70-73. Picture Book Parade

70. Turtle with a Toolbox. Beth Ferry. Illustrated by Dudolf. 2026. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [picture book, 3 stars]

First sentence: Turtle has a toolbox for a shell. It's filled with tools that he knows well. Here is his hammer. Bang. Bang. Bang. Here is his mallet. Clang. Clang. Clang.

Premise/plot: Turtle has a toolbox. He uses the tools in his toolbox. It is written in rhyme. It also uses a lot of repetition. Sometimes the repetition makes sense. Obviously, hammers are going to hammer more than once. Sometimes it is slightly annoying. Turtle must use his saw, saw, saw. Carry and stack the wood, wood, wood. Everything's looking good, good, good.

My thought: It was fine. It was okay. I didn't love it. I didn't hate it. I have liked other Beth Ferry books more than this one. That being said, if your little one LOVES construction and building, then perhaps this one will be a good fit.

I do think I tend to overthink things. This one had me overthinking WHY a turtle would build a TREEHOUSE which would have him having to CLIMB LADDERS and CLIMB STAIRS. Will young readers be bothered by this? Well, it depends on the reader. But probably most readers won't. And the few it does bother, well, they are young overthinkers.



71. Cheeky Book of Bear Butts. Jonathan Fenske. 2026. 36 pages. [Source: Library] [picture book, 3 stars]

First sentence: This is a bear butt. This is a bare butt. This is a bare bear butt. There are all kinds of bears. And all kinds of bear butts. Cold bear butts. Old bear butts. Greasy, grimy Grizzly Bear butts. A giant panda has a giant butt but a spectacled bear does not have a spectacled butt!

Premise/plot: What you see IS what you get. In this case a lot of bear bare butts. It's gimmicky. It's silly. It's odd and quirky. It's of questionable taste. HOWEVER I think for those that love it, they will REALLY love it. And everyone else will roll their eyes.

My thoughts: I didn't love it. I wanted to at least like it some. I have loved, loved, loved some of Jonathan Fenske's books in the past. He's written picture books and early readers. Usually he makes me smile or laugh. I do think YOUNG readers with a particular sense of humor will find it enjoyable looking at all the bare bottoms AND getting to read the word butt EVERYWHERE. Plenty of jokes and puns. Just not particularly funny. Picture books ARE subjective. Your little one may love it. Particularly if saying "butt" makes them laugh.

72. The Secret Life of Dog Toys. Kelly Dipucchio. Illustrated by Jennifer Harney. 2026. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [picture book, 4 stars]

First sentence: Dog toys are genuinely excited to join a family. They were born to play, after all. But life for dog toys isn't always pretty. Or easy. Meet Moose. Goofy Moose. Clumsy Moose. Lovable Moose. Eighty-five-pounds-of-drool-and-smelly-toots Moose.

Premise/plot: Moose's dog toys have to team up to save Moose. Well, if they hadn't been trying to 'save' a fellow dog toy perhaps they might not have needed to have a rescue mission to save Moose--who escaped. But NO job is too big for these dog toys.

My thoughts: I liked this one. It was an adventure--fun, silly, enjoyable. A good choice for little ones that love dogs.




73. Starman: The Cosmic Voyage of David Bowie. Matthew Cordell. 2026. 48 pages. [Source: Library] [nonfiction biography for young readers, 3 stars]

First sentence: Once there was a traveler. An artist. A cosmic, celestial, musical artist who traveled far and wide, who searched for and discovered different people, places, and sounds.

Premise/plot: This is a nonfiction biography--illustrated biography--of David Bowie for children. Young children? Probably not. Older children? Maybe. Even older children? More likely. Would an illustrated biography appeal to upper elementary or younger middle grades when assigned to read a biography? Perhaps.

It isn't so much a biography of David Bowie the person as it is David Bowie the musical artist. The book attempts--for better or worse--to divide his musical career into different "periods" of being for David Bowie.

