Using Shelf Markers: A Lesson with Pete the Cat Books

There’s nothing quite like watching a kid light up the moment they meet a new favorite book character, and Pete the Cat has been winning over young readers for well over a decade. That’s why this post covers two of my favorite things in one groovy package: a quick shelf marker lesson modeled live in the library, wrapped inside a book talk introducing Pete the Cat to my own K-1st students, plus a roundup of must-read Pete the Cat books. Whether you’re stocking a classroom library, building a home reading nook, or just looking for books for kindergarteners and books for first graders that kids will ask to read again and again, Pete the Cat books check every box. They’re funny, musical, and packed with gentle lessons about rolling with whatever life throws your way. I’m Lisa Mitchell, a former classroom teacher who is now an elementary school librarian. I’ve spent decades in classrooms and libraries (and just as many years as a mom) finding the books that actually get kids excited to read, and Pete is always near the top of the list.

Watch the K-1st Book Talk: Pete the Cat (and a Shelf Marker Lesson in Action)

In this week’s book talk video, K-1st Book Talk Week 1: Pete the Cat (Dean), I head into the library to find something good to read — and show students exactly how a shelf marker works while I do it.

Here’s what happens in the video: I spot a row of Pete the Cat books on the shelf and slide my shelf marker into place before pulling one out — Pete the Cat and the Lost Tooth. It looks fun, but I decide I’d rather start with a bigger picture book, so I slide it right back into the spot my shelf marker held open. That’s the whole trick in action: the marker keeps your place so you can put a book back exactly where it came from, even after browsing. Next, I pull out Pete the Cat and the Perfect Pizza Party and decide that’s the one I’ll read.

I also share a quick tip for finding Pete the Cat books on your own library visit: look in the Everybody (picture book) section under D, for Dean, the author’s last name.

It’s a simple, two-minute model of two skills at once: How to browse confidently using a shelf marker, and how fun it can be to discover a new Pete the Cat book. It’s an easy lesson to recreate with your own students or kids at home, even with just whatever books happen to be on your shelf that day.

20 Popular Pete the Cat Books

Now for the fun part! Below are 20 of the most beloved titles in the Pete the Cat series, created by James Dean (with several early titles co-written by Eric Litwin, and many later ones co-written by Kimberly Dean). These groovy stories are a staple in elementary classrooms and libraries for a reason — Pete’s laid-back, “it’s all good” attitude helps kids talk through everyday ups and downs, from messy shoes to first days of school.

Library tip: if you’re browsing in person, Pete the Cat books are typically shelved in the Everybody (picture book) section under D, for Dean, the author’s last name.

Note: links below go to Amazon search results for each title so you can compare current editions, formats, and prices.

1. Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes — The original Pete the Cat book. Pete strolls along in his brand-new white shoes, stepping in one mess after another, but he never loses his cool — he just keeps singing his song.
2. Pete the Cat: Rocking in My School Shoes — Perfect for the first day of school, this one follows Pete through a brand-new classroom, lunchroom, and playground, showing kids that new places can be groovy, not scary.
3. Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons — A counting story with heart: each time Pete loses a button, he finds a way to keep singing instead of getting upset, modeling flexible thinking for little learners.
4. Pete the Cat’s Big Lunch — An early reader where Pete shares his lunch with hungry friends, a sweet, simple story about generosity.
5. Pete the Cat and His Magic Sunglasses — Pete is having a grumpy day until a pair of “magic” sunglasses helps him see the bright side again — a favorite for talking about emotions and mindset.
6. Pete the Cat: Five Little Pumpkins — A fall favorite that turns the classic nursery rhyme into a Pete the Cat adventure, great for counting practice.
7. Pete the Cat Saves Christmas — When Santa needs help, Pete steps in to save the holiday in his own groovy way — a fun seasonal read-aloud.
8. Pete the Cat: Valentine’s Day Is Cool — Pete spreads love and friendship around the neighborhood, a sweet pick for February storytime.
9. Pete the Cat and the New Guy — When a new kid moves to town, Pete learns that making a new friend just means more fun for everyone — a nice conversation-starter about welcoming others.
10. Pete the Cat: Too Cool for School — An early reader about staying calm even when school feels overwhelming.
11. Pete the Cat: The Wheels on the Bus — Another classic song turned storybook, ideal for sing-along storytimes and early literacy routines.
12. Pete the Cat: Train Trip — An early reader following Pete on a fun train adventure, great for kids who love vehicles and travel stories.
13. Pete the Cat: Construction Destruction — Pete and his friends build (and rebuild) with construction vehicles, a hit with hands-on, building-obsessed readers.
14. Pete the Cat: Crayons Rock! — A colorful, art-themed story celebrating creativity and self-expression.
15. Pete the Cat Checks Out the Library — A perfect pick for librarians and teachers! Pete explores the library and discovers just how many adventures are waiting on the shelves.
16. Pete the Cat: Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star — A gentle bedtime-friendly story built around the classic lullaby, lovely for younger preschool listeners too.
17. Pete the Cat and the Cool Caterpillar — A story about patience and transformation as Pete watches a caterpillar’s journey, with natural ties to science units on life cycles.
18. Pete the Cat: Scuba-Cat — Pete dives underwater for a colorful ocean adventure, fun for kids who love sea creatures.
19. Pete the Cat and the Lost Tooth — An early reader following Pete through the excitement (and minor drama) of losing a tooth, a relatable milestone story for K-1st readers.
20. Pete the Cat and the Perfect Pizza Party — Pete plans a pizza party for his friends and learns that things don’t have to go exactly as planned to still be a blast.

These titles work beautifully as a classroom read-aloud collection, a home library starter set, or simply a few favorites to request from your school or public library. Many also come in board book, paperback, and “I Can Read” early-reader formats, so you can match the right edition to your child’s or student’s reading stage.

More Resources for Readers

The best way to encourage a love of reading is to provide kids with many opportunities to engage with a wide variety of books that are of interest to them. At Book and Tech Tips I want to make it easy for you to find great books kids will love. Over the years I’ve also discovered some helpful tools for connecting kids and books.

Online digital libraries are one very handy way to do this. Epic! is one of my favorite online libraries. It’s full of over 25,000 books, learning videos, quizzes and more for kids 12 and under…and it’s free for educators. Click here to learn more and sign up.

Another great free digital library is ReadingIQ. It’s also free for educators and has a wide selection of titles.

If you download the free Libby app, you can access many digital audiobooks from your public library. Audiobooks are perfect for car trips!

Looking for a book that is out of print? Try searching Thriftbooks online. There are over 13 million titles available.

Looking for More Book Ideas?

If you enjoyed this list of books and the video, you might like these other book lists as well:

Have a wonderful week, and may you have many great learning experiences!

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Lisa Mitchell is a former classroom teacher, now a school librarian, who likes to use her decades of teaching experience and experience as a mom to recommend engaging books for kids to teachers and families.