popped up on the shortlist in the Picture Book of the Year and Early Childhood categories of the 2012 CBCA awards. The sequel to Duck for a Day, Definitely No Ducks was released in early 2013 alongside Ted, my first solo project.
My work is a mixture of pencil, paint, paper and any other bits and bobs found in my studio… I love adding collage to my illustrations and often spend far too long searching through magazines for the perfect colours and patterns…
In 2009, I illustrated my first children’s book Duck for a Day, which was shortlisted for the CBCA Book of the Year Award - Younger Reader’s category. No Bears, my second collaboration with Meg Mckinlay also popped up on the shortlist in the Picture Book of the Year and Early Childhood categories of the 2012 CBCA awards. The sequel to Duck for a Day, Definitely No Ducks was released in early 2013 alongside Ted, my first solo project.
My work is a mixture of pencil, paint, paper and any other bits and bobs found in my studio… I love adding collage to my illustrations and often spend far too long searching through magazines for the perfect colours and patterns…
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
January 20, 2020
Theoretically I could one day become tired of picture books about pets finding their forever homes. But in the way that one expects life to go on the same way, I don't really believe it. I very much like the unsuccessful efforts. I don't like the pet store as much as a shelter because I skew heavily against buying pets when there are so many available for adoption (my state has only quite recently begun to embrace the advantage of free spaying/neutering, so we have a surplus). But that is a minor quibble, really more a peccadillo. Adorable book.
Library copy
Library copy
December 24, 2015
Heart-warming story about pet adoption ideally illustrated to match this imperfect pooch with his "perfect" family.
March 1, 2017
Mostly I just really like Leila Rudge's illustrations.
January 31, 2025
A perfectionist's fantasy, in the guise of an ordinary picture book for children.
You need not go far -- the inside flap of the front cover can be far enough -- before the truth will strike you. This is not a reality-based picture book. Mainly, that's what they are, you know. Picture books show adult reality made simpler, cozier. Or sometimes it's a child's reality made cogent.
Here, Leila Rudge didn't try either game. You can get a sense of this right from the inside flap:
Ted has lived among the dogs at the pet store for as long as he can remember. But there are so many dogs there, nobody ever chooses Ted. So he decides to go someplace else — someplace perfect.
But Ted can’t fly through the air like the circus dogs, and he doesn’t have fancy pom-poms like the show dogs. Just as he loses hope, he sees a sign: Wanted: Perfect Pet.
Little animal lovers will be tickled along with Ted at the unusual household that finally becomes his perfect place.
When you're taking your first peeks at adult reality, stories can be truly made up. No attempt at realism or logic.
Childlike fantasy, that's what this story is made of, a story that speaks the language of the heart. With a satisfactory ending on those terms.
RATING THIS BOOK
Unless I absolutely love or loathe a book, my policy is to rate it in terms of my imagined response of the intended readers.
For this book, readers would be dog-lovers. And, even more, youngsters who want life to nurture their hearts and their ideals. I'll give this book FIVE STARS in that idealistic cause.
You need not go far -- the inside flap of the front cover can be far enough -- before the truth will strike you. This is not a reality-based picture book. Mainly, that's what they are, you know. Picture books show adult reality made simpler, cozier. Or sometimes it's a child's reality made cogent.
Here, Leila Rudge didn't try either game. You can get a sense of this right from the inside flap:
Ted has lived among the dogs at the pet store for as long as he can remember. But there are so many dogs there, nobody ever chooses Ted. So he decides to go someplace else — someplace perfect.
But Ted can’t fly through the air like the circus dogs, and he doesn’t have fancy pom-poms like the show dogs. Just as he loses hope, he sees a sign: Wanted: Perfect Pet.
Little animal lovers will be tickled along with Ted at the unusual household that finally becomes his perfect place.
When you're taking your first peeks at adult reality, stories can be truly made up. No attempt at realism or logic.
Childlike fantasy, that's what this story is made of, a story that speaks the language of the heart. With a satisfactory ending on those terms.
RATING THIS BOOK
Unless I absolutely love or loathe a book, my policy is to rate it in terms of my imagined response of the intended readers.
For this book, readers would be dog-lovers. And, even more, youngsters who want life to nurture their hearts and their ideals. I'll give this book FIVE STARS in that idealistic cause.
August 30, 2017
Ted has lost his sense of self and belonging after a particularly long and boring stint in the pet shop. His search for a place of his own where he feels special eventually results in his immersion into an unexpected sanctuary. Obviously by being the odd one out in his new home, sets Ted apart and therefore addresses his need to feel noticed and valuable but I'm not sure having that much feline competition will pan out for him in the long run. And is it that important to be at the forefront of everything, the number one, all the time? Still a gentle enjoyable read about finding the perfect home.
November 21, 2018
Ted does not stand out at the pet shop and he really wants to find his "perfect" place. He sets out on a mission by attempting to join a circus and entering a pet pageant. All to no avail until he happens upon a "Wanted" sign. Then, his "purrfect" place becomes a reality.
March 21, 2017
This dog is from the pound. He decides he doesn't like living there and wants to be at a place where he fits in and feels happy. He tries the circus and even being a guard dog but nothing seems to work. He meets a girl ad feels so happy with her. He was sure he found his place in the world. When the girl takes the dog home he realizes the girl lives with a bunch of cats.
Teachable points: be happy with what you have, no one ever fits in, everyplace is different, if you aren't happy keep trying
Teachable points: be happy with what you have, no one ever fits in, everyplace is different, if you aren't happy keep trying
January 22, 2018
I read this book to my dog, also called Ted, and my husband roundly mocked me for being sad. It's an excellent book, with a surprise ending involving cats.
April 13, 2023
A sweet story about trying to find your place in the world.
May 2, 2013
Ted by Leila Rudge
Ted is a cute loveable dog with a waggy green tail but so far he has had nowhere to call his home. He has stayed in the pet shop for long enough now and has decided he is fed up and needs to get out of their and find himself something to do. Instead of sitting around complaining about his life in the pet shop Ted decides its time to go out and seek his fortune.
First he goes to the circus but nobody pays him any attention as they all look on in amazement at the trapeze circus dog who has now taken centre stage as Ted sits on the sidelines and chews at an empty popcorn box. Then he goes to make an attempt at getting into the perfect pet pageant but no luck there as there is too much competition with the other perfectly groomed poodles. His attempts at being a guard dog also prove unsuccessful.
As Ted is beginning to give up on finding himself a new role, he notices a poster with a notice on it. The notice requires a dog that is fun, which likes to play and who enjoys long walks. This appears to be the perfect role for Ted.
Ted is a character that everyone can relate to at one time or another in their life. Feeling left out or out of place is never nice nor will the feeling last forever. This book is the perfect reminder of just that. It teaches children to be true to themselves and everything else will fall into place.
Ted is a cute loveable dog with a waggy green tail but so far he has had nowhere to call his home. He has stayed in the pet shop for long enough now and has decided he is fed up and needs to get out of their and find himself something to do. Instead of sitting around complaining about his life in the pet shop Ted decides its time to go out and seek his fortune.
First he goes to the circus but nobody pays him any attention as they all look on in amazement at the trapeze circus dog who has now taken centre stage as Ted sits on the sidelines and chews at an empty popcorn box. Then he goes to make an attempt at getting into the perfect pet pageant but no luck there as there is too much competition with the other perfectly groomed poodles. His attempts at being a guard dog also prove unsuccessful.
As Ted is beginning to give up on finding himself a new role, he notices a poster with a notice on it. The notice requires a dog that is fun, which likes to play and who enjoys long walks. This appears to be the perfect role for Ted.
Ted is a character that everyone can relate to at one time or another in their life. Feeling left out or out of place is never nice nor will the feeling last forever. This book is the perfect reminder of just that. It teaches children to be true to themselves and everything else will fall into place.
November 19, 2014
Ted is “a smart dog with his own sweater,” yet in the pet store where he lives, no one notices him with all the other dogs around. So Ted decides to take matters in his own hand and sets off to find a place where he belongs. He tries joining a circus, enters a dog show, and takes a job as a guard dog, but though he tries his best, still no one notices him. Then along comes a little girl in a red dress looking for a furry friend who enjoys “long walks and ball games.” Dot offers him a perfect place (and a sweet surprise), but most importantly, she “noticed.” Dot’s dark red polka dot dress stands out on the page of soft pencil, ink and collage illustrations, and her green knit scarf perfectly matches Ted’s sweater, helping readers identify her as his perfect match. Ted, as a gray, medium sized, long nosed hound of mixed heritage is a humble, but expressive contrast to the poodles, dachshunds and other purebreds found in the book. Preschoolers and toddlers, who may share Ted’s desire to be noticed, will connect with the determined little dog. With large pages, not too much text, and a nice twist in the ending, this is a perfect book for preschool storytime.
Copy received for review for The Children's Literature Database
Copy received for review for The Children's Literature Database
January 22, 2015
Ted, like most dogs, wants a home, and after being passed over time and again in the pet store, decides to take matters into his own paws.
With only the green jumper* (*Lingo for “Sweater”) on his back, and a dream in his heart, Ted embarks on a quest to find his “Ever After” home!
He tries getting hired by a circus, but doesn’t make the cut, to being a show dog on the pageant circuit, but isn’t able to stand out from the competition. Finally, he takes a stab at being a guard dog, but isn’t assertive enough…
Ted starts to wonder if there is a “Perfect Place”
for him to call home…
Author-Illustrator Leila Rudge uses a classic watercolor style, warm color palette, and subtle line art to bring Ted’s earnest journey to life.
Despite the potential issues of giving someone a real pet for their birthday or the holidays, dog lovers should have no qualms whatsoever gifting “A Perfect Place for Ted” to the pet parents in your life.
Originally Reviewed at TalkingAnimalAddicts.com
With only the green jumper* (*Lingo for “Sweater”) on his back, and a dream in his heart, Ted embarks on a quest to find his “Ever After” home!
He tries getting hired by a circus, but doesn’t make the cut, to being a show dog on the pageant circuit, but isn’t able to stand out from the competition. Finally, he takes a stab at being a guard dog, but isn’t assertive enough…
Ted starts to wonder if there is a “Perfect Place”
for him to call home…
Author-Illustrator Leila Rudge uses a classic watercolor style, warm color palette, and subtle line art to bring Ted’s earnest journey to life.
Despite the potential issues of giving someone a real pet for their birthday or the holidays, dog lovers should have no qualms whatsoever gifting “A Perfect Place for Ted” to the pet parents in your life.
Originally Reviewed at TalkingAnimalAddicts.com
September 12, 2014
Review originally posted on Children's Atheneum
Ted has lived among the dogs at the pet store for as long as he can remember. Nobody ever chooses Ted. So he decides to take matters into his own hands. He tries his hand at being a circus dog, but doesn't have fancy pom-poms like the other show dogs. However, when he sees a sign asking for a perfect pet, Ted is sure that he will fit the bill.
The story in the beginning is a little sad. A dog who keeps getting left behind and never adopted? Although Ted is heavily anthropomorphized, he is a sweet loveable dog and I simply couldn't see why no one would adopt him. Sure, he isn't circus material, but how many dogs are? Nice in its simplicity, with beautiful illustrations, this one is definitely for all the kids who love dogs, which is pretty much the majority of children.
Ted has lived among the dogs at the pet store for as long as he can remember. Nobody ever chooses Ted. So he decides to take matters into his own hands. He tries his hand at being a circus dog, but doesn't have fancy pom-poms like the other show dogs. However, when he sees a sign asking for a perfect pet, Ted is sure that he will fit the bill.
The story in the beginning is a little sad. A dog who keeps getting left behind and never adopted? Although Ted is heavily anthropomorphized, he is a sweet loveable dog and I simply couldn't see why no one would adopt him. Sure, he isn't circus material, but how many dogs are? Nice in its simplicity, with beautiful illustrations, this one is definitely for all the kids who love dogs, which is pretty much the majority of children.
February 24, 2015
Personal response: I really enjoyed following Ted the dog's journey in this book. I liked seeing how he never gave up and eventually found somewhere where he felt like he belonged. The plot twist at the end was really clever, and I can imagine a classroom full of children laughing at it.
Purposes:
- Ages 2-7
Read Aloud for Enrichment:
- rich story line, with lots of detail and ups and downs
- rich language that may stretch some age groups: impression, remember, belong, magnificent, audience, sensational, preferred, suspicious, burglar
Individual Reading:
- If a child complains of not fitting in with the class, this book would be a good choice to show them that everyone has somewhere where they belong- where they can feel accepted.
Purposes:
- Ages 2-7
Read Aloud for Enrichment:
- rich story line, with lots of detail and ups and downs
- rich language that may stretch some age groups: impression, remember, belong, magnificent, audience, sensational, preferred, suspicious, burglar
Individual Reading:
- If a child complains of not fitting in with the class, this book would be a good choice to show them that everyone has somewhere where they belong- where they can feel accepted.
June 21, 2014
The animals in the pet shop where Ted lives come and go, but no one ever notices Ted. He decides to set out on his own and find a way to gain the attention of others. As he looks for ways to stand out, he finally catches the attention of Dot who is looking for a furry friend and gives him a home of his own. I loved the ending page, which is simply "puuuurrrrrfect" (unpaged)and the illustrations, created in pencil, ink, and collage, and how they show so well Ted's feelings. Those last few pages showing the surprise on the faces of his new housemates are terrific, capturing the way that cats always act when something new enters their terrain.
October 16, 2014
Ted the dog just doesn’t fit in anywhere. No one notices Ted at the pet store, or the circus, or the pageant and he is a horrible guard dog. Will Dot have a spot for Ted to fit in her life? Pet lovers will enjoy following Ted on his journey to find a home. Pencil and ink illustrations create a colorful backdrop for Ted and his adventures. The use of collage in some of the clothing distracts from the flow of the story and images. These bold colors create stopping points and draw attention away from the storyline. The use of larger text to emphasize words seems inconsistent towards the end of the book.
November 13, 2014
Ted is a smart dog with his own sweater and feeling that the pet store where he lives is not where he belongs. Nobody ever notices him because there are so many other dogs. He sets out to find ‘somewhere perfect’. The circus, pet pageant, and job as a guard dog do nothing for him to get noticed. Then along comes a little girl in a red jumper named Dot. “Ted did his best to make a good impression. And Dot noticed.” Ted’s life changes and he finds his ‘somewhere perfect’. The story is made charming with the soft palette illustrations created with pencil, ink, and collage. Young children will enjoy Ted’s story and be delighted with his happy ending.
September 10, 2014
Another Toddler Storytime pet book, this one really cracked me up. Ted lives in a pet store but never gets adopted, so he decides to strike out on his own to find a home. He looks high and low, at the circus and the dog show, before he finds someone looking for the perfect pet. He is at home at last, though the location is not expected. Recommended for ages 2-6, 3 stars.
September 14, 2014
This, like other stories in picture books, has a surprise at the end. Sweet little dog Ted needs a home and while he is willing to try many kinds of homes, none quite fit. This is one of those fun repeating scene stories until the resulting ending, just right for Ted. The illustrations enhance Ted’s sweet personality in soft watercolors.
November 7, 2015
Ted longed for a place to belong, some place other than the pet store. He always put his best foot forward, but no one seemed to notice him.
He tried his hand at various jobs. When he worked as a security dog, for example, the burglar didn't notice his ferocious barking!
Will he ever find the "purr"fect place?
Lovely illustrations. Ted is delightful! :)
He tried his hand at various jobs. When he worked as a security dog, for example, the burglar didn't notice his ferocious barking!
Will he ever find the "purr"fect place?
Lovely illustrations. Ted is delightful! :)
August 20, 2016
Ted is a smart dog with his own sweater, how come nobody notices him?? He can stand on popcorn boxes and read newspapers! Luckily he comes across a girl named Dot and they hang out all afternoon and Ted finally finds his perfect place. Very cute illustrations. The second-last page especially made me snort aloud.
September 30, 2013
TED by Leila Rudge – Aww, who wouldn’t love Ted who had the challenge of figuring out where he belonged in the world? Very special, cute, touching book about a little dog who left the pet shop where he was ignored and worked hard to find out where he fit. Australian publisher.
August 6, 2016
While this is a cute book that features a dog searching for his perfect person, it is unfortunately reflects behind-the-times values, humane-wise. Ted is being offered for sale in a pet shop, and later joins a circus.
November 24, 2014
This book was recommended to me by our children's librarian, Amy. It's unexpected, utilizes a great vocabulary, features charming illustrations, and a has surprise ending.
Definitely being added to my home collection.
Definitely being added to my home collection.
August 1, 2014
Age: Preschool-Kindergarten
Nothing remarkable about this adoption story but the story is brief and simple enough for the little ones without losing a good, logical story line. Can be read on the lap or to a group--a feat not achieved by many children's books.
Nothing remarkable about this adoption story but the story is brief and simple enough for the little ones without losing a good, logical story line. Can be read on the lap or to a group--a feat not achieved by many children's books.
September 13, 2014
Cute book that there is a place for everyone or every pet. I would have given this book 4 stores had the author chosen an animal rescue rather than a pet shop to stress the importance of animal adoption. Illustrations were good but not outstanding.
October 8, 2014
Loved this story about a dog who has a hard time getting noticed. We spend most of the book seeing how Ted is never noticed. In the end he finds the perfect place where he belongs. A good lesson to kids that it's important to try different things and that there is not one thing fits all.
January 30, 2015
Ted the dog tries many different ways of getting attention and finding his perfect place: not the pet store, not the circus, not the pet pageant, and not as a guard dog. But he is perfect as a furry friend who enjoys ball games and long walks...and luckily, cats.
November 18, 2015
Ted is looking for a new place to be, where he belongs. He looks all over for his home and finally finds it with dot... and all of her cats. a great book about dogs, in sweaters, pets, and home. Or finding where you fit.
June 16, 2013
A smart dog with his own jumper wants to finds a perfect home. Quirky pictures
Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews