Review by Booklist Review
Gr. 1-3, younger for reading aloud. Perrault's story of Puss the cat may already be familiar to some young readers, and this version, originally published in 1958, is a welcome reissue. Fischer's whimsical depiction of the enterprising cat should delight children and cat lovers young and old. For young readers who wonder about a cat wearing boots, Fischer presents a humorous double-page spread of Puss learning to walk in his new boots. Another spread pictures Puss' attempts to make fierce faces in a mirror. Why scary faces? To frighten people, of course, as Puss works to ensure his master's fortune. This will undoubtedly be compared with Fred Marcellino's 1991 Caldecott Honor Book, with Marcellino's realistic style and broad use of color standing in sharp contrast to Fischer's pencil sketches and limited palette. Fischer's pictures may also prompt savvy comtemporary readers to think of Lloyd Moss' whimsical illustrations for Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin (1995). (Reviewed November 15, 1996)1558586423Karen Morgan
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Perrault's tale of the cat who makes his master's fortune has never received a more faithful yet remarkably original treatment. Marcellino ( A Rat's Tale ) breaks convention from the start by relegating the book's title and credits to the back cover. The front cover is stunning: the mysterious feline, wearing a white ruffled collar and plumed red hat, stares out with green eyes as compelling and evocative as the story itself. The artist's luxurious and skillfully designed paintings startle in their complexity and beauty. Light and shadow mingle on tiled floors, through goblets, in courtyards. The simplicity of the cobblestoned streets and the peasant scenes are contrasted with the beribboned finery of the court, where the King--in a pink sash and lacy pantaloons--sits on a gilded throne. Like Cyrano do Bergerac, Marcellino's Puss has genuine panache. Sporting only his famed boots, he waits patiently in dappled sunlight for a stray hare or, with apparent nonchalance, entraps the wide-eyed ogre. Whether he is presenting his kill to the dandified King or is coiled like any ordinary cat on a carpet at the Marquis's banquet, he seems both true feline and fairy-tale creation at the same time. From Arthur's clean, clear translation to Marcellino's opulent illustrations, this version of Perrault's classic story is brilliantly conceived and executed. All ages. (Oct.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 3-This version is particularly accessible to the youngest readers while maintaining the integrity of the story. It is narrated in a straightforward manner, without embellishments, and the scarier elements are softened, e.g., Puss wins the castle from a magician rather than an ogre. Children may question whether he deserves his unfortunate fate, but the illustrations suggest that perhaps he is not the nicest magician on the block. In the end, the resourceful cat is forbidden to tell any more lies "...and so (like all Ministers of State) he never told anything but the truth." While older readers will appreciate the tongue-in-cheek humor, the illustrations, rendered in strong clear colors, are the highlight here. Puss's red boots are particularly snazzy, but, throughout, Lunelli balances soft muted tones with splashes of vivid yellow, green, and blue. His remarkable use of light and shadow give an overall sunny cast to the book. The smooth narrative and bright, attractive pictures make this a good choice for read-alouds. Older children may prefer Fred Marcellino's more sophisticated illustrations (Farrar, 1990), but Lunelli's style should appeal to them as well.-Donna L. Scanlon, Lancaster County Library, PA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 3-- A striking revitalization of Perrault's classic tale. Puss, a lowly miller's cat and the miller's youngest son's only inheritance, uses his wits and his feline abilities to hoodwink a king, outwit an ogre, and marry his master off to the king's daughter, thereby making his own and his master's fortune. The text is essentially true to the original, although considerably pared down. The blunt, straightforward style reads easily and retains several of Perrault's acerbic commentaries on life. But what could have been just another edition of the story is raised above the mundane by the strength of Marcellino's illustrations and book's design. By placing title, author, and illustrator credits on the back, Marcellino has created an arresting front cover--a dramatic close-up of Puss that creates a feeling of eager anticipation and invites readers to open the book and learn this fellow's amazing story. Inside, he lives up to the cover's promise. Cropped pictures set into blocks of text, richly muted colors, and a soft, hazy focus combine to evoke a sense of looking into a fabulous past, washed in dusty sunlight, where such marvelous events are entirely possible. Page design is clean and spacious and, by making effective use of unusual perspectives, the artist provides readers with frequent ``cat's-eye views'' of the action, strengthening their identification with Puss and allowing them to share in his triumph.-- Linda Boyles, Alachua County Library District, Gainesville, FL (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Afterword by Hans ten Doornkaat. In his charming, distinctive version of the tale of the crafty cat who makes his master's fortune, Fischer offers several humorous asides to the reader, giving details about 'what the story doesn't say.' The scribbly, wonderfully spontaneous drawings show a jaunty Puss learning how to walk in his boots, practicing scary grimaces, and cleaning himself up for his encounter with the giant. From HORN BOOK 1990, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A lively new translation, preserving the original's pungently satirical vein, in handsome format. This is a first picture book for Marcellino, who will be remembered in his elegant illustrations of A Rat's Tale (1986). Here, his full-color art continues to recall Van Allsburg in its studied compositions, striking points of view, and sculptural figures; but the cheerful, soft colors, the historical detail honoring the story's 17th-century origins, and the delightful touches of humor in the characters' stances and expressions are all uniquely Marcellino's. The page design is also felicitous--expansively arranged type printed in soft gray nicely balances the illustrations' gentle tone. An excellent edition. Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
