Pete the Cat and the Cool Cat Boogie by James Dean and Kimberly Dean
Source: Purchased Hardcover, 40 pgs. I am an Amazon Affiliate
Pete the Cat and the Cool Cat Boogie by James Dean and Kimberly Dean is another book my daughter picked out as a reward from reading this past month. She's really been a trooper even when she's frustrated with reading or not concentrated. Pete the Cat is a character that always makes her smile and whose books are easier for her to read in between those more challenging books the school gives her each week.
In this book, Pete loves to dance but Grumpy Toad tells him that he's not dancing correctly. Pete goes on a journey to learn how to dance the Cool Cat Boogie, even though all the advice he receives are about different types of dances. Pete feels happy when he's dancing and he wants to learn this dance no matter what. My daughter had a great time reading this one on her own to me.
My one quibble with this book is Pete's reaction when his friends say "ouch," and he's accidentally bumped them or stepped on their toes while dancing. Rather than apologizing, he merely walks away dejected. These are not moments that Pete should walk away from. He should say he's sorry. If his friends had said that he did the moves wrong or made fun of him, I could see him walking away and not engaging in an argument. This was not the case in these situations.
Pete the Cat and the Cool Cat Boogie by James Dean and Kimberly Dean even includes a step-by-step guide on how to do the Cool Cat Boogie, which will have kids getting out of their seats and onto the dance floor. It's good to see my daughter reading on her own, even if the book is a bit simpler than the ones that challenge her from school. At least she's continuously reading.
RATING: Quatrain