Author and illustrator Įric Litwin (also known as 'Mr. It rose to number 8 on the New York Times Best Seller list for picture books. The book was self-published in 2008 and sold 7,000 copies in 10 months before it was picked up by HarperCollins – alerted by a YouTube meme in which two little girls read the book – and distributed throughout the United States and Canada. Then he steps in a bucket of water and the colors wash off, and they become wet, but still never loses his cool, he just sings his song.

The first book, Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes, is the story of a cat named Pete whose white shoes become dirty after he steps in various substances, but 'Pete never loses his cool.' Written as a song, 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'. The series started with four books illustrated by Dean and with text by Eric Litwin since then, James Dean and his wife Kimberly Dean have written and illustrated the series of books. I continue to hope that Pete the Cat gets back his groove.Pete the Cat is a fictional cartoon cat, created by American artist James Dean. And I recommend sticking to the original books with the fine author Eric Litwin. The latest books by the Dean team fall flat, with lots of cliches, uninspired prose, and the absence of songs and fun movement.įor more information on the story behind Pete the Cat (James Dean’s own cat), the wonderful folk art–and the unfortunate decision to break up the Dean-Litwin team, read t his article about the decision. Eric Litwin’s writing and songs made Pete the Cat groovy. In the best picture books, the words and pictures work together, enticing readers with the rhythms of language. And sad to say, the magic of the books is missing now.

Still, we recommended the book as a cute beach read, even if it wasn’t up to par.īut the slew of Pete the Cat books has continued, with new co-author Kimberly Dean, James’ wife. “Maybe I miss the usual author, Eric Litwin?” I mused in this blog.

Same hip cat, terrific drawings and lots of cat-attitude and whimsy. Pete the Cat is a wonderful icon, a hip cat with plenty of attitude, whether he’s counting his groovy buttons or saving Christmas.īut something has happened to Pete the Cat.

We were soon singing the words to “I Love My White Shoes” and rockin’ with Pete and the children in our lives to the catchy song about Pete’s first day of school ( Pete the Cat: Rockin’ in My School Shoes ). Pete the Cat books arrived on the scene a few years ago, and those of us in the children’s literature field were hooked.

Kimberly dean pete the cat