School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 3-This Japanese import references Charles Perrault's classic tale while adding a few fresh twists. When business dries up, a shoemaker is ready to look for a new job, but his cat refuses to give up quite so easily. Sporting a pair of beautifully made boots (bright red and high-heeled), the feline heads out to drum up sales. Deep in the woods, he comes upon a castle owned by a terrible monster, tries his sales pitch, and leaves with an order for a pair of giant-size shoes. Pleased with the finished product, the monster, who has the magical ability to transform into any creature he desires, orders appropriate footwear for his numerous incarnations. However, when it comes time to pay, the "stingy old tightwad" turns into a terrifying wild beast and chases the cat away. Ever resourceful, the bewhiskered hero returns with a clever plan-and a pair of tiny and irresistible shoes-to win the day. The impressionistic artwork is done in muted hues punctuated with splashes of color (beware, only a few red splatters remain after the cat gobbles up the tricked-into-mouse-form villain). Use this rendition to supplement, or compare and contrast to more traditional versions of this favorite story, such as Jerry Pinkney's superb Puss in Boots (Penguin, 2012).-Joy Fleishhacker, School Library Journal (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Booklist Review
When a shoemaker has no more orders, his cat becomes his salesman and calls on a wealthy monster who lives nearby. Fortunately, since the monster can change into any animal at will, he needs shoes in many sizes. Unfortunately, when it's time to pay, the stingy old tightwad turns into a huge, frightening beast. Bringing the monster a tiny pair of exquisite shoes, the cat tricks him into becoming a mouse and gobbles him up, and the shoemaker and his clever cat move into the monster's castle. Translated from the Japanese, the well-written text adapts the familiar fairy tale with style and wit. The original story is referred to only on the dust jacket flap and in the title; the cat is never referred to as Puss within the narrative. Sophisticated yet accessible, Imai's elegant illustrations use color sparingly but to good effect. Surreal and sometimes mysterious details appear as vaguely disquieting elements within the beautifully composed scenes. A fresh take on an old story.--Phelan, Carolyn Copyright 2010 Booklist
