Prather’s Pick: A picture book with a moral
Our grandson, Kenny Prather, who is now a resident of Kenai, Alaska, has always had a positive outlook on life. No matter whether his pickup truck breaks down, he has to drive to work on slick roads, he doesn’t feel well, or a hundred other scenarios, he always says, “It’s all good.” So I was reminded of him when I read this week’s book. The leading character in the book thinks “It’s all good,” too.
“I Love My White Shoes” is a Pete the Cat book, written by Eric Litwin (aka Mr. Eric) and illustrated by James Dean. The character of Pete the Cat was created by Dean (character copyright 1999), and he authored and illustrated a series of books about Pete. However, the story for this week’s book is by Litwin; the art is by Dean. The book is published by Scholastic, Inc. by arrangement with HarperCollins Children’s Books (2008).
The cover of “I Love My White Shoes” caught my eye because there’s Pete, big as can be, standing with his slender feet in what appear to be adult-size tennis shoes. Two of the shoes are off to one side, as if the shoes are too big. I knew that the book would be hilarious. What I didn’t know is that the story has a moral, for children and adults alike. That’s where the “It’s all good” comes in.
The story begins as Pete the cat is walking down the street in his new white shoes. He loves his shoes so he sings a song: “I love my white shoes, I love my white shoes, I love my white shoes, I love my white shoes.”
But then, guess what? He steps in a large — really large, like a mountain — pile of strawberries. His shoes are now red.
But Pete isn’t upset. He doesn’t cry. He just keeps walking along, singing his song — except now it’s about loving red shoes.
Next, Pete steps in a pile of blueberries. His shoes turn blue. Pete isn’t upset. He doesn’t cry. In fact, he thinks “awesome” and sings about loving blue shoes.
Then, as Pete passes by a farm, he steps in a puddle of mud — perhaps like our corral mud — and his shoes turn brown. He keeps right on walking and singing.
Pete isn’t finished stepping in stuff. At the end of the book there’s a moral, and Pete’s last thoughts are “It’s all good.”
I’m told that preschoolers love this book (I can see why) and that they sing Pete’s songs. What a neat book!
You can find “I Love My White Shoes” with new books in the children’s room at the Craig branch of Moffat County Libraries. It costs $6.99 in softcover.
Support Local Journalism
Support Local Journalism
Readers around Craig and Moffat County make the Craig Press’ work possible. Your financial contribution supports our efforts to deliver quality, locally relevant journalism.
Now more than ever, your support is critical to help us keep our community informed about the evolving coronavirus pandemic and the impact it is having locally. Every contribution, however large or small, will make a difference.
Each donation will be used exclusively for the development and creation of increased news coverage.