Pete the Cat is a fictional cartoon character, created and illustrated by American artist James Dean. For the first four books of the series, Pete the Cat was illustrated by Dean and with text by Eric Litwin. After that, he and his wife Kimberly Dean wrote and illustrated all the following books in the series.
The first book is titled Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes. It tells the story of a cat whose white shoes got bunched up by different substances he steps in, but “Pete never loses his cool.” The story is written as a song, and its refrain is “I love my white shoes,” changing to “I love my red shoes,” “I love my blue shoes,” and “I love my brown shoes.”
Pete the Cat then steps in a bucket of water where his shoes become wet, and the colors wash off. But still, he never loses his cool, and just sings his song.
After being self-published in 2008, it sold over 7000 copies in 10 months. Because of the book’s popularity, it was picked up by HarperCollins And distributed throughout Canada and the United States. The book’s fame made it rise to the number eight spot in the New York Times bestseller list for picture books.
Pete the Cat received several acclaims and honors such as Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes being included in the “25 Books all Young Georgians Should Read List” published by the Georgia Center for the book in 2010.
Pete the Cat also made it to the TV screen. Amazon Prime released an animated holiday special, Pete the Cat: A Groovy New Year, on December 26, 2017. It became a hit to the audience, so it was followed by a Pete the Cat series, developed by Phineas and Ferb co-creator Jeff “Swampy” Marsh, and was released on September 21, 2018.
Here is the complete list of Pete the Cat books along with a short summary:
1) Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes – 2008
Book Summary: Don’t miss the first and bestselling book in the beloved Pete the Cat series!Pete the Cat goes walking down the street wearing his brand-new white shoes. Along the way, his shoes change from white to red to blue to brown to WET as he steps in piles of strawberries, blueberries, and other big messes!But no matter what color his shoes are, Pete keeps movin’ and groovin’ and singing his song…because it’s all good. Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes asks the reader questions about the colors of different foods and objects—kids love to interact with the story.The fun never stops—download the free groovin’ song.Don’t miss Pete’s other adventures, including Pete the Cat: Rocking in My School Shoes, Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons, Pete the Cat Saves Christmas, Pete the Cat and His Magic Sunglasses, Pete the Cat and the Bedtime Blues, Pete the Cat and the New Guy, Pete the Cat and the Cool Cat Boogie, Pete the Cat and the Missing Cupcakes, and Pete the Cat and the Perfect Pizza Party.- Book Reviews:
2) Pete the Cat Saves Christmas – 2012
Book Summary: A New York Times bestselling Pete the Cat holiday picture book!Spend the holidays with your favorite blue cat! In this rockin’ spin on the traditional tale The Night Before Christmas, Pete the Cat proves that giving your all in the spirit of Christmas is the totally groovy thing to do.This edition of Pete the Cat Saves Christmas features a gorgeous and ornate foil jacket.The fun never stops—this book includes a sheet of full-color stickers and a link to a free downloadable song!Don’t miss Pete’s other spin on a holiday classic, Pete the Cat’s 12 Groovy Days of Christmas.Don’t miss Pete’s other adventures, including Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes, Pete the Cat: Rocking in My School Shoes, Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons, Pete the Cat and His Magic Sunglasses, Pete the Cat and the Bedtime Blues, Pete the Cat and the New Guy, Pete the Cat and the Cool Cat Boogie, Pete the Cat and the Missing Cupcakes, and Pete the Cat and the Perfect Pizza Party.
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3) Pete the Cat: Play Ball! – 2013
Book Summary: New York Times bestselling author and artist James Dean takes readers along for a fun, groovy adventure with Pete the Cat!Pete the Cat is ready to play baseball! Pete’s team, the Rocks, is playing the Rolls. But when the game doesn’t go Pete’s way, what will Pete do?Pete the Cat: Play Ball! is a My First I Can Read book, which means it’s perfect for shared reading with a child.
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4) Pete the Cat: The First Thanksgiving – 2013
Book Summary: New York Times bestselling author and artist James Dean celebrates the true meaning of Thanksgiving with our favorite groovy cat—Pete!Starring in your school’s Thanksgiving play would make even the coolest cat nervous, including Pete the Cat! But the show must go on….With more than ten flaps that open to reveal hidden surprises, Pete the Cat: The First Thanksgiving is sure to be a holiday hit and a favorite for Pete the Cat fans.
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5) Pete the Cat: Big Easter Adventure – 2014
Book Summary: #1 New York Times bestseller!Author and artist James Dean brings us along for a hippity-hoppity Easter adventure with the coolest cat around—Pete!Pete jumps in to help the Easter Bunny in Pete the Cat: Big Easter Adventure—which comes complete with a poster, stickers, and a set of punch-out card.When Pete wakes up Easter morning, ready to check out his basket of goodies, he discovers the Easter Bunny needs a little extra help. Our favorite groovy blue cat puts on his bunny ears and finds a way to collect, paint, and hide the eggs all in time for Easter!
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6) Pete the Cat: Sir Pete the Brave – 2016
Book Summary: New York Times bestselling author and artist James Dean brings readers a new story about the most gallant cat around—Pete! This time Pete is a knight on an adventure to save a pal in Pete the Cat: Sir Pete the Brave.When Lady Callie, the most awesome harpist in all the land, goes missing, it’s up to Sir Pete to save her. But when he ends up trapped in a dragon’s lair, Lady Callie might have to do the saving.Pete the Cat: Sir Pete the Brave is a My First I Can Read book, which means it’s perfect for shared reading with a child.
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7) Pete the Cat: Trick or Pete – 2017
Book Summary: Join Pete the Cat from New York Times bestselling artist James Dean as he goes trick-or-treating in this lift-the-flaps book!Pete loves Halloween and candy but not so much scary surprises. Follow Pete as he goes trick-or-treating from house to house and discover what is waiting behind each door.With over ten flaps that open to reveal fun spooky surprises, this book is spooktacular!
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8) Pete the Cat’s Sing-Along Story Collection: 3 Great Books from One Cool Cat – 2017
Book Summary: Sing along with Pete the Cat in New York Times bestselling artist James Dean’s three supercool adaptations of classic favorites. In Pete the Cat’s Sing-Along Story Collection, head to school with Pete and his pals in The Wheels on the Bus; hang out on the farm with Pete in Old MacDonald Had a Farm; and join Pete in the perfect bedtime song Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star. Fans of Pete the Cat will delight in this box set of groovy children’s songs books all featuring Pete! ***CD’s not included.
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