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Quick answer: If you love Pete the Cat, read Brown Bear, Brown Bear, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Elephant and Piggie books and Splat the Cat. All are cheerful picture books with rhythm, repetition and a playful hero.
Pete the Cat started with I Love My White Shoes and became a popular series of picture books and early readers about a cool blue cat who stays calm no matter what. Kids like the songs, the repeating lines and the upbeat message. The books below share that rhythm and humour, and are great for toddlers and preschoolers.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? | Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle | Ages 0-4 | rhythm and repetition |
| The Very Hungry Caterpillar | Eric Carle | Ages 0-5 | counting and colour |
| Chicka Chicka Boom Boom | Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault | Ages 0-5 | alphabet fun |
| The Cat in the Hat | Dr. Seuss | Ages 3-7 | silly cat classics |
| Today I Will Fly! | Mo Willems | Ages 3-7 | Elephant and Piggie |
| Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! | Mo Willems | Ages 3-7 | interactive humour |
| Splat the Cat | Rob Scotton | Ages 3-7 | nervous cat |
| Skippyjon Jones | Judy Schachner | Ages 3-7 | imaginative play |
| The Pout-Pout Fish | Deborah Diesen | Ages 2-6 | positive rhymes |
| Llama Llama Red Pajama | Anna Dewdney | Ages 1-5 | bedtime rhymes |
| Giraffes Can't Dance | Giles Andreae | Ages 3-7 | confidence |
| Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type | Doreen Cronin | Ages 3-7 | funny farm |
| Interrupting Chicken | David Ezra Stein | Ages 3-7 | bedtime stories |
| Corduroy | Don Freeman | Ages 2-6 | classic comfort |
| Elmer | David McKee | Ages 3-7 | being yourself |
1. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle
A simple call-and-response book of animals and colours. Perfect for sing-song reading.
Best for: rhythm and repetition.
2. The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
A caterpillar eats his way through the week and becomes a butterfly. A true classic with colourful collage art.
Best for: counting and colour.
3. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault
Letters race up a coconut tree. A rhythmic read-aloud that teaches the alphabet.
Best for: alphabet fun.
4. The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss
A mischievous cat brings chaos to a rainy day. Bouncy rhymes make it a fun early reader.
Best for: silly cat classics.
5. Today I Will Fly! by Mo Willems
Piggie is determined to fly, and Elephant has doubts. Simple, hilarious and great for new readers.
Best for: Elephant and Piggie.
6. Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! by Mo Willems
The pigeon begs readers to let him drive. Kids love shouting no.
Best for: interactive humour.
7. Splat the Cat by Rob Scotton
Splat is anxious about his first day of school. Warm, funny and reassuring.
Best for: nervous cat.
8. Skippyjon Jones by Judy Schachner
A Siamese kitten imagines he is a Chihuahua. Lively, rhythmic and playful.
Best for: imaginative play.
9. The Pout-Pout Fish by Deborah Diesen
A gloomy fish learns to see the bright side. Sweet and good for read-alouds.
Best for: positive rhymes.
10. Llama Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney
Baby llama worries at bedtime until his mama comes. Gentle rhymes make it comforting.
Best for: bedtime rhymes.
11. Giraffes Can't Dance by Giles Andreae
Gerald the giraffe finds his own way to dance. Rhyming, cheerful and encouraging.
Best for: confidence.
12. Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin
Farm animals go on strike with typewritten demands. Quirky and full of humour.
Best for: funny farm.
13. Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein
A little chicken keeps interrupting her father's bedtime tales. Charming and interactive.
Best for: bedtime stories.
14. Corduroy by Don Freeman
A toy bear in a department store searches for his missing button. Sweet and timeless.
Best for: classic comfort.
15. Elmer by David McKee
A patchwork elephant learns to enjoy being different. Colourful and kind.
Best for: being yourself.
How to Choose
For rhythm and sing-along pick Brown Bear, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom or Llama Llama. For easy early readers choose Mo Willems or The Cat in the Hat. For a confident, quirky hero read Splat the Cat or Giraffes Can't Dance. For quiet bedtime stories try Corduroy. Read the lines in a sing-song voice, since part of Pete's charm is that kids can chant along. When you read aloud, pause before the repeated lines so your child can fill in the words. That small trick is what makes books like these so effective for early reading. Libraries usually stock most of the titles on this list, so you can try several before buying.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who created Pete the Cat?
Illustrator James Dean created the character, and Eric Litwin wrote the early stories.
What is the first Pete the Cat book?
I Love My White Shoes.
What age is Pete the Cat for?
Mostly ages 2 to 7.
Are there early readers?
Yes. Pete the Cat also has I Can Read editions for early readers.
Do the books have songs?
Yes, several have songs you can find online.
What is the message?
Stay cool and keep going, no matter what happens.
Are there other cat picture books?
Yes, such as The Cat in the Hat and Splat the Cat.
Are these good gifts?
Yes, for toddlers and preschoolers.
Is Pete the Cat good for reluctant readers?
Yes. The repeated phrases and simple vocabulary make it easy to join in.
Are there other books with songs?
Brown Bear, Brown Bear and Chicka Chicka Boom Boom both have chant-like rhythms that work well when sung.