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

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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.
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7. Silvey, Anita (editor), The Essential Guide to Children's Books and Their Creators, Houghton Mifflin, 2002, pg. 169-171;
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9. Anita Silvey, 100 Best Books for Children, Houghton Mifflin, Boston New York, 2004 ISBN 0-618-27889-3 p.18-19
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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.