Customer Reviews

Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes

5 star:		(94)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I was extremely disappointed to read the School Library Journal's review of Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes. As the owner of a children's bookstore in Decatur, Georgia, I have had a very different experience.

Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes has been on the New York Times' Bestseller List for several weeks and has been the best selling book in our store's history. The reason the book has done so well -- incredibly well for an unknown author and illustrator -- is because Pete is a superb book.

Author Eric Litwin has a considerable history of working with children as a teacher, storyteller, and musician. As a result of years of work, Eric has developed an excellent rapport with kids and a deep understanding of how to connect with them using a variety of approaches.

A former electrical engineer, James Dean found his true calling in his second career as a painter. Pete the Cat is a character James created over ten years ago and who has come to be recognized and beloved all over the Atlanta area.

Eric had an idea for a story involving Pete, and subsequently met James by random chance on an Atlanta street. The collaboration began. Drafts were written and sketches were revised. Advice was sought and heeded. When James and Eric were satisfied with their work, the two published the book themselves, selling it on their own and through a handful of bookstores. (Little Shop of Stories was one such store.)

(This is not how a children's picture book typically comes together. In the vast majority of circumstances, an author will submit a manuscript to a publisher. Upon acceptance, an editor will be assigned the key task of selecting an illustrator whose work will not only complement the text but bring an added dimension. There are excellent exceptions where an author and illustrator will submit their work as a team. Jacky Davis and David Soman write and illustrate the Ladybug Girl books. (They're married to each other.) Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith (their wives were co-workers) did The True Story of the Three Little Pigs together and went on to do The Stinky Cheese Man and other books.)

The book sold fantastically well and was subsequently published by Harper Collins. For good reason.

For a children's picture book to be truly successful, it must work for both the child as well as the adult who is asked to read it 100 times. Or more.

From the grownup perspective, Pete is fun to read. The text has a rhythm to it. One can sing the refrain. After only a few reads one can successfully encourage the child to participate. ("Goodness no!") At the same time the parent knows that the younger child is learning colors and the older child, because of the repetition and the visual clues, can begin to learn to read. The illustrations are bright and lively, creative and surreal, and work perfectly with the text.

There is also a moral to Pete's story.

For the child, the book is just fun.

Dave Shallenberger
Little Shop of Stories
Decatur, Georgia

Well, just go ahead and add PK-4 to the list of people who LOVE Pete the Cat, both the book and the cat! No, make that LOVE LOVE LOVE Pete the Cat!

Never have I had a near-riot in the library on Library Day after those little ones first heard and saw the story of Pete the Cat.

Pete the Cat sings: I Love My White Shoes. I love my White Shoes. I love my White Shoes. How shall I describe our Pete? Fun, fun, fun! Frankly, I want to be just like Pete: unflappable, flexible, and adaptable. Make lemonade out of lemons. Go with the flow. One reviewer indicated the lesson is terrible: Accept your fate. Oh, I disagree. Pete saw no fate--just circumstances to turn into the next pleasant venture on his road of life. Pete? At the beginning he has new white shoes which he loves. In each adventure he steps into colorful piles--strawberries, blueberries, mud-- each time turning his shoes into a new color. Does he whine? Does he complain? "Goodness no!" He just sings a new song about blue shoes, red shoes, brown shoes. Oh, yes, there IS magic in this story, Virginia!!

In my school library, PK-4 (4-year-olds) practically demanded Pete the Cat for three weeks in a row. Never mind my new choice to read for the week--they wanted Pete!! So Pete it was--for three straight weeks.

(Secretly, I found it endearing that those children came into the library, singing, "I love my White Shoes. I love my white shoes---" and insisting, "We want Pete the Cat!" So I read it to them three weeks in a row.)

What is it about the song and book that plays such a chord on the hearts of children? The whimsy, I think. Also, tucked into a little envelope on the back of the front cover is an invitation to come visit their spot on YouTube and experience the song from the actual writer (Eric Litwin) and illustrator (James Dean, no, not that James Dean). Or, you can go to Harper Collins, the publisher.

Frankly, things don't get much better than a happy song about each and every bad luck event, each of which can be turned into something positive. What's not to like? This is a book every child will love--and the adult in his/her life!!

I first saw this book when it was self-published here in Georgia and was amazed at the reception it received everywhere it went. The reaction of children from as young as 2 years old to seven was incredible. It instanly became their favorite book and was a nightly read. The accompaning music/story that can be downloaded(free) with this publication by Harper Collins actually means that it isn't long before the children know the story by heart and love to help read it sometimes with much gusto. A YouTube video of just such an occurence gives a clear idea of what goes on with children when two adorable little girls read Pete the Cat themselves at bedtime.

I'm a children's librarian and we received this book not long after it came out. It just so happened that during that summer, one of my performers was late for a summer reading club presentation and since I already LOVED the book, it was one of the books I grabbed.

The children didn't know what hit them! I was reading and singing and they were reading along and singing along, too. We rocked the house!

It's simple and fun, the colors are bright and it's just a great book. Now that I know the next book is coming out, and that my branch supervisor has ordered it, I'm going to be looking through our deliveries for PETE!

This book is wonderful for kids w emerging reading skills like my 5 yr old. Download the song as instructed on the book or from YouTube. We read & sing and we love it. Fun.

People who are complaining about the colors not mixing, they would only mix if the colors were wet, not if the paint is dry. Otherwise how would you ever paint a wall new color?

My family ADORES this book. The six-year-old reads it, the four-year-old joins in on the repetitious parts, and one-year-old has even started chiming in. It is so much fun to read together because of the rhythm, colors, and shoutable refrain, "Goodness no!" I have even found the moral to be a source of personal encouragement and a reminder to stay positive in tough times: "No matter what you step in, just keep walking along, singing your song, because it's all good." I have literally shared it in a support group I attend. Even adults need a chance to smile and remember to be grateful no matter what we step in. :)

I teach pre-school music to 28 classes. Every class wants to hear from Pete the Cat every music class. One on my teachers even made a flannel board of the story

I am a children's librarian and this one is my new favorite read-aloud. Children request it because they are able to remember the tune (from the free mp3 download) and they love to sing along with Pete. School Library Journal really didn't do this book justice in their review of this great new gem of a book.

It's clear that the reviewer from School Library Journal never read this book aloud to kids.

Because if she had, she'd quickly have realized that kids LOVE the story structure, the silliness of stepping in big piles of colored fruit, and of singing the song. The book includes a free download from the Harper site.

I also strongly disagree with the assertion that this book doesn't empower kids. There is nothing that empowers kids more than a silly book that pokes fun at the things you're not supposed to do, like get your shoes dirty.

It won't take more than 1 or 2 readings before kids will be reciting this story by heart. If you don't believe me, check out the adorable recitations of YouTube, like this one: [...]

This book is a true home-grown phenomenon, and I'd recommend it to anyone who wants a fun, positive book with great read-aloud chops. It's wonderful.