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The White Cat
The White Cat helps the youngest prince win his father's throne.
A retelling of Madame D'Aulnoy's La chatte blanche.
A retelling of Madame D'Aulnoy's La chatte blanche.
32 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1989
101 people want to read
About the author
Robert D. San Souci
96 books90 followersRobert Daniel San Souci (October 10, 1946 – December 19, 2014) was a multiple award-winning children's book author, who resided in San Francisco, California. He often worked with his brother, Daniel San Souci, a children's book illustrator. He was a consultant to Disney Studios and was instrumental in the production of the film Mulan, for which he wrote the story. He studied folklore in graduate school. He died after suffering a head injury while falling from a high height in San Francisco in December 2014. He was only 68 years old.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
April 22, 2023
The art by Gennady Spirin for this picture book adaptation of Marie-Catherine d'Aulnoy's literary fairy tale "The White Cat" is superb! I was afraid Spirin's Eastern-influenced style wouldn't quite suit the 'Frenchness' of the original story, but he managed to give it a French look that went well with the narration.
Story wise, I prefer this picture book to The White Cat by Errol Le Cain even though I don't like the overdressed cats in both books, for two reasons: the storyline in Spirin's version is faithfully rendered as it was told by d'Aulnoy whereas Le Cain simplified it, which I didn't like. For example, the tasks the King puts out for his three sons are three, but Le Cain makes them only two, omitting the second, which is a little adventure in the original. Spirin keeps all 3 tasks, and also stays close to the dialogue, giving the relationship between the youngest prince and the white cat time to develop and bloom. In Le Cain's version, the relationship has no time to flourish, it simply exists.
So, if you want to read this tale to your little ones or have it for your fairy tale collection, Spirin's version is the one you should get.
Story wise, I prefer this picture book to The White Cat by Errol Le Cain even though I don't like the overdressed cats in both books, for two reasons: the storyline in Spirin's version is faithfully rendered as it was told by d'Aulnoy whereas Le Cain simplified it, which I didn't like. For example, the tasks the King puts out for his three sons are three, but Le Cain makes them only two, omitting the second, which is a little adventure in the original. Spirin keeps all 3 tasks, and also stays close to the dialogue, giving the relationship between the youngest prince and the white cat time to develop and bloom. In Le Cain's version, the relationship has no time to flourish, it simply exists.
So, if you want to read this tale to your little ones or have it for your fairy tale collection, Spirin's version is the one you should get.
July 15, 2009
Here's another book that had good reviews on amazon, yet proved to be just plain weird!
To start off, I was already familiar with this fairy tale from Dean's A Book of Fairy Tales, so I know a normal version already exists. Also, as a student of literature, I get how the literary tradition of folk tales works, so I know that often times there is incomplete and nonsensical information in the traditional story that leave a lot of holes.
However, this book was like reading someone's made-up-on-the-spot bedtime story that just keeps getting more and more fantastic without regard to the proper structure...like how the prince comes and sees the white cat and her cat army riding greyhounds in battle against the rats from the island across the sea, who end up taking off in the eggshell rafts, so the cats, despite their distaste for water, get in their ships, but have to leave the prince behind cause he's much too big for the cat boat, so he stands on the shore cheering. And all I'm thinking at this point is, first, why haven't the cats just eaten the rats, and second, the "sea" is probably just a pond that the prince could wade across.
I know, I know...these old fairy tales were pretty much exactly like that, but is it too much to ask for a story to make even a little bit of sense? If you're going to go to the trouble of making a fancy book with fancy pictures at least have the decency to fill in the story a bit!
Probably the only redeeming quality from this story is the fact that the white cat/enchanted princess is really quite a leader (I mean, come on, she went to battle against the rats!), also smart, because she and the prince play chess and spend a lot of time talking about books and music, and probably the only princess in all of fairy land that actually gets a decent courtship (read: three years!). They didn't fall in love and get married the next day! Not only that, but she's also extraordinarily self-confident and modern because she's the one that asks the king for the princes hand in marriage and pretty much tells the king how it will go from here! Wow! No weak feeble maiden in this story!
It felt good to finally read my kids a story that had a realistic, truly genuine relationship between the main characters, nevermind the fact that the prince is a total love slave to a cat for most of the book.
One last thing: be prepared to utilize your willing suspension of disbelief cause this book challenges reality on every page. Ex: goblins riding through the air on ostriches. Seriously.
To start off, I was already familiar with this fairy tale from Dean's A Book of Fairy Tales, so I know a normal version already exists. Also, as a student of literature, I get how the literary tradition of folk tales works, so I know that often times there is incomplete and nonsensical information in the traditional story that leave a lot of holes.
However, this book was like reading someone's made-up-on-the-spot bedtime story that just keeps getting more and more fantastic without regard to the proper structure...like how the prince comes and sees the white cat and her cat army riding greyhounds in battle against the rats from the island across the sea, who end up taking off in the eggshell rafts, so the cats, despite their distaste for water, get in their ships, but have to leave the prince behind cause he's much too big for the cat boat, so he stands on the shore cheering. And all I'm thinking at this point is, first, why haven't the cats just eaten the rats, and second, the "sea" is probably just a pond that the prince could wade across.
I know, I know...these old fairy tales were pretty much exactly like that, but is it too much to ask for a story to make even a little bit of sense? If you're going to go to the trouble of making a fancy book with fancy pictures at least have the decency to fill in the story a bit!
Probably the only redeeming quality from this story is the fact that the white cat/enchanted princess is really quite a leader (I mean, come on, she went to battle against the rats!), also smart, because she and the prince play chess and spend a lot of time talking about books and music, and probably the only princess in all of fairy land that actually gets a decent courtship (read: three years!). They didn't fall in love and get married the next day! Not only that, but she's also extraordinarily self-confident and modern because she's the one that asks the king for the princes hand in marriage and pretty much tells the king how it will go from here! Wow! No weak feeble maiden in this story!
It felt good to finally read my kids a story that had a realistic, truly genuine relationship between the main characters, nevermind the fact that the prince is a total love slave to a cat for most of the book.
One last thing: be prepared to utilize your willing suspension of disbelief cause this book challenges reality on every page. Ex: goblins riding through the air on ostriches. Seriously.
May 9, 2020
Souci and Sprin now take the reader to an old French fairy tale, and as the cover states "his old french fairy tale is a powerful story of friendship, love and loyalty"
Once again, this is a story of three sons and a father king. When he called his sons together he mandated a set of accomplishments to achieve. The first was that the son who brought him the prettiest little dog will be king. Happening upon a castle with a door of studded rubies, the gate opened to him where he found beautiful rooms. He found a tiny little creature who was a beautiful cat who was sad. She offered the son exquisite hospitality. Handing him an acorn, he found a tiny little dog inside.
Now, the king demanded a fine piece of linen that can only pass through the eye of the thinnest needle. Once again, the son found the white cat who helped him with his father's wish. However, before that wish was granted, the kingdom was invaded by horrible rats. The white cat, an army of 500 soldier cats marched into battle and were successful in conquering the rats.
Given a tiny walnut, that contained a bitty little mustard seed. In amazement, the son opened the seed an found fine linen. Because of grumbling by his other two brothers, the king made the sons travel for another year demanding the most beautiful young lady to be brought home. Now upon visiting the white cat he learned of her sadness that she was to marry the wizard dwarf who will destroy her kingdom if she does not marry him. In battle, the wizard dwarf in his chariot fought their way into the white cat's castle. Transforming himself from a dwarf to a great two headed roc, the cat told the son to cut the huge bird's head in two. The cat gave the son a bright crystal to take to his father.
When he found his way home, he mistakenly dropped the crystal. A beautiful queen appeared. The two other brothers found lovely ladies as well. A feast and celebration occurred. The White cat who now was a beautiful woman because the bride on the son.
While I cannot claim a favorite illustrated book by Spirin, this one is near the top. The dramatic, majestic illustrations are a joy to behold.
Once again, this is a story of three sons and a father king. When he called his sons together he mandated a set of accomplishments to achieve. The first was that the son who brought him the prettiest little dog will be king. Happening upon a castle with a door of studded rubies, the gate opened to him where he found beautiful rooms. He found a tiny little creature who was a beautiful cat who was sad. She offered the son exquisite hospitality. Handing him an acorn, he found a tiny little dog inside.
Now, the king demanded a fine piece of linen that can only pass through the eye of the thinnest needle. Once again, the son found the white cat who helped him with his father's wish. However, before that wish was granted, the kingdom was invaded by horrible rats. The white cat, an army of 500 soldier cats marched into battle and were successful in conquering the rats.
Given a tiny walnut, that contained a bitty little mustard seed. In amazement, the son opened the seed an found fine linen. Because of grumbling by his other two brothers, the king made the sons travel for another year demanding the most beautiful young lady to be brought home. Now upon visiting the white cat he learned of her sadness that she was to marry the wizard dwarf who will destroy her kingdom if she does not marry him. In battle, the wizard dwarf in his chariot fought their way into the white cat's castle. Transforming himself from a dwarf to a great two headed roc, the cat told the son to cut the huge bird's head in two. The cat gave the son a bright crystal to take to his father.
When he found his way home, he mistakenly dropped the crystal. A beautiful queen appeared. The two other brothers found lovely ladies as well. A feast and celebration occurred. The White cat who now was a beautiful woman because the bride on the son.
While I cannot claim a favorite illustrated book by Spirin, this one is near the top. The dramatic, majestic illustrations are a joy to behold.
August 15, 2025
When one of my kids was small, we would check this out of the library every single time we went. We have hunted high and low for a copy for years - this weekend we were in a used bookstore and we found it!!! Not only the book, but an autographed copy. SO SO thankful.
November 22, 2017
1 European folktale
Title (italicize): The White Cat: An Old French Fairy Tale
Author: Robert D. San Souci
Illustrator (if separate from author): Gennady Spirin
Genre: European Fairy Tale
Theme(s): Adventure, helping others, friendship
Opening line/sentence (type directly from text):
Once, not so very long ago, a king called his three sons together and said, “I wish to turn over my crown to one of you and retire to my estate in the country. When I do, I want a pretty little dog to keep me company. Whichever of of you brings me the prettiest little dog shall be king.”
Brief Book Summary (2-3 sentences in your own words):
Three sons are sent to find a dog for their father and the son with prettiest dog gets to have the crown. The story follows the youngest son who stumbles upon a castle that is home to a white cat. The son helps out the white cat who turns into a beautiful princess.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1 (cut & paste, details below):
Name of Reviewer: Linda Boyles
Name of Source (journal, association/organization, etc.): School Library Journal
Link to source: http://www.slj.com/
Short blurb from the review(cut & paste):
A king's youngest son, sent on a quest by his father, stumbles on a mysterious castle, where he is welcomed by the White Cat. The prince is quite taken with the charming and elegant cat whose generosity and unique powers help him fulfill not one request of his father's, but two. When the prince learns that the White Cat's happiness is threatened by impending marriage to a wicked wizard, he valiantly defends her, thereby winning her hand. She is, of course, a lovely enchanted princess. San Souci has done an excellent job of retelling Madame d'Aulnoy's long, ornate tale. While many elements of the older story have been left out, the romance remains and the mystery is heightened, making a tighter, more direct story that will appeal to young readers. The formal tone of the story is carried out in Spirin's elaborate, detailed illustrations. Their soft, golden glow evokes an appropriate sense of the past, as if the scenes were being viewed across the ages. A ferocious sea battle and a dramatic confrontation between the wizard, disguised as a dragon, and the prince are depicted in two marvelous double-spreads that afford special pleasure for the eye and imagination. The only jarring note is the face of the White Cat, which often looks cruel rather than lovely. Still, this is a fine addition to folk and fairy-tale collections that will serve as an accessible introduction to this relatively unknown story.
