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Pete the Cat
Pete the Cat Checks Out the Library
New York Times bestselling author and illustrator James Dean shows us how much fun reading can be in Pete the Cat Checks Out the Library. Includes over 30 groovy stickers!
It's Pete the Cat's first time at the library. He gets a fun tour of library and even reads a few super cool stories while he's there.
Without even leaving the library, Pete goes on so many groovy adventures. All Pete needs is a little imagination—and of course, his library card!
A great introduction to the library from everyone's favorite groovy cat.
It's Pete the Cat's first time at the library. He gets a fun tour of library and even reads a few super cool stories while he's there.
Without even leaving the library, Pete goes on so many groovy adventures. All Pete needs is a little imagination—and of course, his library card!
A great introduction to the library from everyone's favorite groovy cat.
24 pages, Hardcover
First published October 2, 2018
29 people are currently reading
1642 people want to read
About the author
James Dean
232 books253 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
James Dean is the original creator and illustrator of Pete the Cat. He is a self-taught artist originally from Fort Payne, Alabama. His passion for drawing became apparent at a young age, and as a child, you could find James drawing his favorite characters like Snoopy and Yogi Bear.
James earned his degree in electrical engineering from Auburn University and went on to work for Georgia Power for a number of years. Eventually, he was called to pursue his art full- time and began selling his work at art festivals around the Southeast. It was during this time that he began creating paintings and drawing of his cat, Pete.The little blue cat showed up as a character in James’s artwork around 1999 and has been a permanent fixture ever since.
James Dean’s art has been sold in more than ninety galleries and shops across the United States. He has devoted his paintings to Pete the Cat for fifteen years and turned his natural love for cats into his life’s work. James published his first book, The Misadventures of Pete the Cat, a history of his artwork, in 2006, and he illustrated his first self-published children’s book, Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes, in 2008. There are now almost 100 published Pete the Cat titles with more coming out all the time. James is humbled every day by the success that this groovy blue cat has brought him. He says positively affecting children’s lives is his number one priority, and he is grateful to have such an amazing audience to work for.
James Dean is the original creator and illustrator of Pete the Cat. He is a self-taught artist originally from Fort Payne, Alabama. His passion for drawing became apparent at a young age, and as a child, you could find James drawing his favorite characters like Snoopy and Yogi Bear.
James earned his degree in electrical engineering from Auburn University and went on to work for Georgia Power for a number of years. Eventually, he was called to pursue his art full- time and began selling his work at art festivals around the Southeast. It was during this time that he began creating paintings and drawing of his cat, Pete.The little blue cat showed up as a character in James’s artwork around 1999 and has been a permanent fixture ever since.
James Dean’s art has been sold in more than ninety galleries and shops across the United States. He has devoted his paintings to Pete the Cat for fifteen years and turned his natural love for cats into his life’s work. James published his first book, The Misadventures of Pete the Cat, a history of his artwork, in 2006, and he illustrated his first self-published children’s book, Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes, in 2008. There are now almost 100 published Pete the Cat titles with more coming out all the time. James is humbled every day by the success that this groovy blue cat has brought him. He says positively affecting children’s lives is his number one priority, and he is grateful to have such an amazing audience to work for.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews
November 9, 2018
Pete the Cat visits the library for the first time with his mother. The librarian gives him a library card and a tour of the library. He looks at all the different books and wonders which one to read. Each book Pete reads, he goes on an adventure from a stunt pilot to a powerful wizard to a scientist, even an explorer. Pete the Cat loves reading and thinks the library is super groovy.
This book introduces children to the library. A child can go on adventures with Pete. It will entice children to become oriented to reading. The pictures are large and bright. The text is condensed and cohesive. I wish the quiet signs were not printed in the pictures. Every time I've gone to the children's section of the public library, children have been reading, talking and laughing. Children are interacting with what they are reading, and that is part of the adventure.
This book introduces children to the library. A child can go on adventures with Pete. It will entice children to become oriented to reading. The pictures are large and bright. The text is condensed and cohesive. I wish the quiet signs were not printed in the pictures. Every time I've gone to the children's section of the public library, children have been reading, talking and laughing. Children are interacting with what they are reading, and that is part of the adventure.
December 2, 2019
Pete the Cat discovers all sorts of adventures at the library as he picks up and reads different books. It's a cute series book featuring two of my favorite things--a cat and a library.
January 31, 2025
Pete the Cat's mother takes him to the library, and he receives his very own library card. After a tour, Pete the Cat selects several books to read. Each book that Pete the Cat reads, he imagines himself as a character in the book. Pete the Cat discovers that the Library is a very groovy place.
February 28, 2019
This is my first real experience with Pete the Cat (aside from a few pages of a Christmas e-book that was so corrupted that it was unreadable). I have to say, I do not like the illustrations. It's a shame, because the story in this one isn't too bad.
Pete goes to the library for the first time. Then he sets about looking at books, both fiction and non-fiction, and imagines himself as being part of those books. This makes up the bulk of the narrative, with Pete imagining himself as various characters or real people (er... cats), having adventures or making neat discoveries or just generally being interesting. The message is one of a love for reading, and how you can be whatever you imagine when you're reading.
I found the illustrations annoying, actually. The sleepy-eyed look of the characters actually makes me think they're all looking upwards or rolling their eyes. It's hard to look at for 24 pages, when every single character is drawn like this! The rest of the illustrations are colourful but rough, and not very refined at all. I'm just not a fan.
Well, now I know what Pete the Cat is all about. Sure, reading is "groovy"... but the pictures in this series are not. I think I'll probably be giving the rest of the series a pass (but I might recommend this particular book to other readers, since the story is fine; taste in illustrations is subjective).
Pete goes to the library for the first time. Then he sets about looking at books, both fiction and non-fiction, and imagines himself as being part of those books. This makes up the bulk of the narrative, with Pete imagining himself as various characters or real people (er... cats), having adventures or making neat discoveries or just generally being interesting. The message is one of a love for reading, and how you can be whatever you imagine when you're reading.
I found the illustrations annoying, actually. The sleepy-eyed look of the characters actually makes me think they're all looking upwards or rolling their eyes. It's hard to look at for 24 pages, when every single character is drawn like this! The rest of the illustrations are colourful but rough, and not very refined at all. I'm just not a fan.
Well, now I know what Pete the Cat is all about. Sure, reading is "groovy"... but the pictures in this series are not. I think I'll probably be giving the rest of the series a pass (but I might recommend this particular book to other readers, since the story is fine; taste in illustrations is subjective).
June 6, 2024
Look I just love a procedural book for kids, and we love reading procedural stories about things we do often with Sid. Our first Pete the Cat didn’t disappoint. It’s full of the basics about what you can do in the library, but mostly is a vibrant celebration of the magic and joys of reading. Very vividly illustrated, we’ve LOVED this one.
February 16, 2025
An ode to the joy of books and libraries, Pete style.
February 6, 2021
Just read this with my 7 yr old grandson. He liked the story and wanted to give 10/10 stars, but I told him Goodreads only allows for 5. So 5 🌟 it is! 🤗
Pete takes his first trip to the library and gets his own library card. He is overwhelmed by the many books to choose from and enjoys several.
My grandson really enjoys these Pete the Cat books and has many. He particularly liked this one because it has stickers. 🙄🤣
Pete takes his first trip to the library and gets his own library card. He is overwhelmed by the many books to choose from and enjoys several.
My grandson really enjoys these Pete the Cat books and has many. He particularly liked this one because it has stickers. 🙄🤣
October 17, 2018
3.5 stars
This title does a good job of illustrating how you can find different types of books at the library and how they can take you on adventures. I just wish it highlighted more of the non-book related things you can also do at a library.
This title does a good job of illustrating how you can find different types of books at the library and how they can take you on adventures. I just wish it highlighted more of the non-book related things you can also do at a library.
November 21, 2019
I really liked this book as a read-aloud with K before they borrowed books for the first time.
I read this with PreK for their first visit to the library. It helps talk about different book adventures you can go on when reading. I asked them what kind of book adventures they would like to go on.
I read this with PreK for their first visit to the library. It helps talk about different book adventures you can go on when reading. I asked them what kind of book adventures they would like to go on.
December 28, 2019
Nice Pete the Cat book about going to the library. More about a library than an entertaining read. I read the read aloud book. It has good narration but not inspiring. The book is intended to be used in a library lesson.
December 27, 2018
I love this one and had to rate it because my kids love it so much and I think that it makes them want to read more <3
April 17, 2019
I just freaking love Pete the Cat.
And libraries.
And libraries.
September 5, 2019
Usual Pete fare - this time at an adventure to the library where he learns you can read about anything in a library book!
September 1, 2020
This is really cute. I love how Pete shows kids all the adventures they can have and all the things they can learn by reading books. I think reading this book would make many kids want to read even more, which is always great.
October 17, 2021
Julianna gives this one a 5. She likes it because he went to the library. She says she likes the library. She also loves to read books in the library. (Although due to covid we stopped doing that due to covid and read at home). Julianna has a cold so we read 5 books today. Thumbs up.
June 1, 2023
I mean it's Pete the Cat and the wonderful stories at the library, what's not to love?
April 12, 2020
Pete the Cat: Checks Out of the Library is written by James Dean, is a science fantasy book appropriate for 3rd grade. The book is about Pete the Cat visits the library for the first time with his mother. The librarian gives him a library card and a tour of the library. He looks at all the different books and wonders which one to read.
This book would be used my classroom introduce children to the library. A child can go on adventures with Pete. It will entice children to become oriented to reading. The pictures are large and bright. The text is condensed and cohesive.
Also, this book would be used in my classroom by reading this book at the beginning of the school year to make sure that the students fall in love with reading. I want all of my students to want to go to the library and explore the different genres of book and be thankful of all the resources a library gives us.
This book is a WOW book to me because it is a great way to introduce the library and different types of books that there are to the students. This will teach students to be engaged in books and want to actually read and fall in love reading.
This book would be used my classroom introduce children to the library. A child can go on adventures with Pete. It will entice children to become oriented to reading. The pictures are large and bright. The text is condensed and cohesive.
Also, this book would be used in my classroom by reading this book at the beginning of the school year to make sure that the students fall in love with reading. I want all of my students to want to go to the library and explore the different genres of book and be thankful of all the resources a library gives us.
This book is a WOW book to me because it is a great way to introduce the library and different types of books that there are to the students. This will teach students to be engaged in books and want to actually read and fall in love reading.
December 11, 2018
I generally don't like Pete the Cat books, but my students ask me to read them again and again. This is actually one that I quite like! Pete gets his very own library card and the librarian shows him around. Then, he reads lots of different books and uses his imagination. He also decides that one book is too scary and he puts it back. Overall, this is a sweet one that I will actually enjoy reading to the class and I would be willing to buy as part of our permanent collection if this Pete the Cat phase sticks.
April 1, 2019
This might be my son's favorite book. He (and I) first learned about Pete the Cat when he started attending his developmental delay pre-k when he was 3. Somehow I never found these books on our library visits before that.
My son absolutely loves this book. We got it for him for Christmas, but he still wants to get it from the library (it's not there).
Have a book loving kid? This book is great. You want your kid to love books and introduce them to the greatness of the library? This is a good start.
My son absolutely loves this book. We got it for him for Christmas, but he still wants to get it from the library (it's not there).
Have a book loving kid? This book is great. You want your kid to love books and introduce them to the greatness of the library? This is a good start.
April 20, 2019
I must admit that I am not a huge fan of Pete the cat; however, 'Pete the cat checks out the Library' caught my attention because I love libraries. Libraries are magical places that contain the opportunity to learn new things and to experience different times and places through the characters in books. James Dean shows young readers that libraries are groovy! Just like Pete once you have your own library card you can go on groovy adventures too! Check it out.
September 16, 2019
First rate children’s picture story book.
Pete discovers books, and the world discovers books with him. Well, maybe that’s an overstatement, but this is one of the books to read with a child if you want to encourage reading in the future.
An adult can read this book and look carefully at the illustrations in under twenty minutes, and once you do I think you’ll agree Pete has the type of enthusiasm which can offer a child the right motivation.
Pete discovers books, and the world discovers books with him. Well, maybe that’s an overstatement, but this is one of the books to read with a child if you want to encourage reading in the future.
An adult can read this book and look carefully at the illustrations in under twenty minutes, and once you do I think you’ll agree Pete has the type of enthusiasm which can offer a child the right motivation.
October 31, 2018
I love You, Pete the Cat, but your friend, James, hasn’t been to a library lately. I work in a library, Pete, and we don’t have one single “Quiet Please” sign anywhere. I hope you will come and visit my library someday, and bring James with you. We’ll have a fantastic time playing games, listening to stories and reading groovy books.
March 27, 2019
Pete the Cat visits the library for the first time and discovers all the wonderful places books can take him.
This is a great celebration of the ability of books to transport you anywhere and let you be anything in your imagination. Recommended for those who want to promote the magic of books, Pete the Cat fans, and library/book lovers in general.
This is a great celebration of the ability of books to transport you anywhere and let you be anything in your imagination. Recommended for those who want to promote the magic of books, Pete the Cat fans, and library/book lovers in general.
May 16, 2019
Pete's Mother takes him to their local library; and it changes Pete's view about reading and responsibility!
The librarian takes Pete on a guided tour of the library!
He is shown where to check books out, where to read books, and is presented with his own library card!
The girls want to get their own library cards now!
The librarian takes Pete on a guided tour of the library!
He is shown where to check books out, where to read books, and is presented with his own library card!
The girls want to get their own library cards now!
September 27, 2019
I am always looking for simpler books to use when Pre-K comes to the Library the 1st few times so they can get used to being in the library. This is a great book to show what happens in a library but also what happens when we open a good book. I haven't enjoyed a lot of the newer Pete the Cats since Eric Litwin no longer helps with them but I really like this one!
October 2, 2019
I love this book because its a great way to introduce the library and different types of books that there are. This will teach students to be engaged in books and want to actually read and fall in love reading. I will read this book at the beginning of the school year to make sure that the students fall in love with reading.
October 19, 2019
Pete's Mom takes him to the library where he gets a library card and a tour. Then he sets about reading book after book and the reader is treated to an inside look at Pete's imagination - which is cool, of course. Big bright illustrations, Pete's groovy vibe, and a strong message about being whatever you imagine with a book make this a great addition to a book/reading/library Storytime.
November 9, 2019
Pete's Mother takes him to their local library; and, it changes Pete's view, about reading and responsibility!
The librarian takes Pete, on a guided tour, of the library!
He is shown where to check books out, where to read books, and is presented with his own library card!
The girls, want to get their own library cards, now!
The librarian takes Pete, on a guided tour, of the library!
He is shown where to check books out, where to read books, and is presented with his own library card!
The girls, want to get their own library cards, now!
February 26, 2020
I like it, however there are a few downfalls. Number one, Pete is at a library for his first time, but it does not portray Pete signing up for a card. There could also have other materials that Pete could take advantage of. The last thing I think was a downfall is the timing of when Pete was able to read everything. Besides that it seems cute and age appropriate.
February 10, 2019
Pete the Cat is a good book for young readers to read this story impartically is a great book to read to students because throughout the story Pete goes to the library and checks out a lot of books and and has fun time exploring the library.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews