MILLONS OF CATS, By Wanda Gag

Gag, Wanda.  Millions of Cats.  New York: Coward-McCann, 1928.  ISBN 0142407089

Meet the very old man and the very old woman who, despite their nice house, are quite lonely.  At the woman’s suggestion, the very old man sets out to find a cat for his wife, hoping a fluffy companion will help make her happy.  He walks through the country for a very long time before finding a hill that is covered with millions of cats.  Determined to bring back the prettiest one for his wife, the very old man has trouble choosing which one to take home.  In no time at all, he has selected every cat and makes his way back to the very old woman with millions of cats following behind.  The woman is shocked when her husband returns and insists they cannot keep all the cats, so she decides to let the animals themselves decide which one is most worthy of staying.  A catfight between millions ensues, until a lone surviving kitty is left.  This cat managed to outlast the others by being modest and quiet, proving that humility is the prettiest trait of all.

Wanda Gag’s classic picture book, MILLIONS OF CATS, stands out with its rhythmic flow and exquisitely detailed illustrations.  Any child who has ever wanted to get a pet will anxiously follow along with the very old man’s journey to find a cat for his wife.  Gag’s use of hyperbole astonishes readers into imagining how very many cats he ends up finding, so many that they can drink up an entire pond and eat a whole field of grass!  The book’s echo phrase of “hundreds of cats, thousands of cats, millions and billions and trillions of cats” stretches out like the long line of cats following the old man home, while also encouraging participation during a read-aloud.  MILLIONS OF CATS is more text-heavy than most picture books, but its delightful story of an amazing feat of cats continues to win over new generations of young readers.

Gag’s carefully drawn, black and white illustrations perfectly depict the parade of cats that make their way back to the very old woman’s house.  The lines and patterns in her pictures repeat to show the many bricks on the house, trees on the hills, clouds in the sky and millions of cat eyes, gazing up at the very old man.  Each picture stretches out across the page, much like the journey of the very old man as he makes his way out to the cats and back home again.

MILLIONS OF CATS’s simple theme reminds children that vanity is dangerous, so much so that an army of cats could eat each other up over an argument about who is prettiest.  While a bit dramatic in making her point, Gag’s winning message is clearly evident in the little kitten that earns a home with the very old man and the very old woman.  Humility outlasts vanity.

This Newberry Honor book is one of the School Library Journal’s “One Hundred Books that Shaped the Century.”  The New York Times calls it “a perennial favorite,” and The School Library Journal praises its “innovative design” and “strong storyteller’s cadence.”  MILLIONS OF CATS is a must-have for every picture book collector’s shelf.

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If you enjoy classic picture books, such as Wanda Gag’s MILLIONS OF CATS, you might also like:

Caps for Sale: A Tale of a Peddler, Some Monkeys and Their Monkey Business, By Esphyr Slobodkina, ISBN 0064431436

The Story of Ferdinand, By Munro Leaf, ISBN 0140502343

For more read-aloud books with an engaging echo repetition, try:

Tiki Tiki Tembo, by Arlene Mosel, ISBN 03122367481

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Sources:

http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2012/06/11/top-100-picture-books-21-millions-of-cats-by-wanda-gag/

THE PIGEON FINDS A HOT DOG!, By Mo Willems

Willems, Mo.  The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog!.  New York: Hyperion Books for Children, 2011.  ISBN 0786818697

Our favorite city bird is back, this time in THE PIGEON FINDS A HOT DOG!, by Mo Willems.  The story begins when the Pigeon gets lucky and stumbles upon a hot dog, free for the taking.  After a brief celebration of his discovery, he prepares to take a bite out of the hot dog when, out of nowhere, the Duckling scoots into the picture.  Full of questions, the Duckling has never tried a hot dog before and is quite curious as to what they taste like.  The Pigeon, at first bothered by the interruption, proceeds to explain the joys of a hot dog with great enthusiasm.  However, he soon turns suspicious, certain that the Duckling is attempting to trick him into giving him the hot dog.  The Pigeon becomes quite exasperated with the Duckling, until the small duck suggests an idea that saves the day: the two birds can cut the hot dog in half and share the tasty treat.

Mo Willems delights readers with this short and quirky tale about sharing with your friends.  The Pigeon’s dramatic outbursts and tendency to overreact are sure to make kids laugh, while the clever Duckling is both charming and comical.  Willems’s characters make the story engaging and interactive by glancing out at the reader and even addressing them directly, such as when the Pigeon exclaims, “Can you believe this guy?!,” in a moment of sheer exasperation with the Duckling.  Willems uses his familiar graphic drawings and speech bubbles to illustrate the book, allowing the characters and their dialogue to carry the story.  The illustrations give a backdrop setting, showing only solid pastel backgrounds, which leave the story’s location to the imagination of the reader.  The Pigeon’s anger is evident through Willems’s font choice of block letters that grow bolder and larger with the bird’s growing annoyance, and the Duckling’s unassuming yet clever personality shines through his own small and succinct lettering.  The illustrations in THE PIGEON FINDS A HOT DOG! are simple and minimal, which works to highlight the back-and-forth banter between the two eccentric birds.  The book’s message is apparent by the story’s end, as children will be reminded to share what they have with those around them.

