Millions of Cats

Bibliography

Gag, Wanda. 1956. Millions of Cats. Ill. By Wanda Gag. New York, NY: G.P. Putnam's Sons. ISBN 0399233156

Plot Summary

A very old man sets out to find a cat to keep him and his wife company.  He found hundreds, thousands, millions, billions, and trillions of cats. Unable to decide on the prettiest cat, he ends up bringing all of the cats home.  When his wife points out that they cannot afford to feed so many cats, he realizes his error.  He asks the cats to tell him who is the prettiest, which leads to a literal cat fight. After all the cats are gone, the couple take in the one scraggly kitten that remained. After caring for the kitten, and watching it grow, the couple come to realize that their cat is the prettiest of them all.

Critical Analysis

In Millions of Cats, the old couple remain flat throughout the story. Children may be able to relate the couple’s difficulty in making a choice, but it is the cats that most children will find exciting and relatable.  The story follows a basic home – journey - home format. The old man travels far away in seek of something and returns home. There is no indication of time or specific location, but that helps the story to remain timeless and popular 90 years later.

The book has a theme of companionship. Readers are able to identify that sometimes pets can be the best companions to battle loneliness. The couple started out lonely at the beginning of the book, but their contentment and happiness is obvious on the last page. You are also able to see the joy that the kitten received when he was loved by a family.

The lyrical language and rhythmic quality to the words create a joyful read. The repetition of words are song like. I found myself getting into a rhythm and swaying while reading the refrain aloud.

The simple black and white illustrations are perfect for this quaint tale. The hand lettered font seem as much a part of the illustrations as the pictures themselves. In researching this book, I found that Wanda Gag pioneered the double page spread in this book. This is a technique that remains popular with authors and illustrators even today.

Awards
1929 Newbery Honor Award

Review Excerpts
School Library Journal: "This Newbery Honor winner is distinguished by innovative design and a strong storyteller's cadence." 

Connections

*This book could be used to encourage conversations about pets and responsibility.

*Connect to mathematics with a discussion about large numbers (millions, billions, trillions).

*Other picture books for children about cats:

·         Keillor, Garrison. Cat, You Better Come Home. ISBN 0670012777.

·         Saul, Carol. Barn Cat. ISBN 0316711403.

·         Wagner, Jenny. John Brown, Rose and the Midnight Cat. ISBN 0140503064.