MILLIONS OF CATS by Wanda Gag

1. Bibliography

Gag, Wanda. 2006. Millions of Cats. New York, New York: Puffin Books. ISBN 9780142407080

2. Plot Summary

A lonely very old man and a lonely very old woman decide adopting a pretty little cat will bring them complete happiness. The very old man sets out on a journey to find the prettiest cat and bring it home. Unfortunately, unable to decide which cat is the most beautiful, he brings home more cats than his very old wife bargained for, “hundreds of cats, thousands of cats, millions and billions and trillions of cats,” in fact. Unable to care for all of these cats, the elderly couple asks the cats to choose which is the prettiest among them and elect that cat to stay with them.  Each cat believes it is the most beautiful, leading to a massive cat fight in which all of the cats “[eat] each other all up,” except for a single, scrawny kitten.  The elderly couple take in this homely kitten and love and care for it. In the end the very old man and the very old woman find happiness with their pretty cat and the cat finds happiness and love in his new home.

3. Critical Analysis

Reading the modern day fairytale, Millions of Cats, it is easy to see why Wanda Gag's story has become the oldest American picture book still in print (“Millions” 2012). Using traditional language and a catchy rhythm, repeating the refrain, “hundreds of cats, thousands of cats, millions and billions and trillions of cats,” throughout the story, readers are drawn into Gag's world and are touched by her timeless lesson in self esteem and love. Set in the rural countryside of days long past, an elderly couple and a homely kitten learn about the dangers of using superficial criteria when judging others, as well as experiencing the transformative effects of love. Children will laugh at the old man's foolishness at collecting “millions and billions and trillions” of cats. Readers will have their hearts warmed as they see how the love of the very old couple changes the homely kitten into “the most beautiful cat in the whole world.” Gag's tale is a powerful lesson in the power of love to change a person from the inside out.

Beautifully illustrated throughout, Wanda Gag uses black and white ink drawings to create the iconic world of the very old man, the very old woman, and their trillions of cats. Each picture perfectly accompanies the story's text and provides insight into the emotions and moods of the characters. Readers delight along with the very old man as they see what surprised joy spreads across his body as he discovers a hill covered in billions of cats, and they tense with anxiety as they see the very old couple run from the quarreling hillside of angry cats. Using a simple medium, Gag creates a rich and touching world readers feel they have always known. Her illustrations invite readers to connect with the characters and expand the story beyond the world of the page. Despite being over 75 years old, Gag's timeless masterpiece continues to delight and enchant audiences of all ages.

4. Awards Won and Review Excerpt(s)

1929 Newbery Honor Book

A Lewis Carroll Shelf Award Book

School Library Journal's “One Hundred Books that Shaped the Century”: "This Newbery Honor winner is distinguished by innovative design and a strong storyteller's cadence."

The New York Times: “A perennial favorite.”

5. Connections

*Talk about the kitten's transformation from a “homely cat” to the “most beautiful cat in the world” and what happened to cause this change. Talk about the affects of love and its role in self esteem. Discuss ways we can be kind to others.

*Talk about how the very old man makes his decisions as to which cats to bring home. How would you have chosen which cat to bring home? What makes the individual cats special? Talk about superficial traits vs. internal traits and how they should affect how we treat one another. Have the children make “All About Me” books about how they are special and what they love (Weston Woods 2008).

*Image a pet or animal you may have at home.  Imagine having “hundreds of [pets], thousands of [pets], millions and billions and trillions of [pets].” Draw what you think trillions of your pet would look like (Weston Woods 2008).

*Other books by Wanda Gag:

Tales from Grimm. ISBN 0816649367

Three Gay Tales from Grimm. ISBN 0816656908

Gone is Gone: Or the Story of a Man Who wanted to Do Housework. ISBN 0816642435

The Funny Thing. ISBN 0816642419

The ABC Bunny. ISBN 0816644160

Nothing At All. ISBN 0816644187

*Other books about self esteem:

Broskie, Julie. Being Me. ISBN 9780516249759

Esham, Barbara. If You're So Smart, How Come You Can't Spell Mississippi?. ISBN 160336448X

References

"Millions of Cats by Wanda Gág." The Wild Place. Richland County Public Library. Retrieved June 2012. http://www.myrcpl.com/children/book-lists/millions-cats-wanda-gag-january-2005.

Weston Woods. “Millions of Cats Discussion Guide.” Scholastic.com. 2008. http://www.scholastic.com/browse/collateral.jsp?id=36051