Ted

Long a legend to fans of Dungeons & Dragons and Magic: The Gathering, Tony DiTerlizzi is finally getting his due with a broader audience. The gifted, prankish artist (and now writer, too) debuted in 2000 with the delightfully deranged Jimmy Zangwow's Out-of-This-World Moon Pie Adventure and shows no signs of letting up with the equally weird and wonderful Ted.

As the story goes, Ted--the "big, raspberry-colored oaf" who was DiTerlizzi's imaginary childhood pal--was a little jealous about the Moon Pie Adventure and wanted in on the next book. So with a little help from this towering, pink, floppy-eared fluff ball, DiTerlizzi recounts how he and Ted first met over bowls of raspberry cereal and games of Monopoly-Twister. But, of course, Father will have nothing to do with this, so an elaborate campaign begins to convince him of Ted's existence, involving wall murals, impromptu indoor swimming pools, and all other sorts of mischief.

DiTerlizzi's dense, signature style is back--bordering on '50s-traditional but with a healthy touch of dementia--and his imaginative use of color and shadow makes every spread a treat. Though it might not have quite the zip of Jimmy Zangwow, this sophomore effort solidifies the start of DiTerlizzi's promising new career. (Ages 4 to 8) --Paul Hughes