This collage adaptation of the old tale is alive with texture. Hand-stamped patterned paper, weathered fabric, and various solid whites and off-whites are combined with scribbled pencil and swirling paint to create illustrations that are compelling and pleasantly busy. Dramatic changes of scale (showing both geographical distance and physical power) and the characters' ever-changing positions and postures make every picture unique. Puss herself is cut from worn, striped fabric and sports an ornamented coat and huge black boots. Initially an inheritance that her master finds disappointing, Puss quickly becomes the main character. With prowess and ingenuity both feline and human, she cleverly brings her master from a state of poverty into a state of wealth, love, and joy. This version is gentler than many others: peasants are promised rewards (rather than threatened) when Puss needs their help in her scheme, and tiny smiles appear on almost every page. Even the ogre is fairly mild-mannered compared to many fairy-tale monsters. However, somewhere underneath the mildness is depth, made up of Puss's intelligence and power and the complexity of the illustrations. The unusual variety of texture and pattern invites slow or repeated perusal, but the quickly moving plot will also support group readings. The simple text, sometimes subtly funny, is a perfect match for both story and pictures. This playful and rich adaptation, complete with a heroine who is male in most versions, is fresh and full of energy. (Picture book/fairy tale. 3-5)

In his first book, Light retells this Charles Perrault classic with a wry touch and embellishes his narrative with stylized collages. His concluding note explains that the art was inspired by the work of French Rococo artists, especially that of Jean-Honor Fragonard, as well as by French decorative wallpapers. The hand-stamped paper featuring various patterns at times competes with the compositions, rather than enhancing them (especially when a similar pattern appears in the sky and on the walls of the king's palace). But more often, the patterns' designs and elegant palettes give these pages a sophistication that the artist offsets, quite creatively, with childlike renderings of faces or figures in geometric shapes (especially that of the ogre, which keeps the fright to a safe minimum). Befitting his starring role, the clever title character steals the spotlight visually: her image is shaped from a striped French provincial fabric, her jacket and hat are cut from a bold, vermilion pattern and her prominent, oversize boots stand out as the only shock of black in the pictures. Though Light pares the narrative to a minimal length, a small type size and relatively complex vocabulary recommend this as a read-aloud or for more experienced readers. A noteworthy debut. Ages 3-6. (Apr.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

Ages 4-7. In this fresh take on the tale of «Puss in Boots,» collage illustrations combine elements such as painted and hand-stamped papers, fabrics, and pencil drawings into a cohesive series of dramatic double-page illustrations. The book honors the story by offering a clearly told, traditional version. More unusual is the artwork, with its eye-catching juxtaposition of many patterns, colors, and materials. The illustrations are most effective when seen from a short distance away, making this a good choice for reading aloud to groups. A visually original interpretation of an old favorite. Carolyn Phelan.

Gr 1-4-Inspired by the work of the French Rococo artist Jean-Honor Fragonard and by French decorative wallpapers, Light created patterned papers onto which he collaged the main illustrations for this story. The results are bright, busy, cheery spreads that suit his lighthearted retelling. Sinuous swirls and curves abound. Puss, here a clever female feline with a body rendered in striped fabric, is adorned in stylish black boots that reach up to her thighs and a waistcoat that, while a bit worn and stained, resembles elaborate red French-provincial fabric. The king, in royal purple with fleur-de-lis decoration, is ever smiling as his daughter demurely looks on in her pale peach dress and skyscraper hairdo. The text, which appears in large type below each spread, is relatively brief and humorous. When the king compliments the miller's son on his property, the young man replies, "It is surprisingly productive, sire." The ogre answers Puss's praise of his castle with, "It's simple, but it's home." Some scary elements have been toned down as well. Puss enlists the peasants' help in her scheme by offering reward rather than punishment, and the ogre is amazingly polite-a fact that does not, however, save him from being devoured in the end. This enjoyable retelling would be a welcome addition to folktale collections.-Marianne Saccardi, Norwalk Community College, CT (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

In this version of the well-known French tale, Puss uses her considerable wits to secure a royal marriage for her master, a poor miller's son. For his illustrations, Light sought inspiration from French paintings and wallpaper designs. The resulting collages are an imaginative combination of fabric, hand-stamped paper, and scribbly pencil drawings; their energy matches that of the crafty cat. From HORN BOOK Fall 2002, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.