Year of the Cat

Every year is the Year of the Cat!

A legendary race determined the order of the animals in the Chinese zodiac calendar . . . but what happened to Cat, the one animal who never received a year? Rat, Cat, and their eleven friends star in this funny animal adventure that introduces young readers to both the Chinese zodiac and the importance of apologizing. For fans of This Is Not My Hat and We Don’t Eat Our Classmates.

Rat won the Great Race, which determined the order of the Chinese zodiac calendar. But he did it using trickery that left poor Cat behind. Now, Rat wants to make amends . . . or so he says. Rat, Pig, Dog, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Horse, Snake, Dragon, Tiger, Rabbit, and Ox all set off to apologize to Cat. Yet somehow, by the end of the journey, Rat is the only one left. And Cat has a special surprise for him.

Richard Ho’s sly and perfectly paced text unfolds an exciting animal adventure, full of nods to the traditional Great Race tale. And watch out for an unexpected, delicious twist when Cat doesn’t find Rat’s