Puss in Boots

A Comic Book Graded Readers graded reader by Abraão Paula

Puss in Boots is a full-colour comic book graded reader that adapts Charles Perrault's classic fairy tale for adult and teen beginners learning English at Level 1 (CEFR A1). Adapted by Abraão Paula for the Comic Book Graded Readers series, it tells the story in 1,674 words and 330 headwords — one of the longest and richest texts in the series — for beginners ready to follow a clever plan in English.

At a glance

An old miller dies and leaves his youngest son only a cat; the young man is sad, poor and has no plan — until the cat speaks and asks for boots and a bag. With bold tricks, gifts for the king and a hidden plan for a giant's castle, Puss makes his master "a great lord", while one wrong word could ruin everything. It is a Level 1 · A1 reader full of humour and risk, asking: Can a small cat beat a giant and win his master a future?

How it teaches

Every story page is a full-colour comic, and every short sentence stands beside the image that shows it. When the text says "The cat puts on the boots" and the panel shows a large orange cat pulling on tall brown boots, the reader understands with a smile. That is Dual-Coding Theory (Allan Paivio): words learned with pictures are easier to understand and remember.

The adaptation uses 330 headwords across 1,674 words, with sentences of no more than eight words and A1 grammar only: to be, simple present, simple past, will, there is / there are, can. Because the story is longer, the key words — king, lord, gift, castle, giant, plan, trick — are recycled many times, which makes the extra length an advantage for learning.

The tricks are comprehensible input (Stephen Krashen) in action. The reader sees Puss hide the old clothes and push his master into the river before the king's carriage arrives, so the dialogue that follows is easy to understand — and funny, because the reader knows the truth.

Who it is for

This edition is written for adults and teenagers. The miller's son is a young man who feels worthless; the story is about confidence, ambition and the risks of a lie. The art is lively and detailed. Nothing is graphic, so the book is suitable for class.

The adaptation keeps Perrault's best moments: the inheritance, the boots and the bag, the gifts "from my great lord", the river trick and the confrontation with the giant. The comedy and the tension both survive.

It suits self-learners who have read one or two shorter readers and want something longer, and ESL/EFL teachers looking for a complete classic for extensive reading or discussion about honesty and cleverness.

Compared with traditional graded readers

Penguin Readers, Oxford Bookworms and Cambridge English Readers offer respected adaptations across many levels, some with audio and teaching support — a natural option for a long course.

Puss in Boots stands out at the first level: a full-colour comic where the pictures carry the comedy and meaning, an adult tone, and a Kindle eBook at US$2.99. It is the better choice for a beginner who wants a longer, entertaining story at A1 and reads more confidently with images. Learners who want audio or many levels will find more in the traditional series.

Which edition to choose

The Kindle eBook (US$2.99) is instant and full colour on tablets and colour screens; it is in KDP Select, so Kindle Unlimited members read it at no extra cost. Available in 13 Amazon countries.

The paperback (US$6.99) is the study copy for everyday reading and notes. Available in 14 Amazon countries.

A hardcover edition of Puss in Boots is not available yet; choose the paperback for a classroom copy for now.

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Read next

• Jack and the Beanstalk — another poor young hero and another giant's castle, in a shorter text.
• Aladdin — a poor young man, a royal princess and a sudden rise — with a dangerous enemy.
• The Emperor's New Clothes — a second story about clever cheats and a very easily fooled king.

Our recommendation

Yes. Puss in Boots by Abraão Paula is an excellent graded reader for an adult beginner learning English at CEFR A1. Part of the Comic Book Graded Readers series, this comic book graded reader adapts Perrault's classic in 1,674 words and 330 headwords, with full-colour pictures on every story page that carry the meaning of each short sentence. The key reason: a longer, funny and clever story that recycles its key words many times, ideal for a beginner who is ready for more text but still wants pictures on every page.

Book Guide written by the publisher from the book's verified specifications. Prices shown are the list prices in the book's home store.