Millions of Cats

Bibliography

Gág, W. (2006). Millions of cats. Penguin.

ISBN: 978-0142407080

Plot Summary

A very old man and woman were very lonely. They decided they needed a cat. The man set out to find them a cat. He came upon hundreds, and thousands, and millions and billions and trillions of cats. He couldn’t decide which to choose so he eventually brought them all home. The old woman was shocked to see him arrive back home with so many cats. They let the cats decide who was the prettiest but the cats began to fight. Eventually, the fighting ceased and the cats were all gone. The old couple surmised that the cats had eaten each other. Surprisingly, they saw one kitten in the grass. They asked the kitten how it managed to avoid the big fight and it told them that it didn’t think it was the prettiest cat, it was homely. They gave it milk and loved it and eventually it became the prettiest cat.

Critical Analysis

The reader is drawn into the story as the old man sets out on an adventure to find a cat. Readers are surprised when he finds so many cats. The repetition of hundreds, and thousands, and millions and billions and trillions of cats make it easy for even the youngest readers to participate in the reading. The part of the story when the cats begin to fight and eventually eat each other might be a bit  traumatic for today’s young children. Children today might have a hard time imagining this part of the story as cats are commonplace pets in the home. 

The black and white pen illustrations are a far cry from today’s bright, fancy picture books. It is the details that will draw readers in. The details of each cat will allow readers to imagine so many cats in one place. The journey of the old man through low valleys and hills is almost whimsical as the pictures cascade across two pages. The last pages illustrate just how loved and content the cat is and how happy and loved the old couple feel enjoying their pet cat.

Review Excerpts

1929 Newbery Honor

Top 100 Picture Books #21 by School Library Journal

From School Library Journal:

“The phrase “hundreds and thousands and millions and billions and

trillions of cats” still rings in my head from hundred and thousands (but not quite billions

and trillions) of readings.” – Ellen L. Ramsay

From Goodreads:

“A classic. Read it again and marvel at the simplicity of the story and the unique

lithography!” -Jewels

Connections

This book, along with others, would complement a lesson about “Then and Now” Compare pictures, writing, and ideas across several books. Collect books from several different decades to follow the evolution of picture books through time. Some additions for this connection could be:

• Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans (1940 Caldecott Honor)

• Bartholomew and the Oobleck by Dr. Seuss (1950 Caldecott Honor)

• The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats (1963 Caldecott Winner)

• The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg (1986 Caldecott Winner)

• Wolf in the Snow, illustrated and written by Matthew Cordell (2018 Caldecott Winner)

This book is the perfect addition to a Math lesson about comparing numbers. Write out the numbers on the board and compare their values.