Pete+the+Cat+and+His+Four+Groovy+Buttons




 * Author: Eric Litwin
 * Illustrator: James Dean (creator of Pete the Cat)
 * ISBN-13: 9780062110589
 * Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
 * Publication Date: May 1st 2012
 * Pages: 40
 * Age range: 4-8 years
 * Language: English


 * Summary:** Pete the Cat is wearing his favorite shirt, a yellow shirt with four buttons. Pete sings a song about his four “groovy” buttons. As Pete the Cat’s buttons fall off of his shirt one by one, he does not get upset. When he loses his buttons, Pete says, “buttons come and buttons go”. Throughout the book, Pete continues to sing his song about the remaining buttons on his shirt. Students are able to count down and sing with Pete the Cat as he loses his buttons.


 * Review:** I loved reading the book //Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons//. I really enjoyed how the story was able to incorporate both music and math. Students love being able to sing-a-long with Pete. The book is also useful when learning about or practicing subtraction with young students. The illustrations are also fun for the readers. Students will be asking to read the book again and again!


 * Analysis of a Literary Element:** The illustrations were a strong element throughout the story. Not only were there many fun and colorful illustrations of Pete, but there were also pages with large numbers showing the subtraction. The illustrations pull readers in with the colorful pictures of Pete the Cat, but also with the large colorful numbers. The large numbers can be used when teaching early subtraction skills and will help students practice subtraction. The illustrations allow students to be more interactive with the text.


 * Author Biography:** James Dean was born in 1957 in Alabama. He began drawing cartoons when he was in first grade, after watching his father paint and draw. During high school, James focused on music and wanted to be a professional musician and in a band. After high school, James attended Auburn University and chose to major in Electrical Engineering. After spending some time at the university, James was convinced to take a drawing class and his professor encouraged him to continue with art. After receiving his degree in Electrical Engineering, James began working with the Georgia Power Company. In 1997, James decided to leave the power company to become a full time artist. Two years later, he adopted a cat, Pete. James began to create many drawings and paintings of Pete. Pete inspired James and there are now many Pete paintings available. Eric Litwin was born in 1966 in New York City. Eric received two master’s degrees from George Washington University. Before becoming a writer, Eric was a classroom teacher. Eric and James first worked together in 2008 and have published multiple books together since.

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