My thoughts: Matthew Cordell has a creative approach to writing this biography. The illustrations and text work together to tell a story. It has plenty of illustrations AND plenty of text. What the book lacks is clarity and precision. Dates--years--would go a LONG, LONG, LONG way in telling this story. If the author, you know, actually named YEARS, specific albums, specific SONGS on those albums. If the book focuses on his career--his legacy of career--and the theme is his transformation, his metamorphic changes from one sound to another--LITTLE details could go a long way so that readers could seek out his music, his albums, his song--know WHAT to look for and listen to for each "era" or "period" or "time." And actually FOLLOW the journey and engage with the book on a deeper level. Instead we have a creative, artistic approach to a biography that doesn't really HELP readers experience much. There is a "beginner's guide to David Bowie" but it doesn't link songs with eras--and the songs all seem to be from a few albums and not representative of his whole body of work. These songs are not necessarily representative they are just favorite songs of the author, Matthew Cordell. 

I personally don't see the appeal as a work for children.



© 2026 Becky Laney of Young Readers

69. The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry and the Big Hungry Bear

69. The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the BIG Hungry Bear. Don and Audrey Wood. 1984. 32 pages. [Source: Bought] [5 stars, picture books, animal fantasy]

First sentence: Hello, little Mouse. What are you doing? Oh, I see. Are you going to pick that red, ripe strawberry? But, little Mouse, haven't you heard about the big, hungry bear? Ohhh, how that Bear loves red, ripe strawberries!

Premise/plot: Little Mouse has JUST picked a red, ripe strawberry. Now Mouse is worried--and rightfully so perhaps--that a BIG HUNGRY bear might just come along and take it from her. Is there a way Mouse can make sure NO hungry bear eats her strawberry?

My thoughts: I'm honestly not sure if it's the narrator who "helps" Little Mouse solve the problem, or if it's meant to be you, the reader, who "helps" save the day. I'm guessing probably the narrator--but I could see it going either way. That's how it goes with books written in the second person.

This one is SUPER fun. I love, love, love, love the illustrations. I love how gigantic the strawberry looks because everything is through the perspective of Little Mouse. And I love the story. Who could resist cheering for Little Mouse????

Definitely one I love to read again and again and again.


© 2026 Becky Laney of Young Readers

67. Hairy and Scary!

67. Hairy and Scary! Jan Thomas. 2026. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, humor, picture book]

First sentence: Hello! We are the Rhyming Dust Bunnies! Ed, Ned, Ted and Bob! We rhyme all the time! Well, actually I don't rhyme. This is a fan! What rhymes with fan? Tan. Can. Oh no.

Premise/plot: This is the THIRD book in the Rhyming Dust Bunnies series by Jan Thomas. It has been FOREVER since she last released a book in the series. But the good news is a whole new generation of little ones are ready to be introduced to the awesome Jan Thomas. In this one, the rhyming dust bunnies are in danger....or are they????? Bob is definitely trying to tell them SOMETHING. If only they would stop rhyming long enough to listen.

My thoughts: I will always love Jan Thomas' picture books because I've read them so many times. They make great read alouds. You can really put a lot of enthusiasm and silliness into them. This one was fun and nostalgic.

© 2026 Becky Laney of Young Readers

65. Shy

65. Shy. Julie Andrews and Emma Walton Hamilton. 2026. 52 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, picture book, animals, music appreciation]

First sentence: Shy was the smallest and quietest pup at the shelter. She seldom made a sound. Not at suppertime. Not at walk time. Not even at playtime.

Premise/plot: Shy finds her forever home. BUT her new human is a musician who loves to play the piano. Shy loves, loves, loves this. She loves it because she can join in with her own song to match his (her human) own. But when it comes time for him to perform on stage, will Shy join him? Does he want her to?

My thoughts: I enjoyed this one. It's a sweet story lightly inspired by a dog in Julie Andrews life that liked to sing along. Definitely enjoyable if you like music OR dogs OR both.


