Millions of Cats: Restored Classics to Go Edition

Wanda Gág (1893–1946) was a pioneering American author, illustrator, and printmaker, best known for her classic children's book Millions of Cats (1928), the oldest American picture book still in print. Born to German immigrant parents in New Ulm, Minnesota, Gág grew up in a household steeped in art and storytelling, which deeply influenced her creative development. Her father, an artist, encouraged her artistic pursuits before his early death when she was 15, thrusting her into the role of family breadwinner. Despite this hardship, Gág pursued her passion for art, attending the Minneapolis School of Art and later the Art Students League in New York. Gág's work bridged the gap between folk traditions and modernist aesthetics, blending whimsical illustrations with deeply humanistic themes. Millions of Cats, with its repetitive, almost hypnotic narrative and detailed pen-and-ink drawings, broke new ground in children's literature, offering a complex emotional landscape uncommon in the genre at the time. A feminist and advocate for artistic independence, Gág's work also extended to adult audiences through her prints, diaries, and essays, which revealed her keen insights on life, art, and the role of women in society. Her unique vision continues to inspire illustrators and writers today.