Book Review & Freebies: Pete the Cat and the New Guy

Inside: Pete the Cat and the New Guy is a fun new book you don’t want to miss!

Book Review: Pete the Cat and the New Guy. Also, lots of book related FREEBIES! #petethecat #gradeonederful #booksforkids #kidsbooks

Title: Pete the Cat and the New Guy
Author: Kimberly & James Dean
Publisher: HarperCollins, 2014
Intended Audience: 3 to 8 year olds
Theme: Inclusion, Friendship, Self-Respect

Opening Lines:

It was Sunday, and Pete’s friends had come to play! They were rocking to a new song when … BEEP BEEP BEEP   There was a noise coming from across the street!

Synopsis (from the book flap):

There’s a new guy in town and Pete can’t wait to meet him. After all, more friends means more fun. But who can he be?  When Pete finally meets Gus, he realizes they’re very different from each other. But that’s what makes him cool: Gus is special in his own way, just like Pete and just like you, and there is something everyone can do!

Why I Like This Book:

Hey, it’s Pete the Cat! What more is there to say?  But if I’m going to be perfectly honest (and I am), I miss Eric Litwin. The Pete books are now being authored by James Dean and his wife Kimberly. It’s still Pete but it’s not quite the same ~ it’s missing the Litwin magic.

But, having said that, I still really like this book.  Some reviewers on Amazon trashed it saying that the message is, “If something’s too hard, then give up!” But I don’t see it that way: Gus is a platypus! There are some things he just can’t do. That’s not about giving up; that’s about realizing everyone has limitations in one area or another. It’s important to realize that, move on and find something you CAN shine in. I think that’s a very valuable message!

Related Activities:

1. The book is on video!

2. Here’s a Venn diagram I made to discuss same and different:

Click Image to Grab

3. I think the book lends itself well to a discussion about what everyone is good at:

Click Image to Grab

BTW, the cute blue frame is by My Cute Graphics and the cat is by me.

That’s it! Happy Labour Day weekend.

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12 thoughts on “Book Review & Freebies: Pete the Cat and the New Guy”

  1. My kiddos love him too! I didn't realize there was another book, so thank you for sharing! I've been playing Pete the Cat videos when the kiddos arrive in the morning for class-they will be excited to watch a new one!Not Just Child's Play

    Reply
  2. I don't know. I've been wondering, too. Maybe a falling out of some kind … but who knows? Eric Litwin has some of his own books. The one about the nuts looks pretty cute. I'm going to order that one.

    Reply

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