Old MacDonald Had a Farm

January 1, 2014
The heavy-lidded cat with a cult following dons overalls for a trip to the farm. There is absolutely nothing out of the ordinary about the text in this outing, verses unfurling spread by spread, one per animal. This feline Old MacDonald has some equally heavy-lidded chickens, dogs, cows, pigs, horses, (Siamese) cats, goats, ducks, turkeys, roosters, donkeys, sheep, frogs and geese, as well as a turtle that's pictured in each scene. They all pretty much say the expected things, though preschoolers will be quick to call shenanigans when they hear that Pete-the-Cat MacDonald's goats say "baa-baa" while the sheep say "maa-maa." The "action," such as it is, plays out on static, green-grassed, blue-skied backgrounds in which the occasional tractor or barn trades places with a red pickup. Aside from Pete and his turtle, the animals included in the spreads vary, sometimes accumulating and sometimes not; children who like to find patterns will be frustrated here. But the book's biggest liability is its star's practically comatose affect. Jacket copy and the character's mythos tell readers that Pete's "groovy," but he just looks like he couldn't care less. As the lyrics of "Old MacDonald" beg to be sung aloud with brio, Pete's never-changing expression and the unwavering stolidity of the compositions make a hopeless mismatch. "Old MacDonald" for narcoleptics. (Picture book. 3-5)

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March 1, 2014

PreS-Gr 1-Pete the Cat is yet again inspiring sing-alongs, this time on Old MacDonald's farm. The book goes through the song with 17 different animals, each one keeping strictly to the familiar lyrics with no other textual additions. Each verse is accompanied by a spread illustration of that animal and Pete, either holding a guitar or driving a truck or tractor. The book has the repetition that readers have come to expect, but it is not original; it's simply an Old MacDonald picture book with illustrations featuring Pete the Cat. Those expecting the catchy original songs found in the first three "Pete the Cat" titles (HarperCollins) will be disappointed. However, for libraries that cannot keep enough Pete books on the shelves, this will do.-Emily E. Lazio, The Smithtown Special Library District, NY

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 27, 2011
In his previous outing, blue cat Pete proved his ability to roll with the punches when his white sneakers were accidentally stained red. Sporting the red treads for the first day of school (they match his electric guitar), Pete is again unflappable. "Pete has never been to the library before! Does Pete worry? Goodness, no! He finds his favorite book and sings his song." School setting aside, little differentiates this book from its predecessor. There's humor to be found in the deadpan expressions of Pete and his fellow cats as he sits with friends in the lunchroom, plays at recess, and solves math problems on the board. But whether the simple refrain and Pete's blasé attitude actually assuage anxious schoolgoers is another story. Pete's song is available as a download. Ages 3â7.

October 14, 2013
Appropriately enough, Pete’s latest includes some valentines for readers: a large foldout poster, a sheet of stickers, and 12 punch-out cards. In the accompanying story, Pete starts out as a skeptic: “Valentine’s Day is not cool,” he tells his friend Callie. She responds that it’s her favorite holiday, and Pete needs no more convincing than that—as soon as he gets home, he starts making homemade cards. By book’s end, Pete has distributed valentines throughout his community; he forgets about Callie, but she’s understanding: “Hanging out with you... that’s way better than any card.” Just like Pete skateboards his way through town, he slides through these minor Valentine’s Day dramas effortlessly. Ages 4–8.

February 17, 2014
Pete the cat’s yellow, dead-eyed stare is always good for a laugh, and it’s even better when he’s wearing big white bunny ears, a buck-toothed rabbit snout, and a puffy white tail. It’s all in a day’s work for Pete after he agrees to lend the Easter Bunny a hand (“Find the eggs. Paint the eggs. Hide the eggs,” reads the note Pete discovers in his otherwise empty Easter basket). The story itself is quite thin—after painting the eggs, Pete quickly hides them and receives a “#1 Helper” ribbon from the Easter Bunny himself for his efforts (“Helping others can be lots of fun!” reads the tacked-on closing message). Readers are more likely to be drawn in by all the extras tucked into the pages, which include stickers, a foldout poster, and a dozen perforated Easter cards that can be removed and given away. Ages 4–8.

July 1, 2014
Pete the Cat and a turtle wander around Old MacDonald's farm noting the animals--chickens, dogs, horses, etc. (Oddly, the goat says baa and the sheep says maa.) The illustrations feel somewhat static, and there's not much here to hold the viewer's attention. However, Pete the Cat fans may enjoy seeing him down on the farm.

(Copyright 2014 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)