Screen shot by Clay Schuldt Youth Service Librarian Kathryn Tatnall reads Gag’s book “ABC Bunny” to a virtual audience Saturday.

NEW ULM — The New Ulm Public Library premiered a new video on YouTube and Facebook Saturday, celebrating Wanda Gag’s 128 birthday.

Gag is best known for writing and illustrating children’s books. Her book “Millions of Cats” is the oldest American picture book still in print. Every year the New Ulm Public Library holds a special event honoring Gag the Saturday after her birthday. This year due to the COVID pandemic, the celebration was a virtual celebration.

In the video, Youth Service Librarian Kathryn Tatnall read Gag’s book “ABC Bunny.”

Tatnall said she loved “ABC Bunny” because it was a great way to teach the alphabet, but it also took readers on a journey. Each letter of the alphabet was represented on the bunny’s adventure.

Tatnall said Gag was celebrated not only for her excellent illustrations and storytelling but for her innovative method of writing picture books. Before Gag, picture books usually contained one page of text for every illustrated page. Gag decided to stretch illustrations across two pages with the text on the bottom. This helped bring readers into the drawings. After Gag the entire layout of picture books changed.

After reading the book, Tatnall taught viewers how to make a bunny finger puppet as an arts and craft project. Young kids could play with the puppet as they read through this and other books.

The video can be viewed on the library’s Facebook page.

Tatnall said with confidence that next year the library celebrates Gag’s birthday in-person at the library.