Pete the Cat is one cool kitty. And it’s easy to see why this popular black cat (not to be confused with Splat The Cat) has over 80 bestselling children’s books written by Eric Litwin and James Dean. But it all started with Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes.
Parents, you’re probably already acquainted with Pete. Kids love him! But whether you’re a fan or totally new to the hype, we’re here to break it down for you. Keep reading to find out why Pete the Cat is the coolest children series of this generation!
Full Official Synopsis For Pete The Cat I Love My White Shoes
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 Music & Magic Behind Pete The Cat
On the surface, the book looks like your average color book for toddlers, but it’s so much more than that. Litwin and Dean did something I’ve personally never seen done in a children’s picture book before. They wrote the book as a song! Oh, but they didn’t stop there. They fully composed the song and added a video, so now kids can have the entire book sung to them. What’s more; it’s unquestionably catchy! Kids and adults alike get the songs stuck in their head and sing them aloud. You’ll see what we mean when you watch the read aloud video below.
Illustrator James Dean was inspired by his newly adopted black cat, Pete. He created a series of paintings starring a quirky blue cat (instead of black). When song writer Eric Litwin discovered the paintings at an art gallery, he immediately wanted to create a picture book with Pete the Cat. Add one bouncy song and some awesome shoes, and the sing-along read-aloud phenomenon was born!
Eric Litwin is a guitar-strumming, song-singing, banjo-picking, tale-telling, song-writing, national-award-winning, music-producing, fun folksy type of guy. He loves to blend song and story together. And is inspired by the depth and simplicity of folk songs and folktales. Eric is a popular performer, delighting thousands of children and families every year. He has recorded two award-winning children’s music CDs.
James Dean is the original creator and illustrator of Pete the Cat.
He is a self-taught artist originally from Fort Payne, Alabama. His passion for drawing became apparent at a young age. As a child, you could find James drawing his favorite characters like Snoopy and Yogi Bear. James earned his degree in electrical engineering from Auburn University. He went on to work for Georgia Power for a number of years. Eventually, he was called to pursue his art full- time. He began selling his work at art festivals around the Southeast. It was during this time that he began creating paintings and drawing of his cat, Pete. The little blue cat showed up as a character in James’s artwork around 1999. Pete has been a permanent fixture ever since.
Kimberly Dean is a children’s author, artist, and yoga enthusiast. Best known as a NYT bestselling author and co-parent of children’s book character Pete the Cat. Before fulfilling her dream of becoming a full-time author and artist, she worked for the State of Georgia. However, she left the Governor’s Press Office in 1998 to pursue her art.
Our Review
As you can already tell, the kitty fever has thoroughly taken over my kids, my house, and myself! My kids love listening to the songs. It’s a dance party in our living room every time. Then we enjoy reading the book together before bed.
With over 80 Pete the Cat books in publication, my kids and I have amassed a pretty good collection. I love that the writing is simple enough for my 8 year old to practice reading on her own. While my 5 year old is engaged in the songs, learning about colors, and interacting with the story. It’s an A+ recommendation!
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What does Pete The Cat I Love My White Shoes teach?
A: It teaches kids about a few colors (white, red, blue, and brown). But the real moral of the story is this. “No matter what you step in, keep walking along and singing your song because it’s all good.”
Q: Who narrates Pete the Cat on YouTube?
A: James Dean narrates the videos along with his wife Kimberly Dean.
Q: What color is Pete the Cat?
A: Blue. Though variations in printing quality can make him appear darker or lighter.
Q: Why is Pete the Cat blue?
A: In an interview, James Dean explains that the real life Pete is a black cat. But Dean thought it would be better to make him blue because black cats are sometimes considered bad luck.
Are you a fan of Pete the Cat I Love My White Shoes? Let us know in the comments below.
