B A S E D O N T H E B O O K S B Y J A M E S

D E A N A N D K I M B E R L Y D E A N

M C A N I N C H A RT S C E N T E R S C H O O L S TA G E S E R I E S

WHAT HAPPENS IN THE SHOWPete – a rock and roll cat – and his animal friends are living a life of freedom.

They wander into a yard and Pete is caught by the cat-catcher. His punishment is

to spend a week as a housecat with a family

Pete meets the Biddles and becomes roommates with Jimmy Biddle – a second

grader who is nervous about the idea of Pete. Jimmy has lots of rules that Pete is

to follow. But Pete likes to play it cool and isn’t a rule-follower.

Jimmy brings Pete to school. Jimmy is flustered in art class. He copies another

student’s painting because he can’t think of his own idea for a picture. He gets in

trouble and has to create an original picture in order to pass second grade.

To help Jimmy, Pete takes him in the VW bus to find inspiration for his picture.

They travel to the beach, moon and Paris when Jimmy learns to let loose and

jam with magic sunglasses. He paints the perfect picture.

CHARACTERS IN THE PLAYJimmy: is a careful, formally attired

second grade boy. He likes rules and

gets easily overwhelmed.

Pete: is a fun loving cat who loves to

jam on his guitar.

• Can you find them in the picture?

• Who are you most like?

• After the show, what other words

can be used to describe these

characters? Can you identify the

rest of the cast?

Cast picture!

ABOUT THE AUTHORSEric Litwin (original author)Eric Litwin is a song singing, guitar strumming, # 1 New York Times Best Selling author who brings early literacy and

music together. He is the original author of the Pete the Cat series (the first four books) as well as the author of The Nuts

and Groovy Joe. Eric's books have sold over 8.5 million copies, been translated into 13 languages, and won 18

literacy awards including a Theodor Geisel Seuss Honor Award.

James Dean (illustrator & author) & Kim DeanJames Dean’s art has sold in more than ninety galleries and shops across the United States. He has devoted his

paintings to Pete the Cat for ten years and has turned his natural love for cats into his life’s work. James published

his first adult book, The Misadventures of Pete the Cat, a history of his art work, in 2006. He illustrated his first self-

published children’s book, Pete the Cat I Love my White Shoes, written by Eric Litwin, in 2008, and the follow-up

book, Pete the Cat: Rocking In My School Shoes, in 2011. James lives in Savannah, Georgia with his wife,

Kimberly.

In 2004, Kimberly & James Dean sat down at their kitchen table to work on a children’s book together. Their dream has

finally become a reality with the release of this new Pete the Cat book, Pete the Cat and His Magic Sunglasses. Both left

corporate jobs in the late nineties (James was an electrical engineer, Kimberly worked in the press office of the governor

of Georgia) to pursue their five cats and Emma the pug.

MEET THE INSPIRATION• Illustrator and author James Dean finds

and adopts a cat at an animal shelter.

• James names him Pete. He was tiny and

would rest in Deans hand – as he painted

landscapes.

• Dean was inspired to draw Pete one day

when the kitty was sitting still. He worried

that a picture of a black cat would be

spooky – so he chose blue!

• Look around you – what animal do you

see that you could use for inspiration?

What different color could you use?

The real Pete the Cat.

Courtesy of Dean.

Taken from online article:

http://www.atlantamagazi

ne.com/great-reads/for-

petes-sake/

BRINGING STORIES TO LIFEWHO DOES IT TAKE?

Composer: who writes the music

Director: who guides the whole team

Choreographer: who plans all the dance movements

Music Director: who directs the musical part of the performance

Set Designer: who decides how the stage will look

Lighting Designer: who plans how to use lights to help tell the story

Costume Designer: who plans what the performers wear

Stage Manager: who runs the show from behind the stage

Put together your own production! Divide up the roles and make your own show!

CAT RESEARCHFacts about cats

• Cats can sleep up to 16 hours a day.

• Cats can make more than 100 different sounds (dogs make about 10).

• 1963 France send the first cat into space. She survived the trip.

• Cats are North America’s most popular pet. Over 30% of households own a cat.

• A cat can jump up to five times its own height.

• Cats favor one paw over another – just like humans with their hands.

• Can’t don’t sweat all over their bodies like humans. Cats sweat through their

paws.

Explore your library and the internet for more information. Draw pictures of cats

doing different things – sleeping, playing, eating.

Information taken from https://www.factretriever.com/cat-facts

PLAYING DRESS UPActors pretend to be different characters. To become their various animal characters they have to change how they

• Talk• Dance• Sing• Move

How can you transform to a cat?

If you were the show’s costume designer and had to use ordinary clothes Pete what would you choose? Draw a picture. Use your imagination!

POST ACTIVITY: CHARACTER MAP Use the character map to write words that describe Jimmy. Then write a paragraph about Jimmy using those words.

Jimmy

POST ACTIVITY: CHARACTER MAP Use the character map to write words that describe Pete. Then write a paragraph about Pete using those words.

POST SHOW – ENDLESS POSSIBILITIESPete loves using his imagination and helps Jimmy realize he can be creative too as they travel to the beach, the moon and Paris!. What would you and a friend/teacher/parent do with endless possibilities?

If my (friend/teacher/parent) and I could travel anywhere in the world, we would go to: _____________________

If my (friend/teacher/parent) and I could meet anyone in the world, we would meet: ___________________

If my (friend/teacher/parent) and I could build anything in the world, we would build: ________________________

If my (friend/teacher/parent) and I could cook anything in the world, we would create:____________________

POST SHOW – CAUSE AND EFFECTWhat do you do when something unexpected happens - -

Do you get angry?Do you get sad?Do you go along with it?

In the Play - -How did Pete deal with things that happened unexpectedly?How did Jimmy deal with things that happened unexpectedly?

Students finish the causes and effect statements: Cause: If I eat too much ice cream…Effect? Cause: If I drop a glass of water … Effect?Cause: If I play in the sun too long…Effect? Cause: If I don’t listen to my parents … Effect?

POST SHOW – RECREATE THE SCENE

Have your students re-enact scenes from the play• Pete and his friends jamming on his instruments• Riding a VW bus to different places in the world• Trying magic sunglasses for the first time• Playing an “air” instruments – guitar, drums, piano

Step 1: Discuss a specific scenesStep 2: List the characters in each sceneStep 3: Where did the scene take placeStep 4: List what happened in order during the sceneStep 5: Recreate it!

1. How was the play different from Pete the Cat books?

2. How was the play the same from Pete the Cat books?

3. Why did Jimmy copy the painting? Why do you think it was hard for Jimmy to come up with a painting of his own? What happens if you copy someone’s work at school?

4. What makes a good friend? Do you think Pete helped Jimmy? What is something you have done to help a friend?

5. What is something that you have taught a friend? What is something a friend has taught you? What is your favorite activity to do with friends?

POST SHOW DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

ONLINE RESOURCE

Pete the Cat website has a variety of resources for your use!Visit: http://www.petethecatbooks.comto find:• Songs & Videos• Printable Activities• Listing of all books• Illustrations of Pete the Cat’s Friend

POST SHOW – REVIEW THE SHOWA reviewer’s job is to see a play and write about what they liked and what they didn’t like. It is your turn to write or draw a review and share your ideas about your experience.

Write or Draw what was your• Favorite part and why• If you could change one thing to make the play better – what

would it be?

Sign your name and share with your teachers/friends/parents.Feel free to share your reviews with us! Mail or email: McAninch Arts Center, Attn: Janey Sarther, 425 Fawell Blvd, Glen Ellyn, IL or sarther@cod.edu

SchoolStage Series is supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council.

SPECIAL THANKS

RESOURCESTheatreworks Study Guide “Pete the Cat”