Pete the Cat is the best. I have a very, long strange love affair with Pete. Several years ago, I saw Pete the Cat on a few blogs I followed and I didn’t know who he was. SOOO…when I saw a Pete the Cat book and CD on the Scholastic site…I bought it with points. I was INSTANTLY in love. I ordered several more for friends…so start the Pete Revolution in Chesapeake.
Can you speak at our conference?
Then, in 2012 I was the VSRA Conference Chair.
I decided to email and ask if Eric Litwin, the original author, could come.
He called on my CELL PHONE to say, “YES!” I couldn’t believe it.
He was so easy to work with and generous with his time.
The post is about why we love it in the classroom. Kindergartners LOVE Pete.
I love it for them. The surface is a great sing-along with predictable text. But let’s look at the books.
Pete the Cat Rocking in my School Shoes
I know this is officially the second book from Eric Litwin, but I introduce this book the very first week of school.
First, most students can make the instant connection with Pete, because they have new school shoes.
Throughout the first week, kindergarten classes take the obligatory tour of the school.
I just let Pete help us. I place different colored shoes around the school and we tour to find Pete’s shoes.
We sing the song as we look.
Pete the Cat I Love My White Shoes
What a great book.
This book is perfect for introducing predictions, cause and effect and early writing.
Predictions: What made the shoes a new color?
Cause and Effect: Stepping in ___ made his shoes ___.
Writing: The students can write their own page for Pete. What color would his shoes be? What did he step in.
BUT…I think the most wonderful thing about the story is the life lesson…if things go wrong, should we cry? Goodness, NO! Let’s figure it out.
Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons
I’m not a math person…I’m a reading person, but even I love this book.
How fantastic is it when a lovable character can help with reading, writing, and math. As you know, “If you sing it, they will learn.”
It is the perfect introduction to subtraction AND using real buttons for manipulatives makes it extra special.
These books are definitely some favorites for my students.
FREEBIE:
What can we do with these?
- Match shoes to food
- Write a predictable text: “My shoes are ____. I stepped in ____.”
- Using the shoe cards only: Write the sentence above with the student deciding what caused that color.
- Can you add to this list? Comment below.
If you’d like the Pete Shoes Freebie, click the link or the picture to get the FREEBIE!
Eric Litwin is the author of the first 4 Pete the Cat books. In my opinion, these books are FAR SUPERIOR to the other books.
