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Nutshell Library
Pierre: A Cautionary Tale in Five Chapters and a Prologue
A story with a moral air about Pierre, who learned to care. Young Pierre, whose favorite line is I don't care! changes his mind after meeting a hungry lion. Three-color illustrations.
48 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1962
22 people are currently reading
4740 people want to read
About the author
Maurice Sendak
427 books2,307 followersMaurice Sendak was a visionary American illustrator and writer best known for transforming the landscape of children's literature through his emotionally resonant stories and distinctive artistic style. He gained international acclaim with Where the Wild Things Are, a groundbreaking picture book that captured the emotional intensity of childhood through its honest portrayal of anger, imagination, and longing. Widely recognized for his ability to blend the whimsical with the profound, Sendak created works that resonated with both children and adults, challenging conventional notions of what children's books could be.
Born and raised in Brooklyn, Sendak was a sickly child who spent much of his early life indoors, nurturing a love for books, drawing, and storytelling. The son of Polish-Jewish immigrants, he was deeply affected by the losses of the Holocaust, which shaped the darker emotional undercurrents in his work. His art was influenced by a range of sources, from comic strips and Mickey Mouse to Mozart, Blake, and German Romanticism. Though he began his career illustrating other writers’ books, he soon transitioned to authoring his own, beginning with Kenny’s Window and then The Sign on Rosie’s Door.
It was Where the Wild Things Are, published in 1963, that solidified Sendak’s reputation as a master of children’s literature. The book, which won the Caldecott Medal, was initially controversial due to its depiction of unruly behavior and ambiguous emotional tone. However, it was later recognized as a revolutionary work that respected children’s inner lives and psychological complexity. This theme continued in his later works, including In the Night Kitchen and Outside Over There, which formed a loose trilogy exploring the emotional and imaginative experiences of childhood. These books, celebrated for their dreamlike narratives and lush illustrations, often tackled fears, fantasies, and the challenges of growing up.
Throughout his career, Sendak illustrated more than a hundred books, working with authors such as Ruth Krauss and Else Holmelund Minarik. His visual style—characterized by its intricate detail, dynamic line work, and expressive characters—evolved over the decades, but always retained an unmistakable emotional intensity. He also designed sets and costumes for operas and ballets, bringing his imaginative worlds to the stage. Notably, he created productions for works by Mozart and Prokofiev, combining his love of classical music with theatrical design.
Sendak was known for his sharp wit, fierce independence, and deep empathy for children. He openly criticized the sanitized and moralistic tone of much of children's publishing, insisting instead that young readers deserved stories that acknowledged their full emotional range, including fear, grief, anger, and wonder. He was also an openly gay man in a long-term relationship, though he only spoke publicly about his sexuality later in life.
Later in his career, Sendak continued to produce new work, collaborate with artists and institutions, and advocate for intellectual freedom. His final books, including Bumble-Ardy and My Brother’s Book, reflected both a return to his childhood memories and a meditation on aging, love, and mortality. Though his stories often ventured into the dark or surreal, they remained rooted in a deep respect for the emotional reality of children and a belief in the power of imagination to confront life's challenges.
Maurice Sendak’s legacy endures in the countless writers and illustrators he inspired, the cultural impact of his stories, and the enduring affection readers of all ages hold for his wild things, mischievous children, and tender monsters. Through his work, he redefined what children’s literature could be: rich, honest, haunting, and, above all, deeply human.
Born and raised in Brooklyn, Sendak was a sickly child who spent much of his early life indoors, nurturing a love for books, drawing, and storytelling. The son of Polish-Jewish immigrants, he was deeply affected by the losses of the Holocaust, which shaped the darker emotional undercurrents in his work. His art was influenced by a range of sources, from comic strips and Mickey Mouse to Mozart, Blake, and German Romanticism. Though he began his career illustrating other writers’ books, he soon transitioned to authoring his own, beginning with Kenny’s Window and then The Sign on Rosie’s Door.
It was Where the Wild Things Are, published in 1963, that solidified Sendak’s reputation as a master of children’s literature. The book, which won the Caldecott Medal, was initially controversial due to its depiction of unruly behavior and ambiguous emotional tone. However, it was later recognized as a revolutionary work that respected children’s inner lives and psychological complexity. This theme continued in his later works, including In the Night Kitchen and Outside Over There, which formed a loose trilogy exploring the emotional and imaginative experiences of childhood. These books, celebrated for their dreamlike narratives and lush illustrations, often tackled fears, fantasies, and the challenges of growing up.
Throughout his career, Sendak illustrated more than a hundred books, working with authors such as Ruth Krauss and Else Holmelund Minarik. His visual style—characterized by its intricate detail, dynamic line work, and expressive characters—evolved over the decades, but always retained an unmistakable emotional intensity. He also designed sets and costumes for operas and ballets, bringing his imaginative worlds to the stage. Notably, he created productions for works by Mozart and Prokofiev, combining his love of classical music with theatrical design.
Sendak was known for his sharp wit, fierce independence, and deep empathy for children. He openly criticized the sanitized and moralistic tone of much of children's publishing, insisting instead that young readers deserved stories that acknowledged their full emotional range, including fear, grief, anger, and wonder. He was also an openly gay man in a long-term relationship, though he only spoke publicly about his sexuality later in life.
Later in his career, Sendak continued to produce new work, collaborate with artists and institutions, and advocate for intellectual freedom. His final books, including Bumble-Ardy and My Brother’s Book, reflected both a return to his childhood memories and a meditation on aging, love, and mortality. Though his stories often ventured into the dark or surreal, they remained rooted in a deep respect for the emotional reality of children and a belief in the power of imagination to confront life's challenges.
Maurice Sendak’s legacy endures in the countless writers and illustrators he inspired, the cultural impact of his stories, and the enduring affection readers of all ages hold for his wild things, mischievous children, and tender monsters. Through his work, he redefined what children’s literature could be: rich, honest, haunting, and, above all, deeply human.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 277 reviews
March 22, 2019
Pierre has an attitude and he just doesn’t care. Nothing, no one can make him care, not even a lion. Pierre does learn a lesson and adjusts his attitude, but it’s not the easiest way to do so.
This is a book 1/4 the size of a normal book - pocket size. It’s very cute with Maurice’s artwork and style. It’s short and sweet for a beginning reader.
The kids loved this. They laughed and giggled when Pierre was eaten. They wanted it read again. The nephew gave this 5 stars and the niece gave it 3 stars.
This is a book 1/4 the size of a normal book - pocket size. It’s very cute with Maurice’s artwork and style. It’s short and sweet for a beginning reader.
The kids loved this. They laughed and giggled when Pierre was eaten. They wanted it read again. The nephew gave this 5 stars and the niece gave it 3 stars.
February 17, 2014
“Pierre: A Cautionary Tale” is apart of the Nutshell Kids Library collection by Maurice Sendak and is one of the most exciting one out of all the stories of the collection. “Pierre: A Cautionary Tale” is about a young boy named Pierre who never cared about hurting other people’s feelings until a lion comes for a visit. This book will definitely be a cult favorite among children who are fans of Maurice Sendak’s works.
Maurice Sendak has done a superb job at both illustrating and writing this book. Maurice Sendak’s writing is similar to Dr. Seuss’ famous rhyming prose as Maurice Sendak writes the story in a rhyming prose, making the story extremely creative to read. Maurice Sendak also creatively and effectively relates the consequences of not caring about the world and how not caring could become dangerous if one is not careful. Maurice Sendak’s illustrations may seem a bit simplistic, but the characters are lively and detailed enough to entice many children to read this book, especially of the images of Pierre with his blue outfit and his scowling facial expressions.
Parents should know that the scene where Pierre is eaten by a lion might scare smaller children, even though this scene is not that graphic since the next images just shows the lion picking his teeth and his belly getting large. Parents should reassure their children that if they do not care about the world, it does not mean that a lion will eat them, but that there are other consequences that children might face if they do not learn to care for other people like being shunned by other people.
“Pierre: A Cautionary Tale” is a terrific book about the consequences of not caring about other people’s feelings and it will surely interest children for many years. I would recommend this book to children ages five and up due to the scene where the lion eats up Pierre.
Review is also on: Rabbit Ears Book Blog
April 21, 2023
A fun little parable with nice drawings by Sendak, but in a sketchy style. The poetry is great in a kid friendly way.
June 16, 2013
http://youtu.be/hCEBLHd0v6I
I've included a link to Carole King's musical version of this classic children's story.
A fabulous combination of talent - Sendak's lyrical words and King's beautiful voice.
The copy I read was printed in 2013 but includes the original 1962 cover. The artwork in this story is also really well done; classic Sendak style.
