04/01/2014
PreS-Gr 1—Pete the Cat feels blue until Toad shares his "Cool, Blue, Magic sunglasses" that make birds sing, skies brighten, and the sun shine. He rides his skateboard down the sidewalk and encounters animal friends along the way who are also feeling unhappy or grumpy. He shares his glasses with Squirrel, Turtle, and Alligator to improve their moods, too, until he hits a crack in the sidewalk and his glasses go flying. Wise Old Owl reminds Pete that it doesn't take glasses to make him see things positively; he can find the good in every day on his own. Though fans of the feline may find this story less engaging than the earlier ones, the charming folk-style illustrations reflect the mood of the characters. An animated version of the story is available through the publisher's website.—Lindsay Persohn, University of South Florida, Tampa
If you’ve spent any time with a preschool or kindergarten-aged child, you’ve probably already met him. He’s cool. He’s hip. He’s a rocker extraordinaire. He’s Pete the Cat, brought to life by musical folk artist Eric Litwin and illustrators James and Kimberly Dean. Since he first appeared on the scene in 2010, sporting his signature white shoes and […]
The other night, my middle son made me laugh so hard my cheeks hurt. He was pretending his stuffed rabbit was snoring so loudly that he couldn’t fall asleep. My son would close his eyes and settle down on his pillow, and then suddenly, the “rabbit” would snore causing my son to jump up. It […]