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Bibliography
Gag, Wanda. Millions of Cats. New York: Penguin Putnam, 1928. ISBN 0329055739
Summary
The very old man and the very old woman have everything they
could want, except company. Their
solution? A soft, cuddly cat. When the very old man sets out to find
them the perfect companion, he finds not one but millions of perfect cats. In the end, there is only room for one
cat at their house, but it isn’t the one they expected.
Analysis
Nestled between books full of vibrant color, the black and white
illustrations found in Millions of Cats
is unexpected on modern day library shelves. However, the colorful books of today owe much to the simple
black and white illustrations that first appeared in 1928. Gag was one of the first illustrators
to utilize both sides of a spread in a single illustration, opening up the door
for future authors and illustrators to create more in-depth and interesting
illustrations.
At first glance this antiquated book appears to be out of
date and touch with the modern reader, but after only a few pages this proves
to be far from true. The
repetition and rhythm of text make the story flow easily, particularly to be
read aloud. The inclusion of the
ever so allusive amounts of “millions and billions and trillions” grabs young
readers’ attention and draws them into the story.
The simple story of a man and woman who would like more
company rings true universally while the silly account of taking home millions
of cats is unexpected and adorable.
It is easy for the reader to understand and relate to the problems the
old man experiences while dealing with this number of felines. The end of the story takes a
surprisingly dark turn when the cats devour each other in a brutal argument
over who is cutest, leaving the old man and old woman with only one cat to take
care of. The last kitten, who
survived because she never claimed to be cute and was therefore ignored by the
other cats, may be a lesson in modesty however a less cannibalistic lesson
would be more appropriate for children.
Awards and Reviews
*Newberry Honor (1929)
“More nostalgia. This one, I remember reading to myself when
I was very small when we would go to my great-grandmother’s house. She had some
old books in her bookcase, and I know I read this one more than once. Since
then, I read it to my own sons, and I still love using it in story time. That
refrain is unforgettable, and I love getting kids to chant along with me,
“Hundreds of cats, thousands of cats, millions and billions and trillions of
cats!” – Sondra Eklund
Connections
Have students compare and contrast Millions of Cats to One Potato, Two Potato by Cynthia
DeFelice. They could compare characters or journal about which couple was more morally sound.
The Caldecott Award was established ten years after the
publication of Millions of Cats. As a writing prompt, have students justify if the illustrations would have warranted receiving this award, had it been
available.
The repetition and chorus of the book is strong. Using Millions of Cats as a mentor text, have students write a short story with a chorus or repetition.
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