Eric Litwin

First sentence: Pete the Cat put on his favorite shirt with four big, colorful, round, groovy buttons. He loved his buttons so much, he sang this song:

"My buttons, my buttons,
my four groovy buttons.
My buttons, my buttons,
my four groovy buttons."

Premise/plot: Pete the Cat LOVES, LOVES, LOVES his shirt with FOUR groovy buttons. But life happens....and, well, Pete learns that things--including buttons--come and go. Is this book primarily teaching young children subtraction skills OR is it show more teaching coping skills an invaluable life lesson perhaps even more important than subtraction?

My thoughts: This one was the first Pete the Cat book I read, and I must say it is probably my favorite. I love, love, love it so much!!! If I Love My White Shoes was "teaching" colors, then Four Groovy Buttons is "teaching" subtraction. For, Pete the Cat loses each of his four buttons one by one. But does Pete cry?! Goodness no! I absolutely love the end of this one!!! And the moral this time: "I guess it simply goes to show that stuff will come and stuff will go. But do we cry? Goodness, NO! We keep on singing."

I first met Pete the Cat circa 2013 when I checked out all the Pete the Cat books from the library. Each of the original books has an audio version online, and these audio versions have been uploaded to YouTube many times. Since I am not using the library these days, I revisited one of my favorite, favorite, favorite books by listening to it.
Mom and I's favorite refrain--which we've used almost daily--certainly weekly--is DID PETE CRY? GOODNESS NO! This picture book is teaching a wonderfully important lesson in how to live life. show less

First sentence: Pete the Cat was walking down the street in his brand-new white shoes. Pete loved his white shoes so much, he sang this song:

"I love my white shoes,
I love my white shoes,
I love my white shoes."

Premise/plot: Pete the Cat LOVES his white shoes, but will his shoes stay WHITE when he goes on his walk???? And how will he handle it if they're not perfectly-perfectly white?

My thoughts: I love, love, love, REALLY REALLY love Pete the Cat. He is my kind of cat. You should definitely show more download the free song(s) as well, so you can really sing right along with the book(s). True, you could make up your own tune, but, the song is so perfectly catchy.

So. Pete the Cat has white shoes which he loves. But, when he steps in some unpleasant things: strawberries, blueberries, a mud puddle, a bucket of water, does Pete cry?! Goodness no! He just keeps on walking and singing his song! Is this a concept book about colors (white, red, blue, brown)? Is this a book teaching necessary coping skills to preschoolers and kids? A bit of both. But. It is also just a really fun, very entertaining story about a groovy cat! I absolutely LOVE the repetition, and the fact that this is a book everyone can participate and join in on! Kids could even write their own stories.
Again this book has the refrain DID PETE CRY?!?! GOODNESS, NO! show less

Eric Litwin's handprint is indeed over this book (unlike the new Pete the Cat books....oops did I say that out loud!). The repeating phrases are fantastic for usage in an early literacy setting. And it's fun to make your own rhythm about singing and dancing in your polka dot pants. I was willing to get silly with it!!

Cool-cat Pete is moseying along one day, in his white shoes, singing a song, when (Oh no!) he steps in a pile of blueberries, and ends up with blue shoes instead. Rather than cry, Peter changes his tune, now celebrating his blue shoes, and when he steps in a pile of strawberries, alters his outlook once again. Come what may, Pete is one feline who knows how to relax, and roll with the punches!

The singsong narrative of Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes will lend itself to reading aloud, and show more will undoubtedly please younger children, who will be charmed by the cadence of the text, and engrossed by its repetition. The colorful artwork by James Dean is likewise engaging, with a humorous, slinky quality that suits its subject. All in all, this is a sweet little book, one that effortlessly conveys the message, through its entertaining text, that the disappointments and challenges of life can be made less onerous by the right attitude. Recommended to cool cats, younger children who are learning their colors, or story-hour listeners who enjoy singsong-style picture-books. show less