Puss in Cowboy Boots (Hardcover)

~ (Author), Phil Huling (Illustrator) "Once upon a time deep in the wilds of Texas, there was a rodeo clown who went by the name of Clem..." (more)
Key Phrases: Rancher Dan

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

First-timer Jan Huling retells the treasured Perrault fairy tale with a Texas twang. Deep in the wilds of Texas, a humble rodeo clown named Clem up and kicked the bucket, and it is his youngest son, Dan, who inherits Clem's scraggly old tomcat, Puss. Dan figures the only way he can profit from Puss is by cooking him into a pot of three-alarm chili and using his fur for a hatband. As clever Puss saves his hide (and earns wealth and respect for Dan) with the help of a shiny pair of red snakeskin cowboy boots, the text hews fairly faithfully to the outlines of Perrault's plot. The rootin'-tootin' cowboy vernacular gives this adaptation a fun, feisty flavor. (Why, looky here! says the oilman who substitutes for the customary king, A wild turkey! Why, I remember huntin' these with my pa when I was no bigger than a frog's hair). Phil Huling's (Moses in Egypt) watercolors depict an orange-yellow sun-baked landscape dotted with oil rigs, cacti and plenty of long, tall Texans. The stylized figures and serene compositions play straight man to the wily text. Ages 6-9.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-3-From the French countryside to the heart of Texas is a bit of a leap, but this powerful cat lands beautifully on his feet, clad in bright, red cowboy boots. True to the original tale and to the Texas setting, this Puss hunts wild turkey and possum, negotiates with the state's "most powerful oilman," overpowers an ogre with a "Remember the Alamo" tattoo, all to help his owner. Dan is the youngest and not-too-bright son of ol' Clem, a rodeo clown. He, his newfound lady, and all the folk who help Puss along the way celebrate with the "best dang bar-be-que they'd ever sunk their teeth into." The stylized watercolor illustrations, executed with selective realism, radiate warmth with a palette dominated by reds, oranges, and yellows. Libraries in the Southwest will surely appreciate this pleasing, though a tad long-winded adaptation. Others may weigh their need for new versions versus traditional retellings and assess their clever-adaptation saturation point before adding this entertaining read-aloud.
Jody McCoy, The Bush School, Seattle, WA
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing; 1 edition (June 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689831196
• ISBN-13: 978-0689831195
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,871,215 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful illustrations!, September 27, 2002

By	Yuliana King - See all my reviews

I especially loved the watercolor illustrations of this fine children's book. They are creative, detailed clever and properly tied to the storyline.
I highly recommend this book to anyone with or without children who love fine watercolor.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Puss in Cowboy Boots, May 31, 2002

By A Customer

Delightfully funny, my kids laughed right to the end.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars New flare to old story, October 2, 2002

By A Customer

This book gives the old "Puss N Boots" a hot kick up. The story is modernized just enough to let the kids get a feel for the charactures in the story, while still having fun with the original tale. Beautifully illustrated it will bring enjoyment to all ages