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Papa Gatto: An Italian Fairy Tale
Children will love this retelling of a classic Italian fairy tale. Papa Gatto, trusted adviser to the prince, learns that judgment can be clouded by appearances when he hires the lovely Sophia to care for his eight tiny kittens. When Papa Gatto realizes his mistake, his home is in shambles, his kittens are neglected, and a priceless heirloom is in Sophia's hands. Fortunately, the next helper he hires is Beatrice, whose affection for his kittens assures him that this time he has found someone he can trust. The crafty Sophia, however, has other ideas... With its surprising twist to the happily-ever-after ending and its exquisitely detailed illustrations, this charming Italian fairy tale is sure to become a favorite of cat lovers, caretakers, and hopeless romantics everywhere.
32 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 1995
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
March 26, 2024
I wasn't aware of this tale previously. It has elements of the Cinderella tale. Sanderson is amazing at painting cats and their expressions make the story. I wanted more Papa Gatto lore, though. On what was he advising the prince? Who does up Papa Gatto's buttons? Why do they live in a normal human house? Ditch the marriageable maidens, explain this cat society. Feeling like a precocious five-year-old with all these questions post-picture-book.
April 12, 2025
A fairy tale in the old classic style (even when there are no fairies present), Papa Gatto has a canny cat, his trusting master and a marriage in the making. On the surface, it seems very much like a more familiar Grimm tale dealing with a talking cat but this tale holds a few surprises.
Taking the more prosaic route, this story deals with a cat that can be fooled and a master determined to get the truth before taking a worthy bride. While it bears the message of choosing kindness and generosity over showy beauty and low cunning, this book isn't obvious about it. Also, the illustrations are truly beautiful, showing humans and animals both in realistic fashion in the lush costumes of a bygone era.
Taking the more prosaic route, this story deals with a cat that can be fooled and a master determined to get the truth before taking a worthy bride. While it bears the message of choosing kindness and generosity over showy beauty and low cunning, this book isn't obvious about it. Also, the illustrations are truly beautiful, showing humans and animals both in realistic fashion in the lush costumes of a bygone era.
November 11, 2025
Papa Gatto is a wealthy widow with a big house and kittens to care for. As he is a very busy cat and travels all the time, he puts an ad asking for someone who could help him with that.
Beatrice, who lived with her greedy stepmother and sister Sophia, felt sorry for the kittens and thought about applying for the job. But when the women saw the opportunity to get a possible treasure with that, they decided Sophia would go, even if she had no experience with cleaning and taking caring of kittens.
That's when the story begins...
This is the kind of book I would get over and over if I were a child! First because of the cover and the realistic stunning illustrations, second because of the story itself. Loved the ending! ❤
Beatrice, who lived with her greedy stepmother and sister Sophia, felt sorry for the kittens and thought about applying for the job. But when the women saw the opportunity to get a possible treasure with that, they decided Sophia would go, even if she had no experience with cleaning and taking caring of kittens.
That's when the story begins...
This is the kind of book I would get over and over if I were a child! First because of the cover and the realistic stunning illustrations, second because of the story itself. Loved the ending! ❤
November 18, 2019
Fun story, great illustration. Reading it aloud to kids is the best way to enjoy it :)
December 23, 2022
The cover is beyond adorable. The story is cute too, and similar to other fairytales…especially Cinderella. Despite the titular character being such an adorable cat father, the main character is a girl named Beatrice “whose beauty shone from within.”
August 5, 2026
A new found story that initially resembled
Puss in Boots
for me in the aspects of talking feline in a trusted position with a caring albeit absent nature to little ones.
This could have been perfect given the classically beautiful illustrations that show up as timeless portrayals of the text. Besides the aforementioned similarity to a fictional cat character, this also has themes of Cinderella and its sequel films that involve a widower with biological and step-children who favor the former and a cruel or even enslave the latter. Even making the step-sister disguise as the object of the prince's affection is a similar plot point, just without the magic. This in turn also makes it close to the Prince(ss) and the Pauper in its switching places.
It is always endearing to find foreign stories of older era authors that shows how humans have a certain writing telepathy, a psychic echo or invisible thread that transcends distance and culture even making people continents and centuries or decades apart create similar stories without knowledge the other exists.
The non-magical theme of the story lacks logic, given the perception that there exist a time in history that animals could openly communicate and operate as thinking beings as humans do. Really, it's just the personification of Papa Gatto but not the kittens that gets to me.
It also has a pitfall on the compartmentalization of Papa Gatto. He seeks a good-natured, hardworking, beautiful from the inside person for his kittens and hopes for that new friend to be connected to another good friend, the Prince. Papa Gatto also helps connect the two by giving way to friendship and offering common neutral ground, his home, to build connections before betrothal without love, and yet he knowingly leaves behind and is negligent to the kittens leaving them for weeks at the hands of a stranger, only blinded by her physical loveliness.
The true protagonist is the step-daughter Beatrice who remains good-hearted, hard-working, and firm with strong will on her values and intentions.
Lastly, the redeeming quality of this story is the straight-forwardness to clarify the situation. Often stories pivot and lengthen because of a misunderstanding where the main characters assume a detail that is far from fact. Here, besides the deception of the step-sister Sophia and the negligence of Papa Gatto to vet her as a caretaker, the way to the romance link of Beatrice and the Prince is spoken with honesty and grace. The Prince also feels justified disdain for the trickery of Sophia and her mother. Later Papa Gatto also acknowledges the apprehension of Beatrice and offers understanding and a suitable, reasonable suggestion to open them up to the matchmaking potential connected by their good hearts.
The Prince's principles, although momentarily blinded by beauty, is confirmed with dedication and enchantment to Beatrice with his efforts to try and win her over, understanding that love with her will be absent is he does not take time for them to get acquainted.
If you desire an online source, here you go. Credit to the owner of the site.
https://www.arvindguptatoys.com/arvindgupta/papa-gatto.pdf
This could have been perfect given the classically beautiful illustrations that show up as timeless portrayals of the text. Besides the aforementioned similarity to a fictional cat character, this also has themes of Cinderella and its sequel films that involve a widower with biological and step-children who favor the former and a cruel or even enslave the latter. Even making the step-sister disguise as the object of the prince's affection is a similar plot point, just without the magic. This in turn also makes it close to the Prince(ss) and the Pauper in its switching places.
It is always endearing to find foreign stories of older era authors that shows how humans have a certain writing telepathy, a psychic echo or invisible thread that transcends distance and culture even making people continents and centuries or decades apart create similar stories without knowledge the other exists.
The non-magical theme of the story lacks logic, given the perception that there exist a time in history that animals could openly communicate and operate as thinking beings as humans do. Really, it's just the personification of Papa Gatto but not the kittens that gets to me.
It also has a pitfall on the compartmentalization of Papa Gatto. He seeks a good-natured, hardworking, beautiful from the inside person for his kittens and hopes for that new friend to be connected to another good friend, the Prince. Papa Gatto also helps connect the two by giving way to friendship and offering common neutral ground, his home, to build connections before betrothal without love, and yet he knowingly leaves behind and is negligent to the kittens leaving them for weeks at the hands of a stranger, only blinded by her physical loveliness.
The true protagonist is the step-daughter Beatrice who remains good-hearted, hard-working, and firm with strong will on her values and intentions.
"You are known to be a kind and generous man, but I cannot marry you. I do not know you and so cannot yet love you. For too long I have lived in a house without love; I would not exchange one joyless home for another."
Lastly, the redeeming quality of this story is the straight-forwardness to clarify the situation. Often stories pivot and lengthen because of a misunderstanding where the main characters assume a detail that is far from fact. Here, besides the deception of the step-sister Sophia and the negligence of Papa Gatto to vet her as a caretaker, the way to the romance link of Beatrice and the Prince is spoken with honesty and grace. The Prince also feels justified disdain for the trickery of Sophia and her mother. Later Papa Gatto also acknowledges the apprehension of Beatrice and offers understanding and a suitable, reasonable suggestion to open them up to the matchmaking potential connected by their good hearts.
(in response to ... "There is only one place I have known happiness.") - "Then by all means, you must return to that place at once. My children have been pining for you. And perhaps the prince will agree to visit us often so that you may get to know him as I do."
the Prince nodded happily, for he knew he would do all in his power to win the one whose beauty shone from within.
The Prince's principles, although momentarily blinded by beauty, is confirmed with dedication and enchantment to Beatrice with his efforts to try and win her over, understanding that love with her will be absent is he does not take time for them to get acquainted.
If you desire an online source, here you go. Credit to the owner of the site.
https://www.arvindguptatoys.com/arvindgupta/papa-gatto.pdf
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 27, 2012
Oh. My. Goodness.
It is no spoiler to say that the premise of this book begins with the suspension of natural disbelief- because it takes place in a time in which animals could talk, don't you see, and lived side by side with people.
Papa Gatto is a VERY respected cat, and when his wife dies, leaving him with a litter of kittens to raise... he must find that special someone with whom to entrust them! It is not an easy task! Kittens are frail, and they need constant care- and love... oh how kittens need gentle love...
Papa Gatto's search eventually finds this person, and the very best part of this lovely, amazingly well illustrated tale, is that when he does find her, despite the trechery of others, he rewards her in a way that is VERY thoughtful. He doesn't just marry her off to a prince, he doesn't just make her rich... you'll have to read for yourself- but the ending is lovely indeed.
A book with a wonderful underlaying moral about being inherently kind, and honest, and true to yourself... without coming across as preachy or moral. I LOVED it. Enchanting!
November 11, 2010
Search for this out-of-print beauty while you can. Sanderson's version of the Cinderella story is one that all children should hear. In this Italian-influenced tale, it is Cinderella's kindness that sets her apart. Her greedy, deceptive stepsisters get the scorn they deserve, and Cinderella gets to exchange her hateful environment for a loving one, which might or which might not include marriage to an admiring young prince.
September 24, 2017
Well, except that the 'plain' sister is quite lovely, and the prince looks kinda dweebish imo, this is a wonderful tale. Full of plot twists and themes, with an ending that sends a great message to children instead of the standard simple HEAs in better-known fairy tales.
January 21, 2018
What grabbed me was the unbelievable quality of the illustrations. A now out-of-print retold Italian fairy tale, set in a time when humans and animals lived side by side and could speak to each other, this tale sees Papa Gatto seeking care for his eight little kittens while he attends to the prince's business. Using the town crier for swift results, he ends up with a beautiful, but nasty woman who is only intent on ransacking his home for treasure while the children and house are left unkempt. After he throws her out, her plain but kind sister answers the next call for a caregiver. She cares for the kittens and lovingly cares for the house and garden, and the kittens adore her. When Papa Gatto returns home to see his children and house so lovingly cared her, he offers her anything from his treasures for payment. She responds that she wishes for nothing but his kind words as she is only trying to right her sister's wrong. He responds by giving her his most prized possession - the necklace he gave to his wife at the birth of their children.
When the prince comes to visit, Papa Gatto shares the story of this young women with him. Since the prince is looking for a wife, he takes the adviser's words to heart and seeks the woman out. Once again the evil sister tries to fool the prince by veiling herself and dressing in her sister's clothes. But Papa Gatto is no fool and reveals the ruse by whisking the veil away revealing the ugly-natured sister.
What makes this so remarkable is the ending. When the prince proposes, the girl turns him down with this reply, "You are known to be a kind and generous man, but I cannot marry you. I do not know you and so cannot marry you. I do not know you and so cannot love you. For too long I have lived in a house without love; I would not exchange one joyless home for another."
Give this tale to every young girl you know and wipe these silly tales of love at first sight that so many women find themselves enslaved to. This girl is priceless.
When the prince comes to visit, Papa Gatto shares the story of this young women with him. Since the prince is looking for a wife, he takes the adviser's words to heart and seeks the woman out. Once again the evil sister tries to fool the prince by veiling herself and dressing in her sister's clothes. But Papa Gatto is no fool and reveals the ruse by whisking the veil away revealing the ugly-natured sister.
What makes this so remarkable is the ending. When the prince proposes, the girl turns him down with this reply, "You are known to be a kind and generous man, but I cannot marry you. I do not know you and so cannot marry you. I do not know you and so cannot love you. For too long I have lived in a house without love; I would not exchange one joyless home for another."
Give this tale to every young girl you know and wipe these silly tales of love at first sight that so many women find themselves enslaved to. This girl is priceless.
May 29, 2020
“Long ago, in a time when it was not unusual for animals to speak, there lived a very clever cat.”
His name is Papa Gatto and he serves as advisor to the Prince. Shortly after their kittens are born, his wife dies. So Papa Gatto must find someone to look after his house and his children.
Two women, Sophia and Beatrice, are stepsisters. Beatrice is plain looking and a hard worker. Sophia is beautiful on the outside, but lazy and ugly on the inside. When they hear about the opening, their widowed mother insists that Sophia apply for the job. Sophia has no interest in taking care of kittens and cleaning, but she is interested in Papa Gatto’s wealth. While the cat is away, though, the house falls into disrepair and Papa Gatto sends Sophia from the place. Beatrice, on the other hand, is exactly what the cat needs.
Beautiful illustrations.
His name is Papa Gatto and he serves as advisor to the Prince. Shortly after their kittens are born, his wife dies. So Papa Gatto must find someone to look after his house and his children.
Two women, Sophia and Beatrice, are stepsisters. Beatrice is plain looking and a hard worker. Sophia is beautiful on the outside, but lazy and ugly on the inside. When they hear about the opening, their widowed mother insists that Sophia apply for the job. Sophia has no interest in taking care of kittens and cleaning, but she is interested in Papa Gatto’s wealth. While the cat is away, though, the house falls into disrepair and Papa Gatto sends Sophia from the place. Beatrice, on the other hand, is exactly what the cat needs.
Beautiful illustrations.