© 2026 Becky Laney of Young Readers

58-59. Two Jonathan Fenske Picture Books

58. After Squidnight. Jonathan Fenske. 2020. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, picture book]

First sentence: The sky is black.
The clouds are inky.
The salty air
is still and stinky.
You're snug in bed.
You're softly sleeping...
...while to your house
the squids are creeping.
Tick-tock.
Tick-tock.
Midnight sounds.
At the beach,
the ocean pounds.
And from the surf
a suckered hand
drags itself
onto the sand.

Premise/plot: After Squidnight is a quirky rhyming book by Jonathan Fenske. After midnight, sneaky squid come into a child's house and make a TREMENDOUS mess. But the child's parents, well, they are less convinced that it was the work of squids and not the kid.

My thoughts: I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this one. I do. It's quirky. It's weird. It's got the BEST rhythm and rhyme. It is just a JOY to read if that is your thing. I happen to LOVE, LOVE, LOVE a great rhyming book....and well, I don't have kind thoughts to those that get it wrong. Jonathan Fenske is a favorite of mine. I also love and appreciate the DESCRIPTIVE narrative. And the illustrations are very atmospheric.





59. A Unicorn, a Dinosaur, and a Shark Were Riding a Bicycle. Jonathan Fenske. 2024. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, picture book]

First sentence: A unicorn, a dinosaur, and a shark were riding a bicycle.

Premise/plot: The unicorn, dinosaur, and shark spend most of the book arguing with the narrator of the book. This is much like the first book in this strange series. In this one, the narrator is trying to convince the three that they want to ride a bicycle. They do not. They want to do all the relaxing. Will these three end up riding a bicycle by the end of the book????

My thoughts: It was decent. I feel that there's a certain type of reader who will love the 'rebellious' and 'argumentative' nature of seeing the characters in the book talk back to the narrator/author. It is very silly and ridiculous for characters to be self-aware. But once you get over the novelty of that (and many other picture books have done the same), it becomes a bit dull--I would say probably more so for adult readers. It was definitely okay.

© 2026 Becky Laney of Young Readers

57. The Biggest Cat in the Book

57. The Biggest Cat in the Book. Ben Lerwill. Illustrated by Mark Chambers. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, picture book]

First sentence: Pippa is a kitten. She is exploring a slipper. She is NOT the biggest cat in the book.

Premise/plot: The search is on for the cat who IS the biggest in the book.

My thoughts: I like the premise of this one fine. I think it drags on a bit too long. I think this would make a great sixteen page board book. Cut the number of cats in half that aren't the "biggest" in the book, and I think it would read better after all. That being said, the cats--except perhaps for Chicken--are all ADORABLE and fun. But I think the biggest problem with this book about the biggest is that it's anti-climatic. When you finally get there, it has fizzled out completely.

© 2026 Becky Laney of Young Readers

54. Cat's New Book

54. Cat's New Book. Nathalie Belhassen. 2026. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, picture books, cats, friends]

First sentence: This book is new. I just got it, but it's already my favorite! I love hugging its clean cover and stroking its smooth pages. It smells so good. I can read it whenever I want, because it's all mine. But I turn the pages gently so the book will stay new forever.

Premise/plot: CAT has a new book. It's a FAVORITE new book. It's a most treasured and beloved new book. But Cat lends her new book out and makes friends and more friends and even more friends. They all agree that Cat's book is FAVORITE. The book may not stay new and clean, but friendships are forever.

My thoughts: I love, love, love CAT'S NEW BOOK. It's a great book celebrating friendship AND reading. I love the text and the illustrations.


© 2026 Becky Laney of Young Readers

50. Next Door There Is a Dinosaur

50. Next Door There Is a Dinosaur. Saskia Gwinn. Illustrated by Leanne Coelho. 2026. 32 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Next door there is a dinosaur. I saw its sneaky, scaly claw. It whipped out quick, then shut the door of Mrs. Shaw's at eighty-four.

Premise/plot: A young boy is CONVINCED that the next door neighbor, Mrs. Shaw, HAS a dinosaur. Day after day after day, he tries to convince his family that it is TRUE. He's collecting all the evidence. Finally he decides he just has to KNOW for sure, for sure. So he goes and asks her directly.....

