Millions of Cats Teaching Children Philosophy

Millions of Cats is a picture book written and illustrated by Wanda Gág in 1928. The book won a Newbery Honor award in 1929, one of the few picture books to do so. Millions of Cats is the oldest American picture book still in print.
The hand-lettered text, done by the author's brother, tells the story of an elderly couple who realize that they are very lonely. The wife wants a cat to love, so her husband sets off in search of a beautiful one to bring home to her. After traveling far away from home, he finds a hillside covered in "Cats here, cats there, Cats and kittens everywhere. Hundreds of cats, thousands of cats, Millions and billions and trillions of cats..." This rhythmic phrase is repeated several other times throughout the story.

The man wants to bring home the most beautiful of all the cats, but he is unable to decide. Each seems lovely, so he walks back home with all of the cats following him. His wife is dismayed when he arrives, realizing immediately what her husband overlooked: they won't be able to feed and care for billions and trillions of cats. The wife suggests letting the cats decide which one should stay with them, asking "Which one of you is the prettiest?" This question incites an enormous cat fight, frightening the old man and woman, who run back into the house.

Soon, all is quiet outside. When they venture out, there is no sign of the cats: they'd apparently eaten each other up in their jealous fury. Then, the old man notices one skinny cat hiding in a patch of tall grass. It had survived because it didn't consider itself pretty, so the other cats hadn't attacked it. The couple take the cat into their home, feed it and bathe it, watching it grow sleek and beautiful as the days pass: exactly the kind of cat they wanted.

Once upon a time there was an old man and an old woman who were very lonely. They decided to get a cat, but when the old man went out searching, he found not one cat, but millions and billions and trillions of cats! Unable to decide which one would be the best pet, he brought them all home. How the old couple came to have just one cat to call their own is a classic tale that has been loved for generations. Winner of a Newbery Honor, this collector's edition--featuring a heavy interior stock, spot gloss and embossing on the cover, and a thread-sewn binding--will bring this beloved tale to a whole new generation of readers.

Legacy

Wanda Gag pioneered the double-page spread in this book. Writer and reviewer Anita Silvey explained, "She used both pages to move the story forward, putting them together with art that sweeps across the entire page spread: her favorite illustration fell in the center of the book - with the old man carrying cats against the rolling hills."This book remains popular with children, parents, and critics alike. In 1001 Children's Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up, Kaylee Davis calls the book an "enchanting tale", and says "Gag's charming, folk-art style, simple black-and-white illustrations, lyrical language, and catchy refrain that children will happily repeat with each reading, make this a family favorite.

4. References

   1. 
      
5. "Millions of Cats by Wanda Gág". The Wild Place. Richland County Public Library. Archived from the original on 14 July 2011. Retrieved 20 November 2009.
6. 
   
7. Silvey, Anita (editor), The Essential Guide to Children's Books and Their Creators, Houghton Mifflin, 2002, pg. 169-171;
8. 
   
9. Anita Silvey, 100 Best Books for Children, Houghton Mifflin, Boston New York, 2004 ISBN 0-618-27889-3 p.18-19
10. 
    
Eccleshare, Julia (editor), Blake, Quentin 1001 Children's Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up, Universe Publishing, 2009

About the author (1993)

Audrey Wood is the author of many beloved books for children, including the bestselling classic The Napping House, its companion The Full Moon at the Napping House, Caldecott Honor Book King Bidgood's in the Bathtub, Heckedy Peg, Piggies, and Piggy Pie Po, all of which were illustrated by her husband, Don Wood. The Woods divide their time between California and Hawaii.

 

Grand Nanny Penguin had seven little penguins and she told a story about a little penguin who did not listen to Gran Nanny's tales. So as she was telling the tale, one little penguin snuck off by himself just like in Grand Nanny's tales. Now there are only six little penguins listening. The little penguin who went off had a great adventure. He was sliding on his tummy up and down the snowy mountains, dancing with The Gooney Birds, and then he followed them to a Walrus polar Club.

Inside the club, there was a big party. Little Penguin had so much fun, he cried "look at me. I'm the wildest of them all!" As he walked out of the club, the little penguin was extremely tired and he fell asleep near the edge of the ice. Next thing he knows he is in the mouth of a great whale. The little penguin was clever enough to jump out of the whale's mouth and run back home. He looked back at his tail and realized that the giant whale rip of his tail feathers.
"And that's the end of little Penguin's tale".

One thing neat that the author did was go back and forth between the little Penguin's adventure and the story that Grand Nanny Penguin told. It had a parallel plot. As Grand Nanny told her story, whatever happened in her story happened to little penguin.

This book was cute and could be great for kids who like to wander off, but don't realize they can get hurt or lost. Since it takes place in the artic, it also teaches kids what penguins do such as sliding down snow mountains on their bellies.
I love when authors throw the title, of the book, into the story... or do they finish writing the book and find the title within? Either way, you get that "Ah-ha" moment and it's exciting!

Summary:
The Little Penguins Tale is about a Nanny penguin who tells a tale about how a young penguin ran away. The young penguin went and danced with gooney birds, and then went to lay down for a nap. He was then snatched up by a whale and was eaten, but then penguins didn't like the end of that story so Nanny penguin changed it and the little penguin escaped and returned safely with only a few tail feathers missing.

Personal Reaction:
I think this a good book to read to children to teach them that if they run away or do something alone they might end up in some trouble.

Classroom Extension Ideas:
1. Make a penguin by painting the bottom of your foot and putting it on a piece of paper, add wings and then eyes and a nose.
2. Draw a picture of the penguin dancing with the gooney birds, and other animals. 

Desolate Katy Kangaroo has no pocket in which to carry her son Freddy, so she asks all the other animals how they carry their children and finally goes to the city to find a pocket of her own. Until Katy finds an apron with pockets, she is very sad, for she has no way in which to carry her baby. Katy's distress at being a kangaroo with no pouch is quickly remedied by a kindly construction worker.

Feedback from Users!

26 January 2010

Format: Paperback

I was bought this book when I went into hospital aged 5 (1970)and I have loved it ever since. It is a delightful book and has a lovely story about a dear mother kangaroo searching for a pocket. It is a favourite and so now I am trying to get a new copy for my son. For a book that is at least 40 years old it is timeless.

 

31 May 2016 - Published on Amazon.com

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Katy No-Pocket is just that a cute book about a kangaroo with no pocket.

This book is great as it opens up the conversation about kangaroos and how they carry their young as compared to other animals. It is also a way to discuss the concept of charity. Because, it is a charitable act that the workman gives Katy the apron off his back. It also opens up a conversation about empathy when the owl helps her out of concern for her sadness. I also like that it gives me an opportunity to discuss with my son the idea that sometimes things that seem bad aka Katy had no pocket to carry her baby; can become the catalyst for good aka Katy gets an apron with many pockets and she is able to carry many other animals when they need help.

The illustrations of H. A. Rey, Curious George's creator, are just as memorable, adorable, and lovable as always.

 

19 March 2018 - Published on Amazon.com

Verified Purchase

Katy No-pocket has been a favorite with my family for close to 25 years. It is an enchanting story that takes a problem and makes a creative solution. This book as had such an impact on my children (now adults) that everything they use must have many pockets!

 

10 May 2017 - Published on Amazon.com

Verified Purchase

I read this book as a child and recently went to Australia for the first time. I wanted to share my adventure with my preschool aged grandchildren so I brought it to their class and read it to them. I think they loved it too. I even got to talk a little about Kangaroos too. They all are familiar with Winnie the Pooh and his friend Kanga so this was a new opportunity to share a little more about Kangaroos...and in this case they were the main character!

 

13 December 2013 - Published on Amazon.com

Verified Purchase

We had borrowed this book from our local library and my 4 year old loved it. It became a nightly read and when we had to return it to the library she cried. So I started looking around for a copy. The one we found was a used copy from a library so I figured there would be marks in it or ripped pages, but for the couple of dollars I paid it would be ok. When we got the book other than the outer cover being dingy and one tiny rip on a page it was in excellent condition. One Clorox wipe and a tiny piece of tape and she is happy as can be with the book.

 

 

 

 

A grumpy old man and a shy young cat form an unlikely friendship at a Minnesota inn which provides its guests with a cat for the night. An engaging offbeat story made even funnier by Schneider's cheerful, cartoon-like illustrations.
Ever since his dog Raymond died, grumpy Horace P. Blumpoe has become even grumpier. But even a grouch has a soft spot, and lonely Horace prepares for his annual visit to his sister Edith. When car problems force him to check in at the Anderson House Hotel, Horace is offered a cat for companionship during his stay. The cranky guest refuses, of course, but an endearing kitty named Arnold decides that Blumpoe needs feline attention, and sneaks into his room. A frantic nocturnal confrontation of wills ensues, with Arnold determined to lavish attention on Blumpoe and Blumpoe equally determined not to receive it (although Blumpoe's grumpiness finally dwindles, influenced perhaps by his companion's persuasive purring). The next morning Horace departs, but not before he asks a maid for the cat's name and makes some very specific reservations for his return trip. Okimoto's poignant story (based on a real hotel) is complemented by winsome, nostalgic illustrations. Arnold's seemingly boneless body and silly putty face convey a variety of emotions that will melt readers' hearts as surely as that of Horace P. Blumpoe. Ages 4-8. (May)

 

About Bill and Pete

Tomie dePaola has created two memorable friends in this wonderfully funny picture book. Bill, the crocodile, and Pete, his “toothbrush” bird friend, were inspired by the Egyptian plover, which does indeed act as a crocodile toothbrush.

Their adventures together along the banks of the River Nile, which include Bill’s first day at crocodile school and an encounter with the Bad Guy from Cairo, are filled with the originality and offbeat humor of this favorite author-artist.


About the Author

Tomie dePaola was born in Meriden, Connecticut, in 1934, to a family of Irish and Italian background. His determination to create books for children led to a BFA from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York, and an MFA from the California College of Arts & Crafts in Oakland, California.

His particular way with color, line, detail, and design have earned him many of the most prestigious awards in his field, among them a Caldecott Honor Award for Strega Nona, the Smithsonian Medal, the Kerlan Award from the University of Minnesota for his “singular attainment in children’s literature,” the Catholic Library Association’s Regina Medal for his “continued distinguished contribution,” and the University of Southern Mississippi Medallion. He was also the 1990 United States nominee for the Hans Christian Andersen Medal for illustration, and received the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award for lifetime contribution to children’s literature in 2011.

DePaola has published almost 200 children’s books in 15 different countries over the past 30 years. Among his most well-known titles are the Strega Nona series, 26 Fairmount Avenue, and The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush.

DePaola lives in an interesting house in New Hampshire with his four dogs. His studio is in a large renovated 200-year-old barn.