Puss in Boots/El Gato con botas
Kindergarten-Grade 3 - These adaptations of beloved fairy tales do justice to the originals, in a lighthearted, tongue-in-cheek way. The English-language renditions retain the familiar wording of most traditional editions, and the Spanish, while following the English closely, has its own style and swing. However, it's the illustrations that lift these titles above the "just another version" category. Merino's attractive and animated cartoons, done in ink and watercolor, present a Marquis of Carabas who is perpetually befuddled by the actions of his cat, who sports perhaps the most dynamic feather ever to grace a hat. Superb use of white space and an informed use of warm colors make this simple presentation irresistible. Max has produced humorous, clear cartoon illustrations forPulgarcita. Rendered in a limited palette (mauve, orange, green, blue, and brown), the round-headed, pointy-nosed characters appear perpetually surprised, and the result is a Thumbelina who is an alert, curious heroine rather than a pawn of fate. These titles will hold their own against such standards as Malcolm Arthur and Fred Marcellino's lushPuss in Boots(Farrar, 1990) or Amy Ehrlich and Susan Jeffers's traditional presentation ofThumbelina(Dial, 1979; o.p.). Excellent additions for either bilingual collections or folktale sections in need of contrasting artistic renderings of two perennial favorites.Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.