"Millions of Cats" by Wanda Gag
Bibliography
Summary
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A very old couple go in search of a cat
and find quite a bit more than they bargained for!
Analysis
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I hadn’t immediately remembered reading
this book until I started reading it to my daughter tonight, then it hit me
like a train full of cats. Somebody must have read this to me as a very young
child! The black and white illustrations are very simple and to-the-point, but
the storyline is a ringer. Every young child dreams of asking for one pet and
receiving a trillion instead! The featured cats are even drawn with their tiny
personalities showing through in their illustrated antics, as they are surprisingly
individual despite their monochromatic coloring.
Though this is a bit long for a picture
book, much of the story revolves around some memorable repetition. The
chorus-like repetition of, “hundreds of cats, thousands of cats, millions and
billions and trillions of cats,” is quite catchy and had my froggy 3 year old
chanting along happily. The repetition serves to build the child’s cognitive
and verbal skills while making them believe they are just having fun!
In the end, the kitten they couple adopt
is just a scraggly scrap of feline, but their tender love and care helps him to
grow into a beautiful cat. Much like the tender love and care we give our
children helps them to grow into adults. Though this is something they may not
understand this in reference to their own lives, they get it when a cute kitten
is involved. This book can help them to understand how their actions can affect
others.
Reviews
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Newberry Honor Book, 1929
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