Wanda Hazel Ga’g

1. Wanda Hazel Ga’g March 11, 1893 – June 27, 1946

2. Wanda Hazel Gág was an American author, illustrator, and printmaker born in New Ulm, Minnesota. Many people compare Wanda Gág‘s life with that of Cinderella but it was her persistence, sacrifices, hard work and planning that can be attributed to her successes.

3. Wanda Gag was an artist internationally known for her lithographs. She was equally known as an author and illustrator of ten children's books, including Millions of Cats.

4. Wanda Ga’g was born in 1893 in a big family. Her father was a painter and photographer. Her mother was a very good story teller. From her early childhood Wanda had a talent for drawing.

5. After she graduated high school in 1912, Gág took a job as a teacher for a year. She also took on odd jobs such as writing and illustrating magazine articles, designing greeting cards and calendars, and painting lampshades.

6. In 1917 she illustrated A Child’s Book of Folk-Lore. Afterher Art exhibition in the New York Public Library in 1923,she became popular and famous.

7. Millions of Cats was published in 1928. It tells the simple story of a lonely old man and a lonely old woman who want a kitten to love. It was very different from the books that children were used to.

8. Millions of Cats — named a 1929 Newbery Honor Book and a Lewis Carroll Shelf Award Book — is a charming story that explores issues of vanity and humility. Ga`g's works are invaluable additions to the world of children's literature.

9. Her first three books, Millions of Cats, The Funny Thing, and Snippy and Snappy, were all done in pen-and-ink and in a similar format.

10. At the age of 53, it can be said that she fulfilled her father’s wish for her to become a celebrated artist, not only in the fine arts but in children’s literature as well.