The Real Story: A Picture Book

by Sergio Ruzzier

A full-color picture book from award-winning creator Sergio Ruzzier, The Real Story is a hilarious, imaginative whodunit in which Cat and Mouse debate the truth behind a broken cookie jar, which makes for a perfect read-aloud story.

Cat has found a broken cookie jar.

How did it happen?
And where are the cookies?

With his signature brilliant humor and eccentric characters, Sergio Ruzzier draws the line between truth and fiction in this exuberant whodunit. It’s important to know the real story, but what is the best story?

Genres: Picture Books, Humor, Animals, Storytime, Friendship, Food, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

Published October 10, 2023

About the author

Website and blog: http://www.ruzzier.com

Sergio Ruzzier was born in Milan, Italy, in 1966.

He began his career as an illustrator in 1986.

In 1995 he moved to New York City, where he’s been creating pictures and stories for national and international magazines and book publishers.

His work has been awarded by American Illustration, The Society of Illustrators, Communication Arts, and The Society of Publication Designers.
He won the Parents' Choice Gold Medal for “The Room of Wonders” and for his illustrations for “Why Mole Shouted."

He was a recipient of the 2011 Sendak Fellowship.

Reviews

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've never stopped loving Sergio Ruzzier's stories and this new one, too, is so much fun. Oh, no, Cat comes home to find the cookie jar broken in pieces on the floor. How Mouse explains what happened, several times. . . will make readers giggle and giggle again. Expressions carry out the tale, but the ending is another surprise. It's terrific!

[Becky B · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's a broken cookie jar on the floor and Cat asks Mouse what happened. Cat doesn't believe the first, or second, or third story that Mouse tells. Will Cat get to the bottom of what happened, and why is Mouse making up crazy stories?

I have mixed feelings about this. At first it feels like Mouse is lying on purpose, but the ending reveals a more creative reason for the wild stories the truth is boring. Some kids may need this with a lesson about when a wild story is ok and when the truth is the best.

[Tina Hoggatt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another winner from Ruzzier who is unlike any other storyteller working today. His signature illustration style in pen and ink is winsome and perfectly accompanies the increasingly wild stories Mouse tells to Cat regarding a broken cookie jar. I will not forget the rambunctious cookies escaping from the jar or running through the countryside. Cheerful mayhem and wry humor abound.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think perhaps Ruzzier has reached a new pinnacle of humor with this title. Cat is asking his friend Mouse for the real story of why the cookie jar is broken and there are no cookies. Four very brief reasons why later has Cat heard the real reason. Even adults will find this humorous having had children of my own. Definitely enjoyable

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book as an adult reader for the AR Diamond Book Award. This book is just a silly, fun story about a little mouse that tells wild stories to a cat about what happened to the cookies in the cookie jar. The cookie jar is broken and all of the cookies are gone. Mouse doesn't want to admit what REALLY happened, so the mouse lies to the Cat about it. Do I love that this book is based on lies...no, but they are silly-fun lies that are not meant to hurt anyone. Some people may take issue with the lies, but they are all said in jest. A solid 3 star book with funny illustrations.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cat finds that the cookie jar is broken and the cookies are all gone. Cat demands to know what happened. Mouse tells one fantastic story after another. A gently humorous story about imagination and creative storytelling. This will pair well with Who Ate All the Cookie Dough? by Karen Beaumont.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

REALLY good book to look at ways that book designers/authors/illustrators use typography in picture books. Otherwise, a simple and sort of silly story about telling the truth.

[GS Dachslove · Rating 4 out of 5]

Telling silly lies to cover up doing something wrong...but funny!

[Terresa Wellborn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Themes: stories, cookies, honesty, humor
Ages: preK-1st grade
Pub year: 2023

[Christine Barth · Rating 3 out of 5]

The illustrations weren't my favorite but the story's cute.

[Cara Byrne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cat finds a broken cookie jar and missing cookies and turns to mouse for answers. Mouse has many, many answers, which makes this a fun, silly read.

[Justin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The cookies are free and "running around the countryside having a good time.
...Honestly, we should be happy for them." Ha! I love it!

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sounds like Mouse and I are related!

[Tracie · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Cat finds a broken cookie jar, Mouse tries to explain what happened. But are any of Mouse's wild stories the truth?

Cute, clever, and simply told, this deserves lots of fans.

[Fumi Okuda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just loved it!!!

[Debi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can think of many writing activities to go with this one! Lots of fun, and the kids will appreciate it!

[Thomas Bell · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was okay, but not really. I mean, it teaches kids that telling a fib is okay - possibly even superior to telling the truth. And the fibs themselves were a bit lame.

[Michelle Halber]

Cute book about the power of imagination.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this one from the very beginning where the cat comes in and says "What?!" I liked the stories the mouse told. I found the ending very funny.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Found in L4L Volume 113.

[Marife (The Bodice Reader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious picture book about the power of fiction to entertain.

[Shawna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay this is a children’s picture book lol but I read it to the kids I nanny for and was so surprised at how much so liked it. So writing this review so I remember it.

[PottWab Regional Library]

SM

[Quinn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very funny, a book about lying and transversely, telling stories.

[Miss Janis the Storytime Lady · Rating 2 out of 5]

this was a young group, so it didn't really hit like it could with pres and older pres. Parents were skeptical of the "stories" (lies) told.

[Diana Ilhuicatzi · Rating 4 out of 5]

migliore di tutti.....

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. I wish it was a little bigger in size and illustrations so I could use it for storytime.