Pete Makes a Mistake

November 1, 2015

PreS-Gr 2-The relatable porcine protagonist from Pete Won't Eat (Holiday House, 2013) is back again in this new series title. Rose, Pete's sister, gives him the task of delivering party invitations to all of her friends. While handing out the notes, Pete quickly becomes distracted and begins playing with his friends. The day of the party, one friend doesn't arrive, and a search begins. With comical timing, the young animal pals keep arriving at the right place at the wrong time. Luckily, everything works out in the end. The pen and ink watercolors are whimsical and just right for the spare text. Children who are struggling with certain words will likely be able to use the illustrations as a guide. VERDICT This spot-on title is perfect for brand new readers.-Brooke Newberry, La Crosse Public Library, WI

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June 15, 2015
Pete's invitation mishap nearly ruins Rose Pig's party, but he corrects his mistake just in time. In this second story about Pete (Pete Won't Eat, 2013), big sister Rose Pig asks her brother to deliver party invitations and promises him cake in return. Controlled, accessible text reports that Pete "takes a note to Nell. And he takes a note to Don." The titular mistake comes when "Pete sees his friends" playing baseball and pockets the last invitation (for Gert) so that he can play. On the day of the party, Rose greets Don and Nell, and they wonder where Gert is. While they're looking for her, Gert is looking for them, and when she stumbles across the setup for the party, she wonders why she wasn't invited. A page turn brings Pete back into the story as he draws the errant invitation from his pocket. All's well that ends well as the friends find Gert, show her the invitation, and tuck into their cake. "Even Pete" gets a piece despite his carelessness, making this a story about forgiveness as much as anything else. As in this title's predecessor, McCully's ink-and-watercolor illustrations employ expressive line and a cheery color palette to support characterization and plot. The sense of movement in several pictures provides added humor and vitality. A mistake to celebrate. (Early reader. 5-7)

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January 1, 2016
Pig Pete, delivering birthday invitations for Rose, gets distracted and forgets the last one meant for Gert. "Where is Gert?" Pete realizes his mistake ("Oh no!") and, before Gert's feelings get too hurt, works quickly to fix it. Short sentences and simple dialogue deliver a readily relatable situation warmly depicted in McCully's loose pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations.

(Copyright 2016 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)