Pete el gato and his magic sunglasses (Pete el Gato)

I wonder what led Kimberly Dean to incorporate a magical element into Pete's journey of self-esteem. Was it based on a personal experience or a classic story trope?

The story shows Pete going from unsure to confident pretty quickly. I’m curious if that’s how kids really experience these feelings or if it’s more of a storytelling choice.

The artwork really brings Pete’s feelings to life, especially when he wears the sunglasses. I’d love to know if the illustrations were planned to reflect his internal mood or evolved during the process.