Written by Eric Litwin
Illustrated by James Dean
(Harper, 2008)
Author/musician Eric Litwin is a cup half full kind of guy. His character, Pete the Cat, displays the same sunny side up disposition, loving his brand new white shoes, adorning each of his paws.
For most cats, wearing shoes would not be a happy predicament, but Pete so loves his white shoes that he sings a ditty about them.
For a roaming kitty, white doesn’t stay white for long. The shoes change color as Pete trods through such things as a pile of strawberries. The whiteness is gone! Pete may not have expected this, but rather than whine, cry or meow mournfully, Pete simply changes his tune a tad and goes with it.
The reader can easily create his own rhythm or chant for the simple song lyrics. Perhaps AFTER doing this, go to YouTube to see the book performed, song and all, by the author and friends. (Note that illustrator James Dean stands to Litwin’s left, holding the book during the reading.) Warning: the jingle sticks with you like an ear worm. (But that’s good, right? Remember...cup half full.)
This is a simple story that can be read over and over again. (It only takes a few minutes.) The message is clear: have fun, stop whining, be resilient. Not everyone wants to hear that message directly. This colorful, cheerful picture book may help the “Woe is me” set snap out of it.
At the very least, the reader may rush out to expand his Converse shoe collection. I’ve got green, blue, gray, brown and black. Next up: purple!
Illustrated by James Dean
(Harper, 2008)
Author/musician Eric Litwin is a cup half full kind of guy. His character, Pete the Cat, displays the same sunny side up disposition, loving his brand new white shoes, adorning each of his paws.
For most cats, wearing shoes would not be a happy predicament, but Pete so loves his white shoes that he sings a ditty about them.
For a roaming kitty, white doesn’t stay white for long. The shoes change color as Pete trods through such things as a pile of strawberries. The whiteness is gone! Pete may not have expected this, but rather than whine, cry or meow mournfully, Pete simply changes his tune a tad and goes with it.
The reader can easily create his own rhythm or chant for the simple song lyrics. Perhaps AFTER doing this, go to YouTube to see the book performed, song and all, by the author and friends. (Note that illustrator James Dean stands to Litwin’s left, holding the book during the reading.) Warning: the jingle sticks with you like an ear worm. (But that’s good, right? Remember...cup half full.)
This is a simple story that can be read over and over again. (It only takes a few minutes.) The message is clear: have fun, stop whining, be resilient. Not everyone wants to hear that message directly. This colorful, cheerful picture book may help the “Woe is me” set snap out of it.
At the very least, the reader may rush out to expand his Converse shoe collection. I’ve got green, blue, gray, brown and black. Next up: purple!
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