Review of "Puss In Boots," retold and illustrated by Federico Santin

Review of

Puss In Boots, retold and illustrated by Federico Santin


Five out of five stars

 The basic story of the very clever cat that uses trickery and deceit in order to turn his penniless “owner” into a wealthy man married to the daughter of the king is very old. The first known rendition of the tale appears in the book “The Facetious Nights of Straparola,” by Italian author Giovanni Francesco Straparola, which was published around 1550. Therefore, the tale is a classic that has appeared in many forms.

 This version is very good, the illustrations are of high quality and accurately represent the plot of the story. The cat is drawn to look like a cat yet have the mannerisms of a human. Specifically, the face always remains that of a cat, while the tilt of the head, the body posture in the presence of the King and how it is different when the cat is in the presence of laborers or the wicked troll are all human.

 A story that all children should be familiar with, this hardbound version of “Puss in Boots” is a delight to read and look through. Adults should read it to children every chance they get.