Professional Recommendation/Review #2 (cut & paste, details below):
Name of Reviewer: Kirkus
Name of Source (journal, association/organization, etc.): CLCD
Link to source: http://www.clcd.com.ezaccess.librarie...
Short blurb from the review(cut & paste):
One of the courtly tales of Mme. d'Aulnoy: to choose a successor, a king sends his sons on three quests; the youngest is helped by a cat who turns out to be an enchanted, marriageable queen. Long a favorite for its entrancing details and adventures, this gracefully retold story is elegantly illustrated with sumptuous paintings set in the ancien r gime. A handsome edition.
Response to Two Professional Reviews (3-4 sentences in your own words)
I agree with these reviews. I think the story is concise and engaging. The story has many aspects of fantasy that kids will love and will keep them engaged the whole time. The pictures add so much to the story and will help kids follow along. This is a story that kids will love to read independently and during read alouds.
Evaluation of Literary Elements (3-4 sentences in your own words):
The pictures are of very warm tones (reds and oranges). This gives the feel of an old antique book. I think the author meant to do this so it really puts you back in the time period of this folktale. The pictures share half of the page with the text. The pictures are meant to help the reader envision the world in the story since it is foreign and unfamiliar to the reader.
The text has some challenging and not commonly known words, but they are surrounded by some easy vocabulary. It’s an easy book to help kids learn how to use context clues. This book really challenges kids to make predictions and think outside of the world they know. It’s an interesting story that kids will love to hear as an animated read aloud.
Consideration of Instructional Application(3-4 sentences in your own words):
For a mini-lesson for this book I would work on predictions. I want to emphasize that good readers make predictions! I would have this conversation before I read aloud and possibly make an anchor chart of how readers make predictions. Then I would read this book aloud and tell my students to raise their hand when they have a prediction and also stop when I think it’s time to make a prediction. I would write all the predictions down on an anchor chart and talk about why the student made that prediction. After the mini-lesson was over, I would challenge them to create a folktale of their own and read it to a group and have them make predictions, almost like they are running their own mini-lessons. I could also connect this to a lesson on folktales and their characteristics or non-fiction or how colors give off different emotions and feelings.
Title (italicize): The White Cat: An Old French Fairy Tale
Author: Robert D. San Souci
Illustrator (if separate from author): Gennady Spirin
Genre: European Fairy Tale
Theme(s): Adventure, helping others, friendship
Opening line/sentence (type directly from text):
Once, not so very long ago, a king called his three sons together and said, “I wish to turn over my crown to one of you and retire to my estate in the country. When I do, I want a pretty little dog to keep me company. Whichever of of you brings me the prettiest little dog shall be king.”
Brief Book Summary (2-3 sentences in your own words):
Three sons are sent to find a dog for their father and the son with prettiest dog gets to have the crown. The story follows the youngest son who stumbles upon a castle that is home to a white cat. The son helps out the white cat who turns into a beautiful princess.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1 (cut & paste, details below):
Name of Reviewer: Linda Boyles
Name of Source (journal, association/organization, etc.): School Library Journal
Link to source: http://www.slj.com/
Short blurb from the review(cut & paste):
A king's youngest son, sent on a quest by his father, stumbles on a mysterious castle, where he is welcomed by the White Cat. The prince is quite taken with the charming and elegant cat whose generosity and unique powers help him fulfill not one request of his father's, but two. When the prince learns that the White Cat's happiness is threatened by impending marriage to a wicked wizard, he valiantly defends her, thereby winning her hand. She is, of course, a lovely enchanted princess. San Souci has done an excellent job of retelling Madame d'Aulnoy's long, ornate tale. While many elements of the older story have been left out, the romance remains and the mystery is heightened, making a tighter, more direct story that will appeal to young readers. The formal tone of the story is carried out in Spirin's elaborate, detailed illustrations. Their soft, golden glow evokes an appropriate sense of the past, as if the scenes were being viewed across the ages. A ferocious sea battle and a dramatic confrontation between the wizard, disguised as a dragon, and the prince are depicted in two marvelous double-spreads that afford special pleasure for the eye and imagination. The only jarring note is the face of the White Cat, which often looks cruel rather than lovely. Still, this is a fine addition to folk and fairy-tale collections that will serve as an accessible introduction to this relatively unknown story.