What I didn't know?? This book is part of The Nutshell Library:
One was Johnny
Chicken Soup With Rice
Alligators All Around
Pierre
To sum it up this is "a story with a moral air about Pierre, who learned to care."
I loved it!
I've included a link to Carole King's musical version of this classic children's story.
A fabulous combination of talent - Sendak's lyrical words and King's beautiful voice.
The copy I read was printed in 2013 but includes the original 1962 cover. The artwork in this story is also really well done; classic Sendak style.
What I didn't know?? This book is part of The Nutshell Library:
One was Johnny
Chicken Soup With Rice
Alligators All Around
Pierre
To sum it up this is "a story with a moral air about Pierre, who learned to care."
I loved it!
July 10, 2013
Odd, but entertaining story about a little boy who doesn't care. I've never been much of a fan of Maurice Sendak's work, but I thought this was a clever and humorous tale. The illustrations are simple and the chapters are very short. I am not sure if this book is appropriate for younger children, but older children will likely be able to appreciate the wry wit.
interesting quote:
"The moral of Pierre is: CARE!" (p. 48)
interesting quote:
"The moral of Pierre is: CARE!" (p. 48)
May 1, 2013
I just finished reading this 4 times in a row with my six year old. He read most of it to me, then asked me to read it to give the voices the proper tone.
He always doubts me when I say "Oh, this is a good one! I LOVED this one when I was your age!" but this time he listened to me, and he loved it.
LOVED.
His favourite parts involve the lion (of course) - he loves the satisfied smirk on his face when Pierre is eaten and watching Pierre's father smacking the lion with the chair.
I'm glad I found a copy of this for us. I think it'll enter the nightly story rotation now.
Oh, and Pierre's mom's wardrobe is awesome. I would totally rock that coat and hat she wears when she heads into town.
He always doubts me when I say "Oh, this is a good one! I LOVED this one when I was your age!" but this time he listened to me, and he loved it.
LOVED.
His favourite parts involve the lion (of course) - he loves the satisfied smirk on his face when Pierre is eaten and watching Pierre's father smacking the lion with the chair.
I'm glad I found a copy of this for us. I think it'll enter the nightly story rotation now.
Oh, and Pierre's mom's wardrobe is awesome. I would totally rock that coat and hat she wears when she heads into town.
September 20, 2015
I never really liked this one as a child. Pierre getting eaten because he 'doesn't care'? It always just seemed to me that Pierre was just trying to do his own thing and avoid arbitrary directives. OK, not pouring syrup in your hair is a good idea, but not standing on your head, and to be killed for either?!? The 'moral' seems more like 'conform unquestioningly to authority or you will risk being killed for it'.
July 24, 2007
My kindergarten class did a skit to the song about how Pierre doesn't care and for years I couldn't figure out where the song was from and why it haunted me. I would even sing the one part I knew to people once in a while and no one could tell me more about it. I finally figured it out at the Maurice Sendak exhibit at the Jewish Museum about three years ago. It was like a revelation.
May 24, 2008
A gem, to be sure with a solid moral. I do so love a moral.
March 1, 2009
Author: Maurice Sendak
Genre: Fiction Picture Book
Publication Info: Harper Collins Publishers Inc.: 1991
Reading Level: Ages 4-8
Topic/Theme: caring
Issues Addressed: It is better to care about something than to not care at all.
Classroom Uses: Read Aloud, Independent Reading
Summary: Pierre responds to everything with "I don't care." He does not care about anything. He does not care what his mother thinks. He does not care what he eats. Pierre is a comical character who learns to care.
Text and image: The illustrations are quite simply drawn. They correlate directly with the text revealing the hilarious story line. The text rhymes throughout the literature.
Literary Devices: simile: "You are acting like a clown"
Genre: Fiction Picture Book
Publication Info: Harper Collins Publishers Inc.: 1991
Reading Level: Ages 4-8
Topic/Theme: caring
Issues Addressed: It is better to care about something than to not care at all.
Classroom Uses: Read Aloud, Independent Reading
Summary: Pierre responds to everything with "I don't care." He does not care about anything. He does not care what his mother thinks. He does not care what he eats. Pierre is a comical character who learns to care.
Text and image: The illustrations are quite simply drawn. They correlate directly with the text revealing the hilarious story line. The text rhymes throughout the literature.
