Puss in Boots

Sumptuous, painterly illustrations and a realistic yet utterly expressive title character distinguish this stylish retelling. Vaes's meticulously researched artwork offers a bounteous feast; every element is executed with precision and panache. (A few contemporary-seeming faces do prove jarring, however, in the midst of the period splendor.) This Puss is a fetching blend of human and catlike traits--Vaes cleverly avoids anthropomorphism while making the creature's exploits totally credible. The final portrait of the triumphant hero eyeing a septet of boot-polishing mice is particularly witty--we don't know whether Puss is admiring their labors or their nutritional value. The carefully characterized supporting cast is resplendently garbed, and intricate architectural touches--elaborate wrought-iron and stonework, a gilded mirror atop a matched console table--contribute to the fully realized setting. Kirstein's dramatic prose, set in a becoming typeface on parchment-like pages, evokes a long-ago, fairy-tale mood while moving the story swiftly to its gladdening conclusion. Ages 4-8. (Mar.)