Title: Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes
Author: Eric Litwin
Illustrator: James Dean
Age Group: 0 – 6 years
Synopsis: Pete sings his way through the unexpected and colorful changes that overcome his brand new white shoes with a cheery outlook and lesson that we don’t need to sweat the small things.
The Low Down: This was our first Pete the Cat book and after that we were hooked. Pete’s won us over with his groovy songs, positive attitude, and brightly colored pictures. I’ve given it such a wide age range for two reasons.
First, if you search for it online it’s often grouped in the 3-6 year age range and for a good reason. It has the basic lessons and morals that are perfect for children that age to easily grasp. It blatantly asks it’s audience to participate with the story, asking open-ended, Dora-the-Exploreresqe questions while providing a rhythmic predictability that helps nurture confidence within young readers.
Second, the story itself is silly, fun, and brightly colored. When we first started reading it my son 
wanted to just listen to the songs that dance across the story every few pages. The drawings are basic so that even from an early age Pete is identifiable as a cat (even though he’s cruising around in Converse-like footwear). The story is repetitive enough that children can begin identifying patterns from it and assist in story telling, even if it’s just uttering the “Oh no!” And of course, it’s just plain silly. From whence did this monumental pile of strawberries that Pete stepped in come?
Pete’s grown with my son. Before, we read it just for the songs. Now, we like to identify and sample the berries that Pete steps in and other objects in the background. We even reference Pete in our day to day. When the ice cream is gone or our water spills and threatens to spill some tears as well, we herald back to Pete. “Do we cry?” I ask. “Goodness, no!” my son will tearfully reply. Then we take a deep breath and cheerfully move on.
Story Tips:
- Pete’s songs beg to be sung. We came up with our own tune but you can go online to www.harpercollinschildrens.com/petethecat to hear the “official” tune.
- I always pause to let Bug fill in a part of the story himself (the “Oh no!”s and “Goodness, no!”s being favorites but as his vocabulary improves he’s helping with the songs and other bits of the story).
- Voices. I narrate as normal but love to give Pete, what I would consider, a quintessentially ‘hippie voice.’ “It’s all good, man.”
I need more!
Of course you do! Pete’s has 27 titles available, including I Can Read books and not including sticker books and activity books. You can also view Pete the Cat books read on YouTube and see some Pete TV at the Harper Collins website.
Add to my library:
UK Amazon:Pete the Cat I Love My White Shoes
US Amazon:Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes
