Pete the Cat and His Magic Sunglasses

Book review by Darienne Stewart, Common Sense Media
Pete the Cat and His Magic Sunglasses Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 4+

Kitty shares trick to keep blues at bay in cheery book.

James Dean, Kimberly Dean Picture Book 2013
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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this book.

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What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that easygoing Pete gets his groove back in Pete the Cat and His Magic Sunglasses. The typically cheerful feline finds himself in a rare funk and needs help lifting his mood.

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What's the Story?

Pete the Cat is feeling uncharacteristically grumpy. Along comes Grumpy Toad, who is uncharacteristically cheerful. Grumpy Toad credits his \"cool, blue, magic sunglasses\" for clearing away his blues. Pete tries them on and notices singing birds and the sun shining brightly in the sky -- and, just like that, he's feeling fine. He comes across several friends down in the dumps: Squirrel, who found but one acorn; frustrated, upside-down Turtle; and lonely Alligator. Each dons the sunglasses and finds his day turned around. When Pete accidentally breaks the sunglasses, he learns he doesn't need them to change his perspective.

Is It Any Good?

The story lacks the rhythmic charm that made the first books such a fun read-aloud with children, but it preserves the same easygoing, optimistic spirit. The pages glow with bright, light-filled illustrations.
PETE THE CAT AND HIS MAGIC SUNGLASSES brings back big-eyed Pete for his fourth picture book, but this time he has the blues. The advice here is a bit simplistic: In his earlier adventures, Pete adapted to change and made the best of it, but here it's simply a matter of focusing on the good things in life. This may be slightly more difficult for young children to relate to, but it's good enough advice presented in a cheerful, bright format.
Creator James Dean, who illustrated the early Pete the Cat books written by Eric Litwin, steps up to share writing duties with his wife, Kimberly Dean.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how the sunglasses work. They don't fix Squirrel's, Turtle's, or Alligator's problems, so how do they help?
  • If you've read some of the other books featuring Pete the Cat, how does this book compare with his other adventures?
  • When you're feeling angry or grumpy, what helps you turn your mood around?

Book Details

Our Editors Recommend

For kids who love picture books and animal stories

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