Module 2 | Millions of Cats

PLOT SUMMARY

A very old man and a very old woman are very, very lonely ... that is, until the old man ventures off to find the old woman a cat. But he doesn't just find one kitty companion; he finds millions and billions and trillions of cats! The enormous feline following trails him to his house, but it's the most humble of the adorable kittens who ultimately gets to call the house home.

MY IMPRESSIONS

The tale is charming in its simplicity, both in its words and illustrations. Michael O. Tunnell calls the book's rhythmic text "unforgettable," and it's easy to see why; the chanting of "hundreds of cats, thousands of cats, millions and billions and trillions of cats" is infectious fun for children and adults. Although it might not be as flashy as its modern counterparts, the book's whimsical world easily elevates this first American picture storybook to true classic status.

REVIEWS

"This Newbery Honor winner is distinguished by innovative design and a strong storyteller's cadence."
School Library Journal staff, One Hundred Books that Shaped the Century, Jan. 1, 2000

"The buried lessons in highly entertaining classics like Where the Wild Things Are and Millions of Cats ... are more engaging than those in books that explicitly exhort children to like themselves, eschew prejudice, value love over material objects and other such morals, important though they are."
Emily Jenkins, The New York Times Book Review, Nov. 11, 2007

USES IN THE LIBRARY

The book would be a great tie-in for a library pet photo contest, in which kids could bring in photos of their cats for display. It would also be a good addition to an online or in-library reading list of great American picture books.

CITATION:
Gag, Wanda (1928). Millions of cats. New York: Coward-McCann

Module 2 | The Cat Ate My Gymsuit

PLOT SUMMARY

Thirteen-year-old Marcy Lewis doesn't feel comfortable in her own skin ─ not at school, not at home, and certainly not in gym class. But this self-described "blimp" sees her confidence begin to build with the arrival of Ms. Finney, an English teacher like no other Marcy has ever encountered. Ms. Finney's encouraging demeanor and words of wisdom do wonders for Marcy and her classmates, which makes Ms. Finney's suspension, as a result of refusing to say the Pledge of Allegiance, especially devastating. However, it is this situation that allows Marcy to finally realize her full potential.

MY IMPRESSIONS

Next to Judy Blume's Margaret Simon, Marcy is one of the most achingly real young heroines in YA fiction. Author Paula Danziger delves into such painful realms as body issues, crushes, and domestic dysfunction with a frankness that young adults are sure to appreciate. A few of the characters ─ particularly Marcy's father ─ are a bit one-dimensional, but the majority of characters are easily relatable. Written more than 30 years ago, the book also offers modern preteens an interesting glimpse at life in the years following the women's liberation movement.

REVIEWS
"Written 30 years ago, this story explores a culture clash that is still relevant and meaningful. Conflicts within families and between generations never really change. Cultural changes always affect schools in many ways. This story of a young girl discovering her true worth is a modern classic."
Becky Young, The Lorgnette: Heart of Texas Reviews, Vol. 17, No. 4

"This breakthrough book has had many imitators; but this original (even with many 1970 oddities) is still outstanding."

Mary Purucker, KLIATT Review, July 2005, Vol. 39, No. 4

"In some ways the book is a painful read, because it seems so autobiographic, but the humor helps and kids will gain insights into family dynamics and come to admire Marcy."

Marilyn Courtot, Children's Literature, 1998

Read Courtot's full review at: http://www.childrenslit.com/childrenslit/mai_danziger_paula.html

USES IN THE LIBRARY

The book is ideal as a mother-daughter book club selection, as the novel knows no generational bounds. In addition, it would be an excellent choice for a program on popular female figures in YA fiction; the discussion resulting from such a program could be good fodder for a podcast on the library's web site.

CITATION:
Danziger, Paula (1974). The cat ate my gymsuit. New York: Puffin.