Puss in Boots

As a character, Puss in Boots is one of the oldest types in literature: the picaresque conman who intercedes with the world on his master's behalf. After persuading the king that his penniless master is a great lord, Puss tricks an ogre into turning himself into a mouse so that he can gobble him up and install his master in the ogre's palace. Following his master's marriage to the king's daughter, Puss, according to Cauley's retelling of Charles Perrault's classic tale, ""became a powerful lord, and never hunted mice again, except for fun.'' Cauley tells the story with energy and verve, and her illustrations are delicious. Though acting in a human context, Cauley's Puss is definitely feline: the smile of satisfaction which Puss allows himself after a job well done will be familiar to any cat-lover. (3-6)