Puss in Boots

Author: Perrault, Charles Title: Puss in Boots
Book Genre: Traditional Publishing Info: Farrar, Stratus &
Giroux, 27 pp.
Summary: Puss in Boots is about the events that happen to three young men following the death of their father. The story is centralized around the fate of one of the sons who only receives a cat for his inheritance. It would seem that he is the least fortunate of the three young men, but as the story unfolds the reader learns that this is no ordinary cat. In the end with the cat’s ingenious ideas this young man is more fortunate than his brothers.



Personal rating: *** Good

Rationale: well illustrated, predictability level is good for young children, charming characters


Reading level: 6.7 Interest level: 4th – 6th

Thematic Areas: friendship, survival, adventure

Content Areas: History, Social Studies

Potential Problems or Difficulties: Some of the language may be a little out-dated for students, especially for those at the lower end of the interest level.

Possible use in classroom: This story could be used as an introduction to studying this time frame in history. The students could do some research via the Internet on the differences in the people mentioned in the story (i.e. miller, king, peasant.) After researching the groups of five or six students could make a chart that showed the common characteristics of these individuals and their differences.
Students could also participate in a reader’s theater where students are assigned parts to read and act out the story. This activity would help students build fluency.