Pete the Cat and the Cool Cat Boogie

Pete the Cat

by Kimberly Dean, James Dean

Put on your dancing shoes—Pete is ready to boogie! Pete is learning a new dance—the Cool Cat Boogie! When he hears a groovy beat, he’s full of happy in his feet. But when Grumpy Toad tells him, “Pete, you dance all wrong!” Pete is determined to become a better dancer. With the help of his friends and some wise words from Owl, Pete learns that he’s his grooviest when he’s being himself. Includes step-by-step dance moves so readers can dance along with Pete! Join Pete the Cat in this groovy story from  New York Times  bestselling author-illustrator team James and Kimberly Dean!  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 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 Missing Cupcakes, Pete the Cat and the Perfect Pizza Party, Pete the Cat: Crayons Rock!, Pete the Cat's Groovy Imagination, and Pete the Cat Plays Hide-and-Seek.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Storytime, Cats, Animals, Music, Fiction

40 pages, Hardcover

First published May 9, 2017

Reviews

[donna backshall · Rating 4 out of 5]

So what if Pete can't do all the groovy moves? If dancing makes him happy, that's all that matters.

Be you, Pete, and rock on.

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pete the Cat is much abashed when his friend Grumpy Toad tells him that he is dancing all wrong in this ninth full-size picture-book devoted to his adventures, setting out to discover the 'right' way to move. Loving dance, and feeling impelled to move to the beat, Pete wants to do his Cool Cat Boogie the best he can. His initial missteps, under the dance tutelage of various friends, eventually lead him to wise old Owl, who gives him the best advice of all: be himself!

The fourth Pete the Cat book written by Kimberly Dean, rather than original author/song-writer Eric Litwin, Pete the Cat and the Cool Cat Boogie is a fairly engaging tale, and probably my favorite thus far, of the Dean titles in the series. Although the text is still a bit awkward, the rhymes here work better than in previous tales. I appreciated the overall message, of being true to yourself, rather than worrying about how others perceive you, and I liked the use of the phrase "I'm full of happy in my feet," as I have sometimes felt something of the sort, when listening to up-tempo music. As with the previous Kimberly Dean Pete the Cat books, there is a subtle nod to the Bible in the author's dedication, in which she mentions the biblical verse Ecclesiastes 3:4. This is easily enough ignored, for those uninterested in religion, while those who seek to relate this tale to some sort of religious moral, will find the very verse that will allow them to do so. Recommended to Pete the Cat fans, as well as to anyone looking for children's stories about having confidence and being oneself.

[Lauren Waters · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Pete the Cat makes me want to stand and dance. I love the message of not giving up and being true to yourself. My kids have requested to read this title every night this week.

[Desiree · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was so on board with this book in the beginning! Cats, dancing, a popular character with the kiddos. Like Pete, I think we've all been at that point where you just sit up at night wondering and worrying if you're good enough....but then it just stops there! Pete never apologizes for accidentally smacking his friends, his friends never try to help him improve and he doesn't try to get their feedback. Dammit, Pete the Cat!

[Yaritza · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pete has the moves and loves to dance. He starts feeling self conscious because of a remark he received about his dancing. He goes around an asked his friends how they danced. He has a few accidents with dancing with his friends, that he decides to give up something he loved. Old Owl told him to be himself and dance the way you like to an be yourself. We are all different. We love different music's and have our own way of dancing.

[Joanne Zienty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of previous reviews complain about Pete not apologizing for bumping into his friends while trying his dance moves. I wasn't even thinking about that. Message here is definitely be yourself and dance like nobody's watching.

[Sherri · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun Pete the Cat rendition with Pete dancing his heart out--even if he's doing others' dances all wrong.

[Marissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

We were excited for this one because we love Pete, but this was a bit of a letdown. The dancing part is fun, but Pete and his friends act like little jerks throughout. Glad we didn't buy this one.

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summary:
Pete the Cat is learning how to do his dance, the Cool Cat Boogie, and along the way he meets several of his friends and tries to learn their dances as well. Each time he seems to do something wrong. Pete gets discouraged time and time again. Will he give up dancing all together or will he finally perfect the Cool Cat Boogie?

