James Dean, creator and illustrator of the beloved children’s book character, Pete the Cat, visited Opelika recently. Dean spoke and signed books at the Opelika Public Library on May 14, and on May 15 he was a special guest speaker at Carver Primary School. He received a degree in electrical engineering from Auburn University and is a self-taught artist. His first self-published children’s book, Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes, was released in 2008. There are now almost 100 published Pete the Cat titles, with more coming out all the time. PHOTOS BY ROBERT NOLES | THE OBSERVER
