Millions of Cats

Millions of Cats

Bibliography

Ga’g, Wanda 1928. MILLIONS OF CATS. Ill. by Wanda Gag. New York, NY: G.P. Putnam’s Sons. ISBN 0399233156

Plot Summary

This book focuses on a very old lonely couple who decides to get a cat. The very old man sets off to find the cat and run across “hundreds of cats, thousands of cats, millions and billions and trillions of cats.” The very old man can simply not make a decision on the cat that he wants. The very old woman is the voice of reason, and quickly points out that they simply could never keep the amount of cats he brought home. The very old man sees the truth in this and asks the cats which one is the prettiest and the cats quarrel over the question. The very old couple quickly disappears into the house and found that after a few minutes there are no more cats outside. The couple goes outside to ponder what happened to all the cats the very old man spots a scraggly kitten at the bottom of the hill hiding in the tall grass and the couple wonders why this cat was spared. The kitten says “Oh, I’m just a homely little cat.” As the kitten grew the couple realizes this is the “most beautiful cat in the world.”

The moral of this story is do not judge something based on appearances; it is the character that is beauty.

Critical Analysis

Wanda Ga’g was a pioneer of her time. She began the concept of using both pages for illustrations rather than a single page. The characters are an old couple that is lonely. The very old woman is the voice of reason and logic, while the very old man plays on emotions of wanting everything. The author uses both of them to show that sometimes the best decision for you is the one you do not make.

Wanda Ga’g also did all the illustrations for her book, pioneering the idea of using both pages for one picture, rather than each individual page for pictures. This led to a Newberry Honor award. The illustrations are simple in black and white, and support the words rather than the words supporting the pictures.

Review Excerpts

School Library Journal: “the picture book itself is hugely influential”

Newberry Honor award in 1929

100 best books for children

Connections

-          Read other books by Wanda Ga’g because she was the pioneer of using both pages for pictures rather than a single page.

-          Look at other books about late bloomers and deceiving appearances

o   Leo the late bloomer, by Robert Kraus ISBN: 9780064433488