Puss in Boots

Charles Perrault’s Puss in Boots has attracted generations of illustrators since its first publication in 1697 — and yet Fred Marcellino’s version still feels completely new. His cover alone breaks every convention: a witty feline face dressed in Renaissance finery stares straight at the viewer, without a single word of text — no title, no author’s name, nothing to distract from that knowing gaze. It’s a perfect reflection of Marcellino’s bold approach to book design. Before turning to children’s illustration in the mid-1980s, he had already revolutionized American book jacket design, creating up to forty covers a year for over a decade.

His first major picture book, Puss in Boots (1990), brought him a Caldecott Honor the following year. Marcellino’s illustrations are filled with sunlight and gentle humor. His Puss is elegant, mischievous, and unmistakably alive — a charming trickster whose personality seems to anticipate the animated feline heroes of later decades. The visual storytelling moves effortlessly between grandeur and playfulness, making this edition a timeless delight for readers of all ages.