Kirkus Reviews

A retold but intact version of the familiar tale, given the customary early-18th-century setting in illustrations crowded with figures and period detail. Pinkney retells the tale in plain, measured language: " ‘Have some boots made for me,' [the cat] said, ‘and give me a strong sack with a drawstring. I just might be able to help you find your fortune.' " With a few minor changes or additions (the ogre, for instance, is a "rich and evil sorcerer" depicted as human), the story puts passive young Benjamin into the paws of a feline impresario who orchestrates his rise to fame, fortune and a royal wedding to the equally inert Princess Daniella. Identified in the author's afterword as a "black-and-white silver-tabby British shorthair," the cat cuts a properly self-confident, swashbuckling figure as he inserts himself into a claustrophobically populous royal entourage bursting with sumptuously patterned silks, floating ribbons, airy plumage and ruffles. He goes on to trick the sorcerer in a confrontation (depicted in part in an awkwardly placed gatefold) and to become prime minister. Nor are his adventures over, as a nautical scene on the rear endpaper hints. Handsomely turned out, as can be expected…but Pinkney himself notes that he studied over 20 illustrated editions of the story before producing one of his own, and he offers nothing particularly fresh. (Picture book/folk tale. 7-10)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Following earlier interpretations of The Little Red Hen and Little Red Riding Hood, Caldecott Medalist Pinkney (The Lion & the Mouse) offers another sumptuous

School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 4 Set in early-18th-century France, this adaptation of Charles Perrault's classic tale is filled with lushly delineated period details, moments of tingling excitement, and playful humor. The protagonist, a handsome silver-tabby British shorthair, boasts elegant black-velvet stripes and intelligent green eyes. Bequeathed to a miller's youngest son, the can-do cat promises that he will prove his worth if provided with appropriate footwear and a draw-string sack. Puss gets to work, cunningly using the sack to hunt game, courteously presenting his prizes to the king, and continually singing the praises of his master (dubbed the Count of Carabas). Cleverly orchestrating a meeting between the young man and the king's lovely daughter, Puss bamboozles the monarch into believing that Benjamin is a man of means and then procures these riches by tricking an evil sorcerer out of his holdings. The story ends with a royal wedding and Puss-now prime minister-contemplating future adventures (the rear endpaper shows him captaining a sailing ship). The text clearly relates the plot with lyrical language and vivacious energy, and the color-pencil and watercolor artwork showcases the period's costumes, architecture, and landscapes. Perfectly timed highpoints (and a foldout page) emphasize the sorcerer's transformations into various animals (in response to Puss's taunting dare), as well as the cat pouncing on the man-turned-helpless-mouse. Accessible and eye-catching, this is a fitting companion to Fred Marcellino's exquisite rendition (Farrar, 1990). Joy Fleishhacker, School Library Journal

Horn Book

This book presents a simplified version of the well-known folktale about a down-on-his-luck youngest son and his trickster cat. Though the story's watered down, readers will appreciate its accessible vocabulary and simple sentences. Clear cartoon illustrations show the kitty's general self-satisfaction and especial glee at tricking the "scary ogre" into turning himself into a mouse: "Puss ate the mouse in one bite."

ALA Booklist

In this classic fairy tale, a clever cat enables his master to marry the king's daughter. After convincing the king that his humble young master is a wealthy count, Puss flatters a rich shape-shifting ogre, encourages him to turn into a mouse, and devours him. The cat welcomes the king and princess to his master's castle (formerly the ogre's). A wedding is announced and the cat is honored by the king. Though changed in a few details, the story is essentially that of Charles Perrault, who is credited in the appended artist's note. Pinkney's version is set in France, evidently around the time of the tale's first publication (1697). Created with graphite, colored pencils, and watercolors, the illustrations vary from the relatively simple, rustic opening scenes, in which characters stand out clearly against light or white backgrounds, to the later ones, which are often so ornate overall that the eye tends to wander from one element to another. A richly detailed version of the tale.