Pete the Kitty's Outdoor Art Project by James Dean, Kimberly Dean
Series: My First I Can Read
Published by HarperCollins on March 14, 2023
ISBN: 0062974327
Pages: 32
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Early Reader
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads

An “I Can Read” book featuring everyone’s favorite groovy kitty. Aimed at the Pre-K set, Pete the Kitty is tasked with finding pieces of nature for an art project. Usually one to use paints and paper, Pete is not so sure that art can come from objects in nature. As he walks around, he sees his classmates using objects to create interesting things like a flower crown and a pinecone turtle. Feeling inspired, Pete finds a way to create his own art with the items he finds. A nice exploration of the different ways we can define and create art for young readers. The text makes good use of repetition and sight words, and even throws in some new vocabulary like “nifty” and “awesome”, and the illustrations are clear and support the text. Get for collections with Pete fans or for those readers who always seem to have a few sticks and rocks in their pocket.

Reviewed by Jill O’Connor, Falmouth Middle School Library