Puss in Boots (Charles Perrault)

This traditional fiction book was very entertaining to read. I would most likely use this book for 3rd to 5th grade students. While the attention grabbing pictures and use of talking animals may be appealing to a younger crowd, some of the suggestive themes in the book may be a little to advance for them. For example, at one point in the book the cat threatened to cut the country folk along the road into mincemeat. It also suggest that the way to success is through manipulation. This book begins with the death of a miller. His possessions where divided up between his three sons. The youngest son received a cat. He was displeased, because he had no idea what to do with a cat. This was no ordinary cat though, and the youngest son soon found this out. The cat could also talk. This feline made it his mission to bring fortune to his new master. He devised a plan to get himself in good favor with the king, first taking him a rabbit that he captured as a gift. The cat exclaimed that this gift was from his master the Marquis of Carabas. The cat continues to grace the king with gifts until it was time to carry out the final part of his plan. He convinced his master to remove his clothes and get in the river while the king was making his way down the road. When that cat yells for help, the king stops his coach in, in which his daughter is also present, in order to assist who he thinks is the Marquis of Carabas. The cat continues to manipulate others while the king's coach makes its way down the country road. The cat eventually crosses and ogre with the ability to shape-shift into any animal he pleases. The cat tricks him into turning into a mouse and then eats him. He then passes the ogre's castle on as belonging to his master. Pleased with the cat's master and his false estate, he gives the youngest son his daughter to marry. This setting of this tell is on a countryside in 17th century France. The theme that I derived from this book is not to judge a book by its cover. At first the boy was displeased in receiving a cat, but the cat brought him a fortune that he did not foresee. This book was also a Caldecott honor book. It was also illustrated by Fred Marcellino.