Puss in Boots

Quick Answer

Why This Story Works for Bedtime

It’s lively and humorous, with a satisfying ‘life gets better’ ending. The cat’s cleverness makes kids grin, and you can frame it as creativity—not deception—for a bedtime-friendly takeaway.

Story Synopsis

A miller’s youngest son inherits almost nothing—only a cat. At first it feels like an insult. But the cat speaks, and asks for two things: a pair of boots and a bag. With those, the cat promises to change their fortunes. The cat goes hunting and brings fine gifts to the king, always saying they are from his master, whom the cat introduces as the ‘Marquis of Carabas.’ The king is impressed, and the master’s name begins to carry weight. Next, the cat arranges a dramatic moment: he tells his master to bathe in the river just as the king’s carriage passes. Then the cat cries out that thieves have stolen the Marquis’s clothes. The king, eager to help, provides elegant garments and invites the young man into the carriage. As they travel, the cat runs ahead, instructing peasants to claim the lands belong to the Marquis. The king believes the story of wealth grows. Finally, the cat confronts an ogre who owns a grand castle. Using flattery and a clever challenge, the cat tricks the ogre into transforming—and defeats him. The castle becomes the master’s, and the king gladly offers marriage to his daughter. The miller’s son, once poor, now has a home and a future. Puss in Boots is a fairy tale about quick thinking and bold confidence—and about how one clever ally can change everything.

Story Excerpt

A miller died and left his three sons the only things he owned: a mill, a donkey, and a cat. They divided the small inheritance quickly. The eldest took the mill. The second took the donkey. And the youngest—who had hoped for at least something useful—was left with only the cat. The youngest son sat with his head in his hands. “My brothers can make a living,” he said sadly. “But I have only a cat. When I have spent what little I can get from him, what will become of me?” The cat had been listening as if he heard nothing at all. Then, with a calm, serious look, he stepped close to his master. “Do not trouble yourself so,” said the cat. “Give me a bag, and have a pair of boots made for me, so I may run through mud and brambles. Then you will see you have not been given such a poor portion as you think.” His master stared. A cat in boots? It sounded like a strange wish. Still, he had seen the cat do clever things in the mill—hiding in flour, pretending to be still as a stone, catching quick little mice with patient timing. So the young man did as he was asked. Soon the cat stood in new boots, holding a small bag by its strings, looking very pleased with himself.

In One Glance