One of the great things about Public Domain Day is that every year, a treasure trove of “new” old books enters the public domain in the U.S., allowing the volunteers at Distributed Proofreaders and Project Gutenberg to turn them into free e-books. Among the gems that entered the public domain in 2024 is Wanda Gág‘s delightful children’s book, Millions of Cats.
The book, which Gág both wrote and illustrated, was published in 1928 and has never been out of print. In fact, it’s considered to be the oldest American picture book still in print. In 1929, it won a Newbery Honor award, given for distinguished contributions to American children’s literature.
Millions of Cats tells the story of a lonely old couple who want to adopt a cat. The husband goes in search of one and finds a hill covered in “Millions and billions and trillions of cats.” He can’t decide which one he likes best, so he winds up taking all of them home. Without spoiling the ending, let’s just say that a cat-astrophe ensues…
Gág’s charming illustrations, reminiscent of European folk-art woodcuts, were no doubt influenced by her ethnic background. She was born in 1893 to German immigrants who had settled in Minnesota. She was 15 when her father, an artist and photographer, died of tuberculosis, leaving the family impoverished. Despite pressure to quit school and get a job to support her family, she finished high school and became a teacher for a time. Then, with the help of scholarships, friends, and a wealthy patron, she studied at various art schools, including the Art Students League of New York. The practical education she received there enabled her to earn a living as a commercial artist. Soon, Gág’s art was being featured in public exhibits, published in national magazines, and sold through prominent art galleries.
Millions of Cats wasn’t Gág’s only award-winning foray into children’s literature. The ABC Bunny (1933), written for her nephew, also won a Newbery Honor; Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1938) and Nothing at All (1941) received Caldecott Honors. Although those books are not yet in the public domain, you can now enjoy her unique and enchanting artwork in Millions of Cats thanks to the volunteers at Distributed Proofreaders and Project Gutenberg.
Hot off the Press 