Fun and Engaging “Pete the Cat” Activities and Crafts for Preschoolers

If you’re a parent or educator looking for ways to captivate preschoolers with literacy-rich and hands‑on learning, you’ve probably come across Pete the Cat: the groovy, blue feline who teaches important lessons about resilience, kindness, and trying new things. From colorful stories about perseverance to catchy songs about staying positive, Pete the Cat is a favorite for nurturing early literacy and a love of reading.

In this post, we’ll highlight some of the best Pete the Cat books for preschoolers, along with simple and engaging ideas for activities and crafts that build literacy, fine motor skills, and a strong foundation for lifelong learning.

Why Choose “Pete the Cat” for Preschool?

“Pete the Cat” books, created by James Dean and Eric Litwin, are ideal for preschoolers because they feature:

- Simple, repeating text that encourages early literacy.
- Engaging illustrations that captivate young learners.
- Positive themes about resilience, kindness, and trying new things.
- Each book provides countless opportunities for hands‑on activities that can help preschoolers build literacy, fine motor skills, color recognition, sequencing abilities, and more.

Must‑Read “Pete the Cat” Book List

If you’re introducing Pete the Cat to your preschooler, these classics are a great place to start:

“Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes” by Eric Litwin and James Dean
“Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons” by Eric Litwin and James Dean
“Pete the Cat: Rocking in My School Shoes” by Eric Litwin and James Dean
“Pete the Cat and the Missing Cupcakes” by Kimberly and James Dean
“Pete the Cat: The Great Leprechaun Chase” by James Dean
“Pete the Cat and the Perfect Pizza Party” by Kimberly and James Dean
Each book offers colorful illustrations, rhythmic text, and memorable moments that invite conversation and exploration.

Engaging “Pete the Cat” Activities for Preschoolers

1. Pete the Cat Paper Bag Puppets
Why It Works: Puppets help preschoolers retell stories and build literacy.

What You Need:
Brown paper lunch bags
Construction paper (blue, white, black, and yellow)
Glue, scissors, crayons
Instructions:
Have your child cut and paste Pete’s head, ears, and iconic eyes onto a paper bag. They can then decorate their puppet with paper “shoes” or “buttons” inspired by the stories. After making their puppets, invite them to act out their favorite scene from a Pete the Cat book.

Click HERE to Download to Template to Create your own Pete the Cat as seen above. We assembled these as a class to teach the children to learn patience and follow directions. You can print on the different colored card stock to make it easier.

2. Pete the Cat Button and Shoe Color Matching
Why It Works: Supports color recognition and fine motor skills.
What You Need:
Construction paper circles in a variety of colors
Real or paper buttons
Instructions:
Draw a picture of Pete the Cat with spaces for “buttons” down the middle. Let preschoolers match the colored buttons (or paper circles) to the spaces. Ask questions like, “What color is this button?” or “Can you find a blue shoe?” to deepen their understanding.

3. Pete the Cat Sensory Bin
Why It Works: Supports sensory exploration and early math concepts.

What You Need:
A plastic bin
Blue or colorful rice (dye plain rice with food coloring)
Small toy buttons or laminated paper buttons

Instructions:
Pour the rice into the bin and hide the buttons inside. Let preschoolers search for the buttons, count them aloud, and sort them by color. Pair this activity with a Pete the Cat book for an immersive experience.

4. Pete the Cat Story Sequencing
Why It Works: Builds comprehension and sequencing skills.

What You Need:
Printouts of images from a Pete the Cat book (or hand‑drawn images)

Instructions:
After reading a book like “I Love My White Shoes”, invite your child to put images of the story in order. Talk about what happened first, next, and last, reinforcing their understanding of narrative structure.

5. DIY Pete the Cat Costume for Dramatic Play
Why It Works: Builds creative expression, role‑play abilities, and language skills.

What You Need:
Blue shirt and pants
Felt or construction paper (to make ears, tail, or buttons)

Instructions:
Help your child dress up as Pete the Cat and reenact a favorite scene from the book. This activity encourages imagination, boosts confidence, and promotes language development.

Final Thoughts

“Pete the Cat” is more than just a character in a book, he’s an entry point for countless learning opportunities. By incorporating hands‑on activities and crafts inspired by these colorful stories, you can build literacy, fine motor skills, color recognition, and sequencing abilities, all while making reading an enjoyable and memorable experience.

With a few simple supplies and a lot of imagination, you can transform an afternoon into a valuable learning adventure that inspires a lifelong love of reading and learning, one groovy step at a time!

Below you can find some fun accessories to enjoy more celebration:
1. Pete the Cat I Love My White Shoes

2. Raymond Geddes Pete The Cat 3D Eraser (Tub of 24)

3. Raymond Geddes Pete the Cat Pencils with Erasers (Pack of 36)

4. Raymond Geddes Pete the Cat Character Pen (Pack of 12),Black,Green,Yellow

5. Raymond Geddes Pete The Cat Laser Cut Pencil Sharpeners

Below you will find a printable handprint page. CLICK HERE to print Pete's face and have the children color it. Then print the handprint page on card stock. Makes a great end of year gift for parents!

Nanny to Mommy