By Vera Morris
Who’s the cleverest cat in the Kingdom? Puss in Boots, of course! Puss in Boots by Vera Morris tells the tale of a poor young miller named Tom who follows the advice of his skillful cat, Puss in Boots. Tom is kicked off the mill by his older sisters, Gabrielle and Jeanette, leaving him and his cat with nothing but a head of cabbage and some leather boots. Puss in Boots convinces Tom and the entire Kingdom to join him in his quest to conquer the Evil Ogre and make Tom a fortune. Along the way, we meet a cast of crazy characters, including the Countess and Rosalind (who are fleeing from the Ogre), the Royal Family (who are oblivious to the Cat’s master plans), the Great Evil Ogre, his goofy Dogs, and the Ogre’s many Peasants, Cooks, and Prisoners (who Puss enlists to help with his plan). By the end, Puss outsmarts the Ogre with the help of the Kingdom, and Princess Pam falls in love with Tom, making him the Prince. As is often the case with these stories, everyone lives happily ever after.