Literary Devices: simile: "You are acting like a clown"
February 16, 2011
When I was little, my mother always pulled out this book and read it to us whenever we told her that we didn't care. Now whenever anyone says that they don't care, I automatically think of this silly book. I really like the book and the moral is a good one.
August 26, 2016
Arriving home
at six o'clock,
his parents had
A dreadful shock!
They found the lion
sick in bed
and cried,
"Pierre is surely dead!"
hahaha
at six o'clock,
his parents had
A dreadful shock!
They found the lion
sick in bed
and cried,
"Pierre is surely dead!"
hahaha
January 3, 2009
I LOVE Carol King's song about Pierre better than the book. I think it's because I'm not fond of Sendak's artwork.
November 4, 2018
5* art
3* story
As usual, Sendak pushes the boundaries in a fantastic and humorous way.
3* story
As usual, Sendak pushes the boundaries in a fantastic and humorous way.
February 5, 2017
Pierre is a boy who just doesn't seem to care about anything, that is until he is eaten by a lion. The moral of this story runs true for any parent, "care". The story and illustrations by Maurice Sendak are simple, stylized and interestingly enough the little boy resembles the little boy in Where the Wild Things Are. The story is short, and my children thought it was funny, although I found the repetition of the "I don't care" to be irritating. This was not my favorite Sendak book, but I see value in the lesson!
Illustrator Project Book
Illustrator Project Book
February 26, 2016
This a tale of a quarrelsome lad named Pierre who haughtily responded to every statement of question with "I don't care."
Until one day he responded to the Lion that he did not care if the Lion ate him. After a rescue from the stomach of the lion, Pierre indeed began to care.
The moral of the story...you may not appreciate life until you run the risk of losing it.
Until one day he responded to the Lion that he did not care if the Lion ate him. After a rescue from the stomach of the lion, Pierre indeed began to care.
The moral of the story...you may not appreciate life until you run the risk of losing it.
June 27, 2009
I remember enjoying reading this story to my students, and I also enjoyed the cassette tape (at the time) of the story put to song, sung by Carole King. Cute story about a little boy with an attitude who gets eaten by a lion. When he gets shaken back out of the lion, he has a whole new attitude! :)
March 21, 2020
Prologue, from the book:
"There once was a boy named Pierre
who only would say, "I don't care!"
Read his story, my friend,
for you'll find at the end
that a suitable moral lies there."
"There once was a boy named Pierre
who only would say, "I don't care!"
Read his story, my friend,
for you'll find at the end
that a suitable moral lies there."
July 6, 2012
"There once was a boy named Pierre..." I DON"T CARE! :P
July 7, 2016
Pierre and the cautionary tale using the words "I DON'T CARE" until Pierre finally started to CARE!
July 21, 2018
Fantastic! Breathtaking! Original!
June 6, 2023
just a short little book to binge on (as I have been in a slump) that has adorable little drawings and the idea of caring.
" The moral of Pierre is: CARE"
" The moral of Pierre is: CARE"
April 25, 2025
Universal tale about stubbornness and attitude. Sendak's humor and drawings are so charming. Easy to read it again and again!
October 31, 2020
Though I was always disturbed as a kid by the idea that a lion could come along and eat a disagreeable child, I still have fond memories of this book from first grade. The book - and Carole King's sung version, of course - made such an impression on me, that I actually ordered my own copy from the school book order way back when, and somewhere, I still have it.
The premise of the story is that a boy named Pierre doesn't care about anything. When his parents get ready to go out, he refuses to get ready and go with them, so they leave him behind and go to town on their own. while they're gone, a lion comes along, and when Pierre expresses his indifference to being eaten, the lion gobbles him up. It is only after a harrowing rescue by his parents and a doctor that Pierre finally learns to say, "I care."
As a kid, what spoke to me the most, I think, was the fact that Pierre finally learned his lesson. I always prided myself on being a "good kid" and bad behavior of any kind intrigued and troubled me. I liked it when other kids - even fictional ones - discovered the error of their ways and started to behave. I think it gave me a sense of moral superiority, but also made me feel safe. I liked knowing that other kids weren't going to get in trouble, and that nothing bad would befall them.