June 18, 2020
I added this to my stash of fairytales on another library trip, thinking Papa Gatto is just another name for Puss in Boots, but it's actually an amalgam of different Papa Gatto versions. Essentially, it's about how outer beauty sometimes makes people blindly trust others, thinking outer appearance is a reflection of their inner beauty, and how some beautiful people think they're entitled to everything because they're worshipped. The real curveball happens at the end, though, when the girl refuses to marry the prince because they don't know each other. She'd rather be with the cats she's grown to care about!
I'm not familiar with this story at all, so I'm not sure how it compares with the other versions, but it seems that Sanderson chooses the "cleaner" ones to accompany her artwork, so I definitely want to check out the rest.
I'm not familiar with this story at all, so I'm not sure how it compares with the other versions, but it seems that Sanderson chooses the "cleaner" ones to accompany her artwork, so I definitely want to check out the rest.
October 5, 2023
Long ago, animals can talk to humans and Papa Gatto is one of them. He helps the prince for some advice however his wife died and he can't take care of his (eight) kittens properly. You would notice that it's a combination of Cinderella and Mother Holle. One, the antagonists doesn't want the protagonist to have a happy ending. Two, Sophia is pretty but lazy and Beatrice is simple looking but works really hard. Three, we get to see the antagonists suffered from their evil deeds. Interestingly, this is the only book where the girl doesn't want to get married right away and wants to know the guy little by little. I give this 5 out of 5 stars.
July 15, 2019
This Italian Fairytale was very entertaining and informative. I loved the illustrations because they seemed so lifelike. I would recommend this book for younger audiences because it teaches children about the importance of hard work and respect in our community. For the most part, I would have loved it to be a bedtime story from when I was younger.
June 29, 2020
I don’t love fairy tales for my kid, but within the traditional tropes this one is quite good (not to mention fun for cat lovers). It still has the prince tiresomely determined to “win” the girl and proposing to her upon first meeting... but at least Beatrice has the good sense to turn him down with the best line of any romantic-ending fairy tale, “I do not know you and so cannot yet love you.”
February 11, 2022
Loved this! Beautiful illustrations, and based on a fun fairytale I'd never heard of before this book that has some echoes of Cinderalla, but with added kittens! (Always a plus)
Extra points for 1) avoiding a thing I was very nervous about, and 2) doing something I LOVED with the typical happy ending.
Highly recommend!
CW: Grief
Extra points for 1) avoiding a thing I was very nervous about, and 2) doing something I LOVED with the typical happy ending.
Highly recommend!
CW: Grief
January 29, 2018
A delightful fairy tale. There was a little hint of the Cinderella story in this book, though quite different. And I loved the ending. It teaches good morals. The illustrations were amazing as always by this author/illustrator.
July 9, 2018
I liked this book quite a bit even if it is very typical fairy tale complete with evil stepsister.
Very beautiful illustrations, a bit wordy and thus suited to more the kindergarten set rather than a preK storytime.
Very beautiful illustrations, a bit wordy and thus suited to more the kindergarten set rather than a preK storytime.
July 14, 2018
Interesting take on Cinderella. She also somewhat dismisses the prince's proposal and asks for courtship first. No resolution there either, and I can see children waiting for the happily ever after part. How pragmatic.
October 21, 2017
Such beautiful illustrations. I adore the cover of this book.
September 13, 2018
This book gets major props because the girl tells the prince they have to get to know each other before getting married! Loved that!
March 19, 2019
This is my new favorite fairytale. "Well payed nanny to kittens" is a fairytale ending i can really get behind.
The illustrations are superbly absurd, too; this is just a perfect book.
The illustrations are superbly absurd, too; this is just a perfect book.
May 10, 2019
an Italian fairy tale
September 15, 2019
A much different Cinderella type of story.
November 28, 2022
Bad girl gets scratched, good girl gets kittens, no one rushes into marriage, and a prince looks to derive wisdom from a cat that dresses like a Renaissance pimp. Living for this!!!!
April 7, 2024
Super cute fairy tale! Cinderella-esque
August 6, 2025
Just right for a fairy tale picture book
November 13, 2025
Papa Gatto is best cat ever. A very cute heartwarming tale with many kittens. Along with a few humans in the mix.
April 16, 2012
I think I can safely say that my daughter just ISN'T into fairy tales. Because this book is done with gorgeous paintings of lovely cats and kittens which she LOVES and she still didn't like the story. They lose her at "wife dies after childbirth" and double lose her with evil widowed step-mom and selfish evil step-sister. Oh well, I tried! I really shouldn't give it only 2 stars because I thought it was really a well done book myself!
November 29, 2012
What a cool fairy tale! This Italian story had elements of several fairy tales, the most noticeable being Cinderella. Papa Gatto is a feline who is an advisor to the Prince. After the loss of his wife, during childbirth of their eight beautiful kittens, Papa Gatto is in need of someone to help with his children and home while he is away at work. How to find someone to aid him in this very important role? Good workers are hard to come by, as this story shows.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews