5-Minute Pete the Cat Stories: Includes 12 Groovy Stories!    by James Dean Order:  USA  Can Harper, 2017 (2017) Hardcover      Reviewed by Jessica Maguire I was recently introduced to Pete the Cat at an art gallery in New Orleans. I quickly became enchanted with this fun feline. Imagine my surprise when I found that Pete is not only featured in artwork, he also has come to life in children's stories written and illustrated by James Dean. James had taken his artistic talent for wonderfully whimsical drawings and paired them with short stories. Pete, along with his friends Greg the Monkey, Turtle, Grumpy Toad, best friend Callie, and big brother Bob, have lots of adventures in this collection of '12 groovy stories.' Each story takes just five minutes to read, perfect for your little one's bedtime. Pete is a very busy cat. He composes his very own song to sing to his parents to let them know how much he loves and appreciates them. He likes to eat healthy snacks. Bananas and apples are his favorites. Pete likes sharing and making his friends happy too. My favorite stories are Pete the Cat and the Bad Banana and Pete the Cat at the Beach. I especially love the illustrations in both stories. Pete's mom gives him the 'pink stuff' to help his tummy ache (I've been there!) after he eats a yucky, mushy banana. And I grew up in California where I loved to watch the wetsuit clad surfers catch big waves (check out Mavericks ... maybe you'll see Pete and Bob shredding some gnarly waves!) Pete likes to watch Bob surf, and soon Bob teaches Pete to ride the waves too. The stories are great fun and the illustrations are even better. James Dean really captures Pete's purrsonality. There's something very endearing about the way Pete and company are drawn. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Kids books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews