ALA Booklist

What should I wear?" asks Pete, who wants to look cool. Everyone he asks suggests a different part of his wardrobe, from his mother's favorite, "your yellow shirt," to the school bus driver's favorite, "your polka dot socks." After trying on three shirts, he adds long pants, short pants, socks, boots, a striped tie, and a baseball hat. A double-page spread shows Pete wearing this assembled outfit and asks, "Does he look cool?" Kids will know the answer, and so does Pete, who changes into his favorite clothes and knows he looks cool. In both the bright images and simple words, Dean delivers the "be yourself" message with simplicity, economy, and humor. Beginning readers will find plenty to enjoy here, from the short words, brief sentences, and large type to the bold black lines, plaintive eyes, and vivid colors that define the distinctive forward-facing characters. An engaging and ultimately amusing book from the Pete the Cat series for beginning readers.

School Library Journal (Tue Jul 01 00:00:00 CDT 2014)

K-Gr 2 Always a clotheshorse, Pete begins this easy-to-read story by asking, "What should I wear?" He is trying to look cool for school. Obviously, everyone he queries has a different opinion about his attire, and he takes all of their advice and fashion suggestions. Wearing different colored shirts, shorts with fish on them, cowboy boots, a striped tie, and a baseball cap, he looks silly, feels hotand goes home. He dons his favorite clothes and "feels just right," concluding, "If you want to be cool,/just be you!" One or two simple sentences per page and large illustrations set against uncluttered white backgrounds make this suitable for the very youngest readers. Ellie Lease, Harford County Public Library, MD

Horn Book (Fri Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2014)

In the mood to look cool, Pete the cat "asks everyone, 'What should I wear?'" What follows is a recitation of everyone's suggestions ("polka-dots socks,"; "the shorts with fish"), all of which Pete dons and, in the end, looks silly. Deciding to make his own choices, he declares, "Now I am COOL." The dull text and uninspired illustrations provide new readers with little challenge.