Kimberly Dean (1)

I want to snap to a beat every time I read a Pete the Cat book, and this one was no different. Catchy rhymes, a smooth talking cat, and a lesson about it not being what you wear, but that attitude of who is wearing it that can make all the difference.

Pete the Cat is much abashed when his friend Grumpy Toad tells him that he is dancing all wrong in this ninth full-size picture-book devoted to his adventures, setting out to discover the 'right' way to move. Loving dance, and feeling impelled to move to the beat, Pete wants to do his Cool Cat Boogie the best he can. His initial missteps, under the dance tutelage of various friends, eventually lead him to wise old Owl, who gives him the best advice of all: be himself!

The fourth Pete the Cat show more book written by Kimberly Dean, rather than original author/song-writer Eric Litwin, Pete the Cat and the Cool Cat Boogie is a fairly engaging tale, and probably my favorite thus far, of the Dean titles in the series. Although the text is still a bit awkward, the rhymes here work better than in previous tales. I appreciated the overall message, of being true to yourself, rather than worrying about how others perceive you, and I liked the use of the phrase "I'm full of happy in my feet," as I have sometimes felt something of the sort, when listening to up-tempo music. As with the previous Kimberly Dean Pete the Cat books, there is a subtle nod to the Bible in the author's dedication, in which she mentions the biblical verse Ecclesiastes 3:4. This is easily enough ignored, for those uninterested in religion, while those who seek to relate this tale to some sort of religious moral, will find the very verse that will allow them to do so. Recommended to Pete the Cat fans, as well as to anyone looking for children's stories about having confidence and being oneself. show less

Pete the Cat and his friend Gus make eight cupcakes for a party they are throwing, but find that their treats slowly disappear over the course of the day. They confront their various friends, from Squirrel to Alligator, but each has a cast-iron alibi. Eventually the culprit is revealed: unable to stop himself, Grumpy Toad has eaten all the cupcakes! The friends decide that he must miss the party as a punishment, but Pete argues that he should be forgiven, and given a second chance...

Told in show more rhyme, Pete the Cat and the Missing Cupcakes is the eighth full-size picture-book devoted to the adventures of that eponymous cool cat, but only the fourth written by illustrator and Pete the Cat creator James Dean's wife Kimberly, rather than original author/song-writer Eric Litwin. Although the artwork in these later entries in the series is of the same caliber as in the earlier titles, I have to say that the narratives are not as appealing. Although this one is told in rhyme, it lacks the sing-song quality that made the Litwin titles so appealing, and is somewhat awkward in execution. There is also a difference in tone, I find, as the earlier books focused on having a positive attitude, whereas these later titles seek to impart moral messages. There's nothing wrong with that, of course, but it does make me wonder if that was part of the reason for the Litwin/Dean split. Also interesting is that each of these later Pete the Cat books includes a reference to a biblical verse in the dedication, pointing to a religious quotation whose theme is explored in the story. This one referenced Matthew 6:14, which addresses the theme of forgiveness. Again, nothing wrong with that, but it does offer some explanation for the differences in tone and storytelling between Kimberly Dean's stories, and Eric Litwin's. Recommended primarily to strong Pete the Cat fans... show less

That cool customer Pete the Cat returns in this fifth picture-book devoted to his adventures - the first not written by author/songwriter Eric Litwin - finding that for once he's not feeling quite happy. Fortunately for him, he is given a pair of magic sunglasses by his friend Grumpy Toad, and his new eye-wear improves his outlook considerably. As Pete encounters a number of other creatures who are having a bad day, he shares his glasses, and spreads the joy. But when his glasses break, is show more it the end of the good times...?

Anyone familiar with the Pete the Cat formula knows that the answer to that is a resounding no! Always one to embrace a positive outlook, our feline hero in Pete the Cat and His Magic Sunglasses learns that although a specific item (like the glasses) may prompt us to see things from a different perspective, once we've seen matters in that new light, we don't necessarily need the original prompt, in order to continue doing so. Although I do appreciate that message, I have to say that the narrative here lacked something of the sing-song quality that the earlier Pete the Cat books, written by Litwin, had. The artwork on the other hand, which continues to be done by James Dean, is just as bright and colorful as ever. Although not as good as some of the earlier books, in my estimation, I would still recommend this one to Pete the Cat fans, especially if they're looking for a story with a little bit of encouragement to look on the bright side of things. show less