Professional Recommendation/Review #2 (cut & paste, details below):
Name of Reviewer: Kirkus
Name of Source (journal, association/organization, etc.): CLCD
Link to source: http://www.clcd.com.ezaccess.librarie...
Short blurb from the review(cut & paste):
One of the courtly tales of Mme. d'Aulnoy: to choose a successor, a king sends his sons on three quests; the youngest is helped by a cat who turns out to be an enchanted, marriageable queen. Long a favorite for its entrancing details and adventures, this gracefully retold story is elegantly illustrated with sumptuous paintings set in the ancien r gime. A handsome edition.
Response to Two Professional Reviews (3-4 sentences in your own words)
I agree with these reviews. I think the story is concise and engaging. The story has many aspects of fantasy that kids will love and will keep them engaged the whole time. The pictures add so much to the story and will help kids follow along. This is a story that kids will love to read independently and during read alouds.
Evaluation of Literary Elements (3-4 sentences in your own words):
The pictures are of very warm tones (reds and oranges). This gives the feel of an old antique book. I think the author meant to do this so it really puts you back in the time period of this folktale. The pictures share half of the page with the text. The pictures are meant to help the reader envision the world in the story since it is foreign and unfamiliar to the reader.
The text has some challenging and not commonly known words, but they are surrounded by some easy vocabulary. It’s an easy book to help kids learn how to use context clues. This book really challenges kids to make predictions and think outside of the world they know. It’s an interesting story that kids will love to hear as an animated read aloud.
Consideration of Instructional Application(3-4 sentences in your own words):
For a mini-lesson for this book I would work on predictions. I want to emphasize that good readers make predictions! I would have this conversation before I read aloud and possibly make an anchor chart of how readers make predictions. Then I would read this book aloud and tell my students to raise their hand when they have a prediction and also stop when I think it’s time to make a prediction. I would write all the predictions down on an anchor chart and talk about why the student made that prediction. After the mini-lesson was over, I would challenge them to create a folktale of their own and read it to a group and have them make predictions, almost like they are running their own mini-lessons. I could also connect this to a lesson on folktales and their characteristics or non-fiction or how colors give off different emotions and feelings.
October 12, 2023
Battle scene worthy of Bosch.
February 20, 2018
Oh my gosh, c'est tres magnifique! Unbelievably, I had never read nor heard of this old French fairy tale before and it was great. The illustrations had characters in lovely French Baroque dress. I could see using this story for an out-loud retelling from memory. It has good, lively characters with some repetive actions, easy to recall storyline that would be fun. Great story time book as well.
March 7, 2020
I love finding some of the lesser known fairy tales to read. I found this one new and interesting. My cat-loving daughter enjoyed it. I have only recently discovered San Souci, and have enjoyed each of his books I have read. I always love Grennady Spirin:s intricate illustrations. I can get lost in them for a long while.
January 20, 2022
Wonderful retelling of the old French fairy tale, well paced, detailed story which is said to be very faithful to the original but adapted (i.e. many extra details removed) for young children. I have attempted to read the original and it is not really appropriate for pre-3rd grade. Illustrations are luscious. Kindergartner listened with bated breath, and eyes wide open.
September 22, 2024
Adding this to my growing collection of all time-favorite "kids books." Robert D. Sans Souci is a fantastic children's book author who has a knack for retelling old legends in an accessible voice. Gennady Spirin is one of our favorite illustrators--he manages to create incredibly detailed paintings that are evocative of Renaissance era art. Pair these two together, and this book is a slam dunk.
January 8, 2020
I read Errol LeCain’s version of this story just before reading this one and liked that one a bit more. Maybe in part because the illustrations, while being superb, were mostly too blurry for me.
December 13, 2021
I had never read the Grimm Brothers tale "The White Cat" and enjoyed this version. The illustrations have a Renaissance flair, with the Queen White Cat dressed like Queen Elizabeth I.
February 3, 2021
Beautiful story, gorgeous illustration.
March 14, 2017
3.5 stars
September 16, 2011
Interesting, whimsical, and varied fairytale by Madam D'Aulnoy and retold here. While the older version I read focused more closely on the couple and the leisure aspects, this one looked at other concerns. This one showed how the youngest prince helped the white cat protect her kingdom from others. While this may have took away from the king's challenges at times; this version held more surprise. The prince in the older version follows the cat's advice even though troubling to him. Here he goes about being helpful on his own, and actually sets things right with less magical aid at the end. Both are good in their own right, just edited differently for the modern readers.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 30, 2015
I had originally been told that this was a variation on "Rumpelstiltskin," but the connection is really, really vague. A prince is set a series of three impossible tasks, and an anthropomorphic white cat helps him fulfill them. That's about the only similarity, though. There is no death threat, and more importantly no guessing of the cat's name (though she isn't what she appears to be). That said, it's a fun fairy tale, and less grizzly than the one I dimly remember reading that involved beheading the cat at the end. The illustrations are colorful and engaging, and it was a fun read.
February 13, 2017
I love this fairy tale, sadly most readers doesn't seem to know it. The White Cat is way too fantastic than almost all the other fairy tales but still here we have a rather longer courtship and the princess asks the prince's hand in marriage! How cool is that for a fairytale?
While many elements (connecting to "Rapunzel") of the older story have been left out, it's still nice and I enjoyed the reading.
While many elements (connecting to "Rapunzel") of the older story have been left out, it's still nice and I enjoyed the reading.
September 11, 2016
Spirin's illustrations are gorgeous. The rat-laden eggshell ships in the tea-stained sea battle scene resemble a child-friendly Bosch painting, if ever there could be such a thing. The story is a very predictable European fairy tale of three tasks a prince must perform in order to inherit his kingdom. The white cat is a female version of the beast from beauty and the beast, although the prince is attracted to this lady cat from the moment he meets her.
May 3, 2009
Absolute favorite fairy tale of all time. I remember reading this in a big book of fairy tales we had as children, couldn't find it anywhere, but my mom found this version and gave it to me for my birthday. Still wish I could find the original big book we had it in, the illustrations in that were AMAZING. they don't do them like that anymore.:(
September 15, 2014
This original fairy tale was written in french by a remarkable femalel writer. If I remember correctly it was over 900 pages long. I'd love to write my own version of this tale. My favorite part is how much fabric fits into a walnut shell. Oh, and the tiny dogs one after another are to die for. Plus, how cool to mary a cat princess right?
April 16, 2011
I read this book as a recommendation after reading Holly Black's white cat. I really liked the fairy tale. I love the idea behind it, I wish I had a magical walnut. However I wish i was able to read the whole story.
I saw similarities in to two stories in the idea that Queen was the cat and she helped the youngest son.
I saw similarities in to two stories in the idea that Queen was the cat and she helped the youngest son.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 3, 2012
This fairy tale was adorable! The illustrations in this version are beautiful and detailed. (Even if the story was not enjoyable, I would still love the illustrations!) Definitely a great addition to any fairy tale collection.
February 4, 2013
This is a fantastic fairy tale from France. The narrative is entertaining and the illustrations by Gennady Spirin are gorgeously detailed. We really enjoyed readign this book together.
February 4, 2011
Beautiful love story supported by the lovely and detailed illustrations.
July 16, 2012
This French fairy tale, which is derived from La chatte blanche in Madame d'Aulnoy's Les Coutes de fées,first published in Paris in 1698.
A truly interesting tale of integrity.
A truly interesting tale of integrity.
March 12, 2015
Wonderful illustrations.
August 23, 2013
Just gorgeous illustrations...
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews