cover image Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons

Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons

James Dean and Eric Litwin. Harper, $16.99 (40p) ISBN 978-0-06-211058-9

In his fourth picture book, Pete the Cat loves (and sings about) the buttons on his yellow shirt, but when they pop off one by one, he doesn’t freak out: “Did Pete cry? Goodness, no! Buttons come and buttons go.” In bold, primary colors, the number of buttons remaining on the shirt appears at left, both as a numeral and written out, and the diminishing buttons are represented in basic equations (3-1=2). Even after all his buttons are gone, Pete takes it as a cue to go surfing. Readers who need a reminder not to sweat the small stuff will find a model of unflappability in Pete. Ages 3–7. (May)