Photo by Clay Schuldt New Ulm Public Library has multiple copies of “Millions of Cats” available for rent. It is the oldest American picture book still in print. It has also enter public domain as of Jan. 1.

NEW ULM — The most high-profile published work to enter the public domain in 2024 is “Steamboat Willie,” which features the first appearance of Mickey Mouse.

However, in New Ulm, the focus is not on the mouse, but rather “Millions of Cats.”

In front of the New Ulm Public Library, there is a statue of New Ulm native Wanda Gág sketching a cat.

On the base of the statue is an image of a cat sleeping under a flower. This image was taken from Gág’s most famous book “Millions of Cats.”

Diana Schaefer, a member of the Gág Statue Committee remembered the long process to obtain the rights to get this image on the base.

“We had to get it just right,” Schaefer said. “We had to have it to the correct scale. It was a lot of work.”

In 2016, when the statue was being created, “Millions of Cats” and all the images in the book were still under copyright. No one could reproduce images from the book without permission from the book’s publisher.

As of midnight on Jan. 1, 2024, the copyright on thousands of published works expired. All works published in 1928 became part of the public domain, allowing anyone to publish or use the material without violating copyright law.

Wanda Gág’s Newberry Award-winning book was published 95 years ago in 1928, meaning the book and illustration within are free to be used by anyone. No publishing company can claim sole ownership of the work.

Wanda Gág’s childhood home in New Ulm is maintained as an interpretive center. Schaefer, who also serves on the Wanda Gág House Association board, confirmed that many people visit the house to learn about Gág. “Millions of Cats” remains the top seller in the association’s gift shop.

“I am very interested to see what people will do with it,” New Ulm Youth Service Librarian Kathryn Tatnall said. She anticipated “Millions of Cats” would become even more widely available now that the copyright expired. Specifically, Tatnall believed Gág’s illustrations for the book would see greater use. Her cat drawings could be used as stand-alone prints.

“Millions of Cats” has never been out of print since it was first published in 1928. In fact, it is the oldest American picture book still in print. Locally, the book is in high demand.

Multiple copies of the book are available to rent at the New Ulm Public Library. Tatnall said nine times out of ten, the book is already checked out.

With the copyright gone, the book could become even more well-known. Tatnall believed without the copyright it would be easier for others to cite and reference the book. This could help the general public better understand the book’s importance.

“Millions of Cats” was the first picture book to feature pictures and words on the same page.

Tatnall said there were picture books before “Millions of Cats” but each page would have either words or pictures. Gág would spread drawings across two pages, sometimes crossing the center. This style would be copied by nearly all picture books published and is still used today.

Tatnall said the importance of what Gág did with “Millions of Cats” cannot be understated as it helps with childhood development. Tatnall explained that different parts of the brain interpret words and pictures. By combining the two it helps build connections. That’s why she recommends picture books to kids and adults.

“Millions of Cats” is one of Gág’s first books to enter the public domain, but others will follow in the coming years. In 2025, her book “The Funny Thing” will join “Millions of Cats” as a public domain story. “Snippy and Snappy” will enter the public domain in 2027; and “The ABC Bunny” in 2029.

Gág’s translated version of Grimm Fairly Tales will need to wait until 2031 to become public domain.