My thoughts: I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this one. It celebrates the imagination, or does it?!?! Maybe there are dinosaurs attending parties in your neighborhood! I love the rhyming. It is just SO much fun.

I climbed our tall green sycamore.
You'll never guess the THING I saw,
sitting in the yard next door...
...a POO so big it blocked the door!
It smelled so bad that I am SURE
the pooper was a dinosaur.
And not a friendly herbivore!
NO, a whiffy, sniffy CARNIVORE!





© 2026 Becky Laney of Young Readers

48-49. Two more Jonathan Fenske Books

48. Candy Corn Christmas. Jonathan Fenske. 2025. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, Christmas, Halloween]

First sentence: Halloween had come and gone. But one confection lingered on, and pantry shelves became the haunts of candy corn that no one wants. They were the candy time forgot. They did not mold. They did not rot. They sat around the pumpkin pail, feeling bored and kind of stale.

Premise/plot: Candy Corn discovers Christmas. Essentially that is the premise of this rhyming picture book by Jonathan Fenske. But what will the Christmas candy (and decorations and like) think of having candy corn hanging around? And what will the jolly old man himself think of candy corn?

My thoughts: I have a love/hate relationship with the rhyming. On the one hand, Fenske does GREAT on some stanzas!!!! I really enjoy some verses. On the other hand, some just didn't work for me. If all verses were mediocre, then I wouldn't be torn. I do think it's a fun, silly concept. It will work as a read aloud, most likely. Particularly as a transition from Halloween to Christmas.





49. A Unicorn, A Dinosaur, and a Shark Walk into a Book. Jonathan Fenske. 2023. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [picture books, animal fantasy, meta fiction]

First sentence: A unicorn, a dinosaur, and a shark walk into a book. Ahem! I said, a unicorn, a dinosaur, and a shark walk into a book!

Premise/plot: The author--narrator--wants to make the best book ever. So, naturally, of course, he thinks that if he has a unicorn, a dinosaur, and a shark star together in a picture book then it will be a success, a sure thing. But the book doesn't have "action" at least until another character is introduced.

My thoughts: The book is silly and a bit ridiculous. I haven't decided if this is a "breaks the fourth wall" example or not. I am almost positive it is. Since the book and writing process is being discussed with you the reader. I don't love it. But I also don't hate it. I mean I've read more successful attempts of this. I do think that kids might enjoy it, maybe. And perhaps teachers could encourage students to write their own stories or follow story prompts. Or to discuss predictions. What do you think will happen next?

© 2026 Becky Laney of Young Readers

44-45 Two Jonathan Fenske Books

44. Barnacle is Bored. Jonathan Fenske. 2016. Scholastic. 40 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: I am bored. Bored. Bored. BORED. Every day is the same. The tide comes IN. I am wet and cold. The tide goes OUT. I am dry and hot.

Premise/plot: Barnacle is BORED. Barnacle is full of complaints. Nothing suits. Until...Barnacle realizes something important about life...

My thoughts: I liked this one. I did. I may not have loved, loved, loved it. But I solidly liked it. It is an ocean-themed book about attitude and perspective, about gratitude. Barnacle is not grateful...at all. But by the end of the story, something has changed...for the better.

The first time I read this one, I wasn't overly impressed with the illustrations. They didn't do much for me. Dare I say they bored me?! But after the second or third time around I had come to appreciate them. I found the illustrations could be quite expressive. I love the grinning look of relief on Barnacle when he's NOT eaten.

I appreciate the fact that this is a book that allows for a lot of expression in the reading. I think it's a great choice to share with little ones. They may just ask for it again and again and again and again. Especially if you add in some effects!

Text: 5 out of 5
Illustrations: 4 out of 5
Total: 9 out of 10

45. Plankton is Pushy. Jonathan Fenske. 2017. Scholastic. 40 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Why, hello, Mister Mussel! I said, "HELLO, MISTER MUSSEL!" Well, that is just RUDE! Let me tell you how this works.

Premise/plot: When Plankton greets "Mister Mussel" and doesn't get a response, well, Plankton gets PUSHY. Also frustrated, exasperated, and sarcastic. Will Mister Mussel open his mouth and speak? Will Plankton really want him to when all is said and done?

My thoughts: For readers--young and old--who like picture books with twist-endings, this is a fun treat. I'd also recommend it to anyone who read and loved Barnacle is Bored. I think if you enjoyed the first book, you'll probably like this one as well. I haven't quite figured out how to voice Plankton, but, I'm going to guess that it can be done and done well. (Maybe not by me...but we'll see. Barnacle is Bored is one of my favorite read alouds.)

Text: 4 out of 5
Illustrations: 4 out of 5
Total: 8 out of 10

© 2026 Becky Laney of Young Readers

36. The Rare Bird

36. The Rare Bird. Elisha Cooper. 2026. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, cats, imagination, picture books]

First sentence: The Rare Bird flew through the forest, flying so fast he knocked the leaves off the trees.

Premise/plot: The Rare Bird is a quirky little picture book starring a cat with a vivid imagination.

My thoughts: This cat has SOME imagination. The whole book--except the last few pages--is written as if the book was about, you know, an actual actual bird. But it this CAT living his normal cat life but imagining a whole other world, whole other life. He never leaves the house but he's flying across the world and seeing it all.

I liked this one. It was quirky and whimsical.

© 2026 Becky Laney of Young Readers

33. Dinos That Drive

33. Dinos that Drive. Suzy Levinson. Illustrated by Dustin Harbin. 2025. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, poetry]

First sentence: You've never seen a dinosaur
that's into driving cars?
You've never seen a dinosaur
that flies a jumbo jet?
You've never seen a dinosaur
that rockets to the stars?
Then buckle up! Let's take a ride...
YOU AIN'T SEEN NOTHIN' YET!

Premise/plot: Do you have a little one that loves, loves, loves dinosaurs? Do you have a little one that loves vehicles? Things that go, go, go!!! This themed poetry collection might be a great fit for you and your family.

Each dinosaur has a favorite vehicle. The T-Rex is a recurring character that keeps popping back up in the poems. There are dinosaur facts as well in the dialogue bubbles (or speech bubbles).

The style is very Richard Scarry-ish.

My thoughts: It's fun. It's whimsical. I don't think a love of poetry is an absolute must. I do think you need to like dinosaurs!


© 2026 Becky Laney of Young Readers

29. Richard Scarry's Great Mystery Collection

29. Richard Scarry's Great Mystery Collection. Richard Scarry. 2025. (1969, 1975) 96 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, picture books, mysteries]

First sentence of the Great Pie Robbery: Sam Cat and Dudley Pig are detectives. They find children who get lost. They catch robbers who steal things.
First sentence of the Supermarket Mystery: Sam Cat and Dudley Pig are very fine detectives. If anyone has a problem, they will try to solve it.
First sentence of The Great Steamboat Mystery: Mr. and Mrs. Pig had just gotten married. They invited all their friends to a big wedding party aboard the steamboat Sally. Just for fun, they asked everyone to wear a costume. Mr. Pig also asked Sam and Dudley, the famous detectives, to come to the party. He wanted them to see that no wedding presents got stolen. Sam and Dudley wore costumes, too. They dressed like pirates.

Premise/plot: This omnibus collection includes THREE Richard Scarry picture books. Each picture book stars Sam Cat and Dudley Pig. These detectives will keep on trying and trying until the case is SOLVED. The three books are: The Great Pie Robbery, the Supermarket Mystery, and the Great Steamboat Mystery. Each book is fun and silly. Pay attention to the details.

My thoughts: I love, love, love Richard Scarry. I love his worldbuilding. I love his characters. I love his attention to details. These three are mystery picture books. I definitely enjoyed revisiting this author and illustrator.


© 2026 Becky Laney of Young Readers

103. Tuck Me In

103. Tuck Me In. Nathan W. Pyle. 2025. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, picture books, science, bedtime stories]

First sentence: One night a beach said, "I'm a bit chilly!" The moon smiled and said, "I'll tuck you in!" So the moon pushed the water up onto the sand. But off in the distance, another beach cried, "Heyyy! Where did my blanket go?" And the moon realized she might have just made a mistake.

Premise/plot: Tuck Me In! is a story written for young children to explain the tide. OR T.I.D.E. Tucking In Divided Evenly. It is a FUN, silly, creative way to explain how high tides and low tides work.

My thoughts: I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this one! It was such a fun read. Highly recommended.

 

 

© 2025 Becky Laney of Young Readers

101. Elvis & Romeo

101. Elvis & Romeo. David Soman and Jacky Davis. 2025. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, picture book, dogs, friendship]

First sentence: Elvis was on his way to the dog park for the first time. So was Romeo. Romeo couldn't wait to make a new friend.

Premise/plot: Elvis & Romeo are not friends yet....but they soon will be after meeting at the dog park.

My thoughts: I read two Elvis & Romeo early readers earlier this month. This picture book is their origin story--or the origin story of their friendship. All three books appear to be published in 2025. If you are a dog lover, this picture book is super cute and adorable. Elvis and Romeo each have personality. It's an enjoyable introduction to this duo.

 

© 2025 Becky Laney of Young Readers

90. Norman and the Smell of Adventure

90. Norman and the Smell of Adventure. Ryan T. Higgins. 2025. 48 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars]

First sentence: Norman was a porcupine. His best friend was Mildred. Mildred was a tree. They had favorite things they did day after day. But one morning Norman wanted to try different things. "What do you say, Mildred? Let's go do something new! What do you mean you have other plans?"

Premise/plot: Norman and Mildred have a fight. If you've read the first sentence (above), you know Mildred is a tree. Still, Norman has a "fight" with Mildred his best friend. He gets so angry he sets off on his own adventure. He expects Mildred to come after him. She doesn't. She's a tree. Still, he's determined to have an adventure even if it's on his own. He soon makes other "friends." At the end of his adventure he returns home to Mildred to tell her all about it.

My thoughts: This one was definitely silly. Norman is quite a silly character. Meeting "Sally" (the cactus) was fun. (Norman misreads a "sale" sign on the cactus and thinks it's a name tag). The lesson was simple enough: friends don't have to do everything together. I liked it. However, my expectations were a bit higher for this one. I wanted to love it more than I did. I have LOVED, LOVED, LOVED some of his books in the past, and I was expecting to be charmed or delighted. It was a good enough read. But his other books are better.

 

© 2025 Becky Laney of Young Readers

78. Zebra and Yak

78. Zebra and Yak The Backwards Alphabet Book. Paul Friedrich. 2025. 48 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, humor, picture book]

First sentence: Are you ready to start the alphabet? Let's go! Z is for Zebra.
What? What's going on? Did I miss my cue from Xylophone? I didn't hear X is for Xylophone. I'm not ready.
Z is for Zebra
I get that. I'm Zebra. But you're way early. It's A is for Apple, B is for something, the other letters, and then it's my turn!
Apple wasn't around. We're starting with Z instead.
This is ridiculous! We need to find Apple!

Premise/plot: Zebra and Yak star in a backwards alphabet book. This catches Zebra and the others by surprise! They are all used to being THE END of the alphabet and not the beginning. The book is full of bantering back and forth between the characters and the narrator (as well as between themselves) as the search for Apple continues.

My thoughts: I loved this one. It was fun, silly, exuberant. I loved the humor. I think it would make a great read aloud. The humor I think would make it appealing to those who have even grown a bit beyond the whole 'concept' of alphabet books.

© 2025 Becky Laney of Young Readers

68. Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons

68. Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons. Eric Litwin. Illustrated by James Dean. 2012. 40 pages. [Source: Online Audio and picture book]

 First sentence: Pete the Cat put on his favorite shirt with four big, colorful, round, groovy buttons. He loved his buttons so much, he sang this song: 

"My buttons, my buttons,
my four groovy buttons.
My buttons, my buttons,
my four groovy buttons."

Premise/plot: Pete the Cat LOVES, LOVES, LOVES his shirt with FOUR groovy buttons. But life happens....and, well, Pete learns that things--including buttons--come and go. Is this book primarily teaching young children subtraction skills OR is it teaching coping skills an invaluable life lesson perhaps even more important than subtraction?

My thoughts: This one was the first Pete the Cat book I read, and I must say it is probably my favorite. I love, love, love it so much!!! If I Love My White Shoes was "teaching" colors, then Four Groovy Buttons is "teaching" subtraction. For, Pete the Cat loses each of his four buttons one by one. But does Pete cry?! Goodness no! I absolutely love the end of this one!!! And the moral this time: "I guess it simply goes to show that stuff will come and stuff will go. But do we cry? Goodness, NO! We keep on singing."

I first met Pete the Cat circa 2013 when I checked out all the Pete the Cat books from the library. Each of the original books has an audio version online, and these audio versions have been uploaded to YouTube many times. Since I am not using the library these days, I revisited one of my favorite, favorite, favorite books by listening to it. 

Mom and I's favorite refrain--which we've used almost daily--certainly weekly--is DID PETE CRY? GOODNESS NO! This picture book is teaching a wonderfully important lesson in how to live life.

 

 

© 2025 Becky Laney of Young Readers

67. Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes

 

67. Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes. Eric Litwin. Illustrated by James Dean. 2010. 40 pages. [Source: Online Audio]

First sentence:  Pete the Cat was walking down the street in his brand-new white shoes. Pete loved his white shoes so much, he sang this song:

"I love my white shoes,
I love my white shoes,
I love my white shoes."

Premise/plot: Pete the Cat LOVES his white shoes, but will his shoes stay WHITE when he goes on his walk???? And how will he handle it if they're not perfectly-perfectly white? 

My thoughts:  I love, love, love, REALLY REALLY love Pete the Cat. He is my kind of cat. You should definitely download the free song(s) as well, so you can really sing right along with the book(s). True, you could make up your own tune, but, the song is so perfectly catchy.

So. Pete the Cat has white shoes which he loves. But, when he steps in some unpleasant things: strawberries, blueberries, a mud puddle, a bucket of water, does Pete cry?! Goodness no! He just keeps on walking and singing his song! Is this a concept book about colors (white, red, blue, brown)? Is this a book teaching necessary coping skills to preschoolers and kids? A bit of both. But. It is also just a really fun, very entertaining story about a groovy cat! I absolutely LOVE the repetition, and the fact that this is a book everyone can participate and join in on! Kids could even write their own stories.

Again this book has the refrain DID PETE CRY?!?! GOODNESS, NO! 

 

 

© 2025 Becky Laney of Young Readers

66. Pete the Cat: Rocking In My School Shoes

 

66. Pete the Cat: Rocking In My School Shoes. Eric Litwin. Illustrated by James Dean. 2011. 40 pages. [Source: Online Audio AND library] [4 stars]

First sentence: Here comes Pete strolling down the street, rocking red shoes on his four furry feet. Pete is going to school, and he sings this song: I'm rocking in my school shoes, I'm rocking in my school shoes, I'm rocking in my school shoes."

Premise/plot: Pete the Cat is going to school and having a great time!

My thoughts: I really liked this one. I loved seeing Pete go to school. I loved seeing him read in his school shoes (the library), eating in his school shoes (the cafeteria), playing in his school shoes (the playground), etc. (There is also singing, painting, adding, and writing). I loved the descriptions of the school environment, the participatory way in which it's written so it gets everyone involved, and most of all the repetition. DOES PETE WORRY? Goodness no!!!

I first met Pete the Cat circa 2013 when I checked out all the Pete the Cat books from the library. Each of the original books has an audio version online, and these audio versions have been uploaded to YouTube many times. Since I am not using the library these days, I revisited one of my favorite, favorite, favorite books by listening to it. 

You can search YouTube or check out the audio versions on the official page. 

 

 

© 2025 Becky Laney of Young Readers