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Puss in Boots
When a poor miller dies, he has nothing to leave his son but a cat—but, fortunately, it’s a very smart cat. With just a pair of boots, a feathered hat, and a cloth bag, the wily Puss changes his master’s luck, transforming him from a peasant into a prince. John Cech and Bernhard Oberdieck, who created the critically acclaimed Classic Fairy Collection ’s version of The Princess and the Pea , have teamed up once again to present a clever and enchanting retelling of one of the oldest fairy tales of all.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published April 6, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
March 26, 2012
Puss in Boots is a picture book retold by John Cech and illustrated by Bernhard Oberdieck. Presented in a portrait layout, the illustrations in PiB typically stretch across both pages, giving the story more of a landscape. The illustrations that stand alone are rounded and seamlessly fade into the page. The full-page, landscape pictures run full bleed to the end of the page. Each page starts with the old-fashioned style in which the first letter of the first word is larger than the rest and is a different color. As far as the story is concerned, I feel that this story would greatly benefit the development of comprehension of the reader, as there are multiple characters with unique points of view. Also, this book utilizes italics, which I believe allows the reader to better develop the story.
June 12, 2014
The cat looks extremely odd. Also, he doesn't even mention the miller's other sons and the house or donkey. The cat doesn't kill the prey he catches for the king or even the ogre mouse!
February 2, 2023
A much tamed version of Puss in Boots, where the threats are much lessened and Puss doesn’t even eat the ogre but keeps the mouse version in a cage and never forgets to feed him cheese. Strange. Yet overall this was a cute retelling. The artwork was modest…might could do without the final paragraph of ‘About the Story’ that goes into cat superstitions and mythology.
March 30, 2018
What a magical cat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
July 10, 2018
I really enjoyed this re-telling of Puss in Boots.
March 12, 2026
Puss in Boots by John Cech - Bernhard Oberdieck’s illustrations in this version of Puss in books are lovely! Happy Reading!
March 22, 2012
I read Puss in Boots retold by John Cech. This is a talking animal folktale. There is a cat that can interact and talk to humans. This book is meant for Primary children, which are ages 5-8. I think this is meant for Primary because it has enough pictures to keep the child involved but the amount of words is a little more than picture books. It is a good transition book. The illustrations in the book are really neat. The medium used looks to be paint. The colors are bright. The texture of the cat in the pictures makes it look like the cat would be soft to the touch.
The story starts with a Young Man, who just lost his father, and his dad only left him a cat. The young man is sad, and has no money. The cat tells him that he will change his fortunes. He tells the young man to get him a pair of boots, a hat with a feather, and a cloth bag. After the cat got all these things he went on his way and came upon some fishermen, and when they weren’t looking, he took the biggest fish in their nets. He took this fish to the King as a small gift, from Lord Fortunato, who was the young man. And the cat brought more and more gifts to the King. After a while, the King asked to meet his master. And the cat told his that it would be an honor. The young man freaked out when he found out, he was worried about what they would thing of him in his raggy clothes. The next day, the King woke up to screams from the river. The cat was yelling that Lord Fortunato was drowning. The King and his guards pulled the young man from the water. The cat said that his master was on the way to the castle and was robbed of his gifts and thrown into the river. The King believed him and was sympathetic. The king asked to visit the young man’s country and Puss, the cat, said that they will arrange it. The King wanted to get more information on Lord Fortunato because he considered him a suitable guy for his daughter. The young man and princess met that night, and talked all night long. The next day they spent the day together and had a wonderful time. The King and Queen announced they plan to visit his country, he got nervous, but the cat said to the young man leave it to him. The cat and young man went ahead of the group to make sure everything was ready. He came upon a group of farmers and asked them whose land it was, they told him it was the Ogre’s land. The Ogre could change into anything he wanted, and scared the farmers. The cat told them that when the King comes by and asks whose land it was, to answer that it was Lord Fortunato’s land. And they did just this. Then the cat went to the Ogre’s castle and asked him to change into something, the Ogre spun around three times and changed into an elephant. Then he asked him to change into something small. He got him to change into a mouse, he trapped him in the bag so he couldn’t shape shift. Lord Fortunato used the Ogre’s castle as his own. The young man and Princess got married, The people loved Puss because he got rid of the Ogre. The Ogre wore all his magic off wiggling in the bag. And he lived in the castle still.
This book was good, but not great. I liked it for the story, but the morals in the story weren’t up to par with what I like in a book. It seems like it would teach children that they can take what they want whenever they want even if it doesn’t belong to them. That isn’t a good lesson to teach a child. There is also a lot of lying within the story, which doesn’t sit well with me. Overall the story was, but the morals and lessons from the story weren’t good at all.
The story starts with a Young Man, who just lost his father, and his dad only left him a cat. The young man is sad, and has no money. The cat tells him that he will change his fortunes. He tells the young man to get him a pair of boots, a hat with a feather, and a cloth bag. After the cat got all these things he went on his way and came upon some fishermen, and when they weren’t looking, he took the biggest fish in their nets. He took this fish to the King as a small gift, from Lord Fortunato, who was the young man. And the cat brought more and more gifts to the King. After a while, the King asked to meet his master. And the cat told his that it would be an honor. The young man freaked out when he found out, he was worried about what they would thing of him in his raggy clothes. The next day, the King woke up to screams from the river. The cat was yelling that Lord Fortunato was drowning. The King and his guards pulled the young man from the water. The cat said that his master was on the way to the castle and was robbed of his gifts and thrown into the river. The King believed him and was sympathetic. The king asked to visit the young man’s country and Puss, the cat, said that they will arrange it. The King wanted to get more information on Lord Fortunato because he considered him a suitable guy for his daughter. The young man and princess met that night, and talked all night long. The next day they spent the day together and had a wonderful time. The King and Queen announced they plan to visit his country, he got nervous, but the cat said to the young man leave it to him. The cat and young man went ahead of the group to make sure everything was ready. He came upon a group of farmers and asked them whose land it was, they told him it was the Ogre’s land. The Ogre could change into anything he wanted, and scared the farmers. The cat told them that when the King comes by and asks whose land it was, to answer that it was Lord Fortunato’s land. And they did just this. Then the cat went to the Ogre’s castle and asked him to change into something, the Ogre spun around three times and changed into an elephant. Then he asked him to change into something small. He got him to change into a mouse, he trapped him in the bag so he couldn’t shape shift. Lord Fortunato used the Ogre’s castle as his own. The young man and Princess got married, The people loved Puss because he got rid of the Ogre. The Ogre wore all his magic off wiggling in the bag. And he lived in the castle still.
This book was good, but not great. I liked it for the story, but the morals in the story weren’t up to par with what I like in a book. It seems like it would teach children that they can take what they want whenever they want even if it doesn’t belong to them. That isn’t a good lesson to teach a child. There is also a lot of lying within the story, which doesn’t sit well with me. Overall the story was, but the morals and lessons from the story weren’t good at all.
September 26, 2013
Such a fun story! When a man dies and leaves his son penniless, his talking cat tells him that he can make things happen for him that will bring him great wealth. The man is hesitant but gives the cat a shot. After a series of lies and cover-ups, the son ends up marrying a princess and taking over an evil ogre's castle and great wealth and lives happily ever after.
I have always loved this book, despite the fact that it's really kind of an evil story full of lies and deception, theft, and even kidnapping. In this version the ogre does not die, so it is a bit watered down over the original. This particular retelling has wonderfully detailed watercolor, pen, and ink illustrations that really showcase the action of the story, while keeping to the old fashioned style of the time.
In a classroom, this would be a good way to introduce the topic of "ethics".
(Note: This is my folktale selection for the picture book log project.)
I have always loved this book, despite the fact that it's really kind of an evil story full of lies and deception, theft, and even kidnapping. In this version the ogre does not die, so it is a bit watered down over the original. This particular retelling has wonderfully detailed watercolor, pen, and ink illustrations that really showcase the action of the story, while keeping to the old fashioned style of the time.
In a classroom, this would be a good way to introduce the topic of "ethics".
(Note: This is my folktale selection for the picture book log project.)
February 8, 2016
A poor miller 19s son inherits a cat when his father passes. While he frets over his impoverished circumstances, Puss reassures him that he will take care of him and help him become rich. With a cunning wit and trickery, Puss helps his master gain wealth which leads to his marriage of the King 19s daughter.
Children enjoy the cunningness with which Puss tricks the King into believing that his master is very wealthy. With simple text, and colorful and detailed drawings, children laugh along with Puss, waiting for the next trick he will play on the King.
Grade Level: Kindergarten and up
Classroom uses: Reading comprehension lesson (main events, characteristics, setting), story time,
Children enjoy the cunningness with which Puss tricks the King into believing that his master is very wealthy. With simple text, and colorful and detailed drawings, children laugh along with Puss, waiting for the next trick he will play on the King.
Grade Level: Kindergarten and up
Classroom uses: Reading comprehension lesson (main events, characteristics, setting), story time,
March 7, 2012
The classic fairytale of Puss in Boots is retold in this book where we find a cat whose master is from a poor family and helps the young man find great fortune by using magic and wits. What I like about this retelling is John Cech, the author/reteller, includes the story's history at the end. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves fairytales. The illustrations, while fun and full of expression, did not impress me enough to become a favorite of mine.
February 25, 2014
This interesting story is about when a young boy's father dies, the only thing he leaves him with is this cat. And the cat tells the boy to get him a few things and that when he has them he will bring the boy great fortune. At the end of the book, the boy marries a princess all thanks to the cat. However I think this story may encourage children to lie and cheat.
March 25, 2017
Don't like the modern feel of the telling. Not a fan of the illustrations either.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews