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3.54 AVERAGE
3.54 AVERAGE
Review originally published on my blog, Nine Pages.
Poor Pete just wants to dance, but his friends don’t think that he’s doing it right, and when they try to teach him, he steps on Squirrel’s toes and hits Gus on the nose. Pete is determined to get it right, so he keeps trying. Wise Old Owl swoops in as he has been doing lately in Pete books and saves the day: “It doesn’t matter how you move, as long as you are being you.” Those words solve every problem of the book. Each friend dances however they like to move. The whole story is told in rhyme and words like “groovy” sneak into the book to give it that ‘70s flair that is fairly unique to the Pete books. There is far less to this story, though, than there was to, say, His Four Groovy Buttons or I Love My White Shoes or the more recent Missing Cupcakes, a didactic message, yes, but not an educational one, not a primer’s lesson. Even so, adding another book to the repertoire of dance-along books is always valuable for rambunctious little ones.
Poor Pete just wants to dance, but his friends don’t think that he’s doing it right, and when they try to teach him, he steps on Squirrel’s toes and hits Gus on the nose. Pete is determined to get it right, so he keeps trying. Wise Old Owl swoops in as he has been doing lately in Pete books and saves the day: “It doesn’t matter how you move, as long as you are being you.” Those words solve every problem of the book. Each friend dances however they like to move. The whole story is told in rhyme and words like “groovy” sneak into the book to give it that ‘70s flair that is fairly unique to the Pete books. There is far less to this story, though, than there was to, say, His Four Groovy Buttons or I Love My White Shoes or the more recent Missing Cupcakes, a didactic message, yes, but not an educational one, not a primer’s lesson. Even so, adding another book to the repertoire of dance-along books is always valuable for rambunctious little ones.
I think this might be my favorite of the Pete the Cat titles. It might be that it struck a cord with me in regards to some things going on in my personal life right now. I've been writing and I had kind of rough feedback from an editor lady and it made me feel like maybe I should give up writing. I'm pushing through that. I can't give up on writing now, not when I've just gotten it back. And that's a lot of what this book is about -- doing something you love even if other people don't think you're "good at it" and that sometimes the joy of doing something is more important than whether or not you have talent at it. So yeah, my fave Pete the Cat title, even if it is a little like that "I hope you dance" song.
We were excited for this one because we love Pete, but this was a bit of a letdown. The dancing part is fun, but Pete and his friends act like little jerks throughout. Glad we didn't buy this one.
So what if Pete can't do all the groovy moves? If dancing makes him happy, that's all that matters.
Be you, Pete, and rock on.
Be you, Pete, and rock on.
It was....okay. Pete's friends are pretty rude, but Pete also doesn't apologize when he accidentally hurts them. Also, he keeps saying "one more chance," when it should probably be "another chance." (Then again, as-is it will prepare kids for a lifetime of coaches and instructors doing the same thing...)
I just couldn't get into the groove with this one.
I just couldn't get into the groove with this one.
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It was a cute and neat book. I felt bad for Pete when he was told he was dancing wrong. It was also pretty funny how he just waked away when something went wrong.
funny
lighthearted
Juju gives it five stars! He did well with the reading for this one!
I liked this book in every way! ... except for that Pete never apologizes!? I understand that his friends didn't use their words nicely when they commented on his dances, so in both scenarios, everyone needs a better attitude. I think that walking away is sometimes the right choice, but for the age range this is most appropriate for, I just wish there was more enforcement of manners and social niceties.