As an adult, though, I find myself looking at Pierre on a somewhat deeper level. I'm no longer focused on trying to reform Pierre's behavior. Instead, the storyline makes me think about apathy, and what that can do to someone's life. Pierre's indifference to everything isn't just obnoxious rudeness - it's also the reason he misses out on opportunities. His lack of interest in anything happening around him - from what he eats for breakfast, to whether or not a lion swallows him whole - causes him to become the victim of others' choices. When he learns to care in the end, it's not necessarily a lesson in being good, like I thought when I was six, but a lesson in being the master of one's own destiny.
The fact that two readings of this book by the same person taking place 23 years apart can be so different is exactly the reason I think Maurice Sendak is so brilliant. There is always something more to uncover beneath the surface of his writing, and always something adults can appreciate along with their children.
Read at Read-Along Story Time for Beginning Readers on 8/8/13: http://storytimesecrets.blogspot.com/...
The premise of the story is that a boy named Pierre doesn't care about anything. When his parents get ready to go out, he refuses to get ready and go with them, so they leave him behind and go to town on their own. while they're gone, a lion comes along, and when Pierre expresses his indifference to being eaten, the lion gobbles him up. It is only after a harrowing rescue by his parents and a doctor that Pierre finally learns to say, "I care."
As a kid, what spoke to me the most, I think, was the fact that Pierre finally learned his lesson. I always prided myself on being a "good kid" and bad behavior of any kind intrigued and troubled me. I liked it when other kids - even fictional ones - discovered the error of their ways and started to behave. I think it gave me a sense of moral superiority, but also made me feel safe. I liked knowing that other kids weren't going to get in trouble, and that nothing bad would befall them.
As an adult, though, I find myself looking at Pierre on a somewhat deeper level. I'm no longer focused on trying to reform Pierre's behavior. Instead, the storyline makes me think about apathy, and what that can do to someone's life. Pierre's indifference to everything isn't just obnoxious rudeness - it's also the reason he misses out on opportunities. His lack of interest in anything happening around him - from what he eats for breakfast, to whether or not a lion swallows him whole - causes him to become the victim of others' choices. When he learns to care in the end, it's not necessarily a lesson in being good, like I thought when I was six, but a lesson in being the master of one's own destiny.
The fact that two readings of this book by the same person taking place 23 years apart can be so different is exactly the reason I think Maurice Sendak is so brilliant. There is always something more to uncover beneath the surface of his writing, and always something adults can appreciate along with their children.
Read at Read-Along Story Time for Beginning Readers on 8/8/13: http://storytimesecrets.blogspot.com/...
October 12, 2017
Although Pierre: A Cautionary Tale in Five Chapters and a Prologue, was published over fifty years ago, I believe this story to be relevant and timeless. The story centers around an apathetic and disrespectful child named Pierre who is continuously indulged by his parents. Pierre engages in spoiled brat behaviors such as pouring syrup on his hair and making messes for his parents to clean up, constantly repeating the phrase, "I don't care." While having something of a tantrum, Pierre gets left home alone and a lion eats him. The lion gets sick from eating such a spoiled child. But his parents come home in time to rush him to the doctor who saves Pierre and the lion. From this incident Pierre is changed, and he now begins to care.
It's interesting that this title is so specific, noting that it's a "cautionary tale." I believe the metaphor is that indulging a spoiled child will only lead to heartache (and heartburn for the lion). I felt for the parents when they realized their son had been eaten by a lion. Pierre was a disrespectful and ungrateful brat. This was a powerful story with the message that parents will always have unconditional love for their child.
It's interesting that this title is so specific, noting that it's a "cautionary tale." I believe the metaphor is that indulging a spoiled child will only lead to heartache (and heartburn for the lion). I felt for the parents when they realized their son had been eaten by a lion. Pierre was a disrespectful and ungrateful brat. This was a powerful story with the message that parents will always have unconditional love for their child.
June 1, 2012
The moral of Pierre is: CARE!
This is a wonderful and memorable book, and Pierre's constant refrain (and eventual comeuppance) reminded me of individuals who shall remain nameless.
This is a wonderful and memorable book, and Pierre's constant refrain (and eventual comeuppance) reminded me of individuals who shall remain nameless.
June 10, 2018
Darker than Seuss, but just as entertaining for children.
August 26, 2020
I've read this book many times to my children and now I'm reading it to my grandchildren. I LOVE Maurice Sendak's books. This is another cute one....and Pierre learns that it's important to CARE.
August 4, 2021
I really cared for this book.
October 24, 2018
A plum perfect fairy tale, dazzlingly orchestrated with as few words and images as there were chapters and pages.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 277 reviews