PETE MAKES A MISTAKE

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.