Publishers Weekly praises that “Readers of all ages won’t be able to resist miming the sly conversation in this satisfying sequel.”  The Horn Book states, “This well-paced story encourages audience interaction.”  Children will celebrate the Pigeon’s return in THE PIGEON FINDS A HOTDOG! and will quickly relate to his dilemma of having something they just don’t want to give away or share. 

As a big fan of Willems’s DON’T LET THE PIGEON DRIVE THE BUS!, I was slightly disappointed with this follow-up book starring the same character.  I missed more of the Pigeon’s interaction with me, the reader, as he tried to convince me to let him break the rules.  While the Pigeon still showed his determination to get his way in THE PIGEON FINDS A HOTDOG!, it was not as entertaining for me when he mainly conversed with the Duckling instead of the reader.  I think this sequel was lacking the personal engagement that makes the Pigeon books so funny and loveable.  However, for other fans of DON’T LET THE PIGEON DRIVE THE BUS, I would recommend Willems’s DON’T LET THE PIGEON STAY UP LATE, where the Pigeon is back to his old antics of interacting with readers in hopes of convincing them to let him break the rules and stay up late.

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For more adventures of the Pigeon and his friends, try reading:

Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!, By Mo Willems, ISBN 078681988X

Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late!, By Mo Willems, ISBN 0786837546

The Pigeon Wants a Puppy!, By Mo Willems, ISBN 1423109600

Readers who like THE PIGEON FINDS A HOTDOG!'s cartoon illustrations may also like:

Scardey Squirrel, By Melanie Watts, ISBN 1554530327

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Sources:

http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-7868-1869-3

http://bookverdict.com/details.xqy?uri=Product-24794515.xml

GRANDPA GREEN, by Lane Smith

Smith, Lane.  Grandpa Green.  New York: Roaring Book Press, 2011.  ISBN 1596436077

According to his great-grandson, Grandpa Green has lived a long and full life.  He was born before cell phones (so yes, a really long time ago) and grew up on a farm raising animals and vegetables.  As his great-grandson walks readers though Grandpa Green’s lifetime of school, world war, love and family, we see his story unfold in the carefully shaped shrubs of his beloved garden.  But now he is older and remembering his past does not come easy for Grandpa Green, so it is lucky he has his garden to remind him.  Like an elephant that never forgets, Grandpa Green’s masterpiece of plants and shrubs help him remember and share his unforgettable life.

Smith’s story carefully unfolds to reveal the love and admiration a boy has for his great-grandpa, while also walking young readers through the history of a respected generation.  The book shares important life milestones with children, from getting the chicken pox during grade school to falling in love while serving your country, but does so in a way that allows them to fill in the details with their own imaginations.  The subtle symbols throughout the story, such as a large forgetful elephant for Grandpa Green and a tree that twists and grows through the seasons of his life, will delight and surprise readers both young and old.

Smith’s whimsical illustrations let the real stars of the book shine: Grandpa Green’s exquisitely carved topiaries.  The large white backgrounds and simply drawn characters allow the bold green shrubs to pop off the pages, inviting readers to closely examine the details and layers of each garden scene.  The pictures seem to move across the span of the pages, creating the feeling of time passing throughout Grandpa Green’s life.  The book’s surprise ending is a double-page foldout spread that depicts Grandpa’s entire garden with his final creation, his great-grandson, carved carefully in the middle.

The New York Time Book Review praises GRANDPA GREEN as “an unassuming little masterpiece,” while the The Horn Book calls Smith’s story “a thoughtful, eloquent, and elegantly illustrated book to explore, consider, and read again.”  A 2012 Caldecott Honor Book, GRANDPA GREEN can help spur conversations between children and grandparents, opening the doors to topics such as family history and aging relatives.  A timeless story that can be shared again and again, GRANDPA GREEN will appeal to all generations.

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Children who enjoy GRANDPA GREEN’s magical garden may also like reading:

Voices in the Park, written by Anthony Browne. ISBN 078948191X

Red Sings From Treetops: A Year in Colors, written by Joyce Sidman, illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski.  ISBN 0547014945

For more reading on the bond between grandparents and their grandchildren, check out:

The Imaginary Garden, written by Andrew Larsen, illustrated by Irene Luxbacher. ISBN 1554532795

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Sources:

http://www.hbook.com/2012/01/choosing-books/reviews/reviews-of-the-2012-caldecott-winners/

http://us.macmillan.com/grandpagreen/LaneSmith

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