Activity:
In small groups, discuss a time that you became discouraged. Talk about why you felt this way and why you decided to quit or keep going and why. After your small group discussion, write a short summary of what you discussed with your group.
Reflecting on a discouraging time with classmates shows that everyone can get discouraged at times and that we all cope with this discouragement in different ways.

Citation:
Dean, K. (2017). Pete the Cat and the Cool Cat Boogie. New York, NY: Harper Collins

[Kate Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this might be my favorite of the Pete the Cat titles. It might be that it struck a cord with me in regards to some things going on in my personal life right now. I've been writing and I had kind of rough feedback from an editor lady and it made me feel like maybe I should give up writing. I'm pushing through that. I can't give up on writing now, not when I've just gotten it back. And that's a lot of what this book is about -- doing something you love even if other people don't think you're "good at it" and that sometimes the joy of doing something is more important than whether or not you have talent at it. So yeah, my fave Pete the Cat title, even if it is a little like that "I hope you dance" song.

[Maddy Mullin]

This story is about Pete trying to learn how to dance. He was doing the cool cat boogie, when a grumpy old toad came by and told him he was a bad dancer. Pete kept practicing and asking how to do different dances from his friends and trying them, but Pete ended up messing them up each time. Finally a wise owl told Pete it doesn't matter how he dances if he is being himself and having fun.

I love the Pete the Cat books, especially this one. The vocabulary and illustrations are fantastic and I think they keep the reader engaged. I also love how each Pete book has a great moral, and lesson to be learned.

This book is a great way to teach rhyming. Also if you are talking about perseverance or identity, this book has a strong resolution of both of those.

[Ina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pete is back in all his bright blue glory. Pete is trying to learn a new dance and all of his friends tell him he’s a bad dancer and doing it all wrong. The illustrations are bold and bright and clearly communicate Pete’s need to dance and his sadness when he fails time and time again. Finally a wise old owl reminds Pete that he should be himself and dance his way. There are references to dances of the 70’s and 80’s and a tribute to John Travolta in “Saturday Night Fever.” The end pages even have instructions for the “Cool Cat Boogie” so you can get your storytime audience up on their feet to dance.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pete the Cat is learning a new dance, and when his friends criticize his moves he doesn’t give up, he asks for advice. But when he is clumsy dancing the way his friends suggest, the wise old owl give his advice everyone can use, to just be yourself.

This is a very popular series. I love Pete and his great attitude. Brightly colored illustrations and fun rhymes make this a delightful read aloud - and the end pages include the Cool Cat Boogie moves, so the reader can dance along with Pete.

Cross posted to http://kissthebook.blogspot.com CHECK IT OUT!

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pete the Cat is learning a new way to dance . . . the Cool Cat Boogie . . . and whenever he hears a groovy beat, he’s one happy cat.

Then Grumpy Toad tells him he’s dancing all wrong, and Pete is determined to become a better dancer. Pete’s friends try to help, but Owl’s wise words help Pete to discover it’s always best to be himself.

This charming children’s picture book includes instructions for dancing the Cool Cat Boogie. Young and not-so-young readers alike are sure to be delighted with Pete’s newest adventure.

Highly recommended.

[Cynda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Recently I read nine (yep 9) Pete the Cat books. These books are perfect for grands and great-grands to read with young children. The underlying value system seems to be of some cool cats of the 1960s-70s.

This book shows Pete dancing on the street, practicing dance moves. When he find and refines his moves, he dances in a John Travolta-style disco outfit while dancing on a lighted dance floor. At the end of the book, Pete breaks down his dance move. This book may encourage readers to practice some dance moves.

[Maggie Ignasiak · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book in every way! ... except for that Pete never apologizes!? I understand that his friends didn't use their words nicely when they commented on his dances, so in both scenarios, everyone needs a better attitude. I think that walking away is sometimes the right choice, but for the age range this is most appropriate for, I just wish there was more enforcement of manners and social niceties.

[Caitlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy reading “Pete the Cat” and the kids at work LOVE it. Pete is dancing and someone tells him that he isn’t doing it right so he goes to all his friends and asks them to teach him how to dance. When he makes a mistake, his friends dismiss him. Pete finally realizes that there isn’t a “right” way to dance and that as long as what you are doing is making you happy, that is all that matters. Fun books to have in the classroom however not necessarily beneficial for curriculum.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pete's dancing is criticized by some of his friends. He wants to be a better dancer, but he is happiest when he dances his own way. While children enjoy the colorful pictures and the antics of their favorite cat character, this is a story about individuality and being true to oneself. Instructions for doing the "Cool Cat Boogie" follow the story.

[Madison Lawson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love all of the Pete the Cat books, and this one was no exception. The illustrations in these books are very bright and vibrate and students really enjoy reading these books. I think any teacher or parent should invest in at least one of the Pete the Cat books because just about every student loves them too!

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great addition to any collection of children’s books. Pete just can’t seem to learn the steps to the new dance craze, The Cool Cat Boogie. After much criticism, then a little encouragement from the wise old owl, Pete finally realizes that he had the groove in his feet all along. This teaches kids to not give up, and to not let criticism keep them from trying and practicing new activities.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't think that I am a really big Pete the Cat fan, but this book was fun. He is trying to find his groove and goes through all kinds of different dace styles, to realize that he doesn't need to do what everyone else is doing he can do his own thing.

[Kimberly Austin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pete just wants to dance and all his friends tell him he is doing it wrong. It takes a wise owl to convince Pete not to stop dancing & to have fun and be himself. Good book for preschoolers-2nd grade.

[Lkking · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another outstanding Pete the Cat title - this time about marching to your own drummer - doing your own dance. Illustrations are awesome and readers are invited to learn the cool cat boogie or celebrate their own dance.

[AMY · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this one. Pete is trying to learn to dance but his friends say he's doing it all wrong.. He feels kind of sad but really loves to dance so he keeps trying. Bravo, Pete! Highly recommended for Grades K-2. Kids will love this one.

[Skyler Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pete the cat is practicing his dancing when Toad comes along and tells him that he is dancing all wrong. Pete feels sad that he is dancing wrong, so he goes and asks all of his friends to help him, but he can’t seem to dance right according to any of his friends. Then, mr. Owl tells him that he just needs to be himself and dance how he wants to dance.
I love this book and I think that it teaches such a good lesson about being yourself. I think that kids would respond really well to this book. I think that it has a lesson of inclusion and letting everybody do their own thing.
I would definitely have this book in my classroom library and read it to my classes. I think that it would even be really fun to have my students do the little dance that Pete does in the end of the book.

[Pat · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pete the Cat loves to dance, but is criticized by all his friends for his dance moves. He also doesn't apologize when he steps on toes or bops someone in the nose. Finally, wise old owl says "it doesn't matter how you move as long as you are being you." Pete magically appears in a John Travolta style white suit (he had been wearing a green t-shirt). The Cool Cat dance moves are on the back end papers. Illustrations are bursting with color. The text could use a rewrite; the phrase "one more chance" is used 3 times.

[Kelsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great Pete the Cat story with brightly colored illustrations and a good message. I do think that they should have clarified that it’s not okay to hurt friends and you should say sorry afterwards instead of walking away. I know Pete hurt them by accident while dancing, but he still hurt them and he should’ve said he was sorry. It’s great to dance with your own style and I agree with that message, but I think he should’ve either just done their dances wrong/badly and not hurt them, or they kept the injury parts in the story and added an apology.

[Amy Oberts · Rating 2 out of 5]

The vivid illustrations salvaged my rating, as the story in and of itself hardly deserves a single star. Pete's callous attitude after "colliding" time and time again with his friends is not the kind of life lesson I want to share with readers. Again, this installment of the "Pete the Cat" series is further evidence of the missing partnership between James Dean and Eric Litwin. The story just doesn't "work."

[Ally Salmans · Rating 3 out of 5]

My main positive comment of this book is that it is a good story time book. Many kids are very familiar with Pete the Cat and his friends, so if your kiddos love other books involving those characters they will love this one as well.
I personally don't love these books, because of repetitive nature of them and the fact that there's nothing about it that makes me just LOVE this book. However, it will most likely be one that I read again during a story time.

[Jillian · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was....okay. Pete's friends are pretty rude, but Pete also doesn't apologize when he accidentally hurts them. Also, he keeps saying "one more chance," when it should probably be "another chance." (Then again, as-is it will prepare kids for a lifetime of coaches and instructors doing the same thing...)
I just couldn't get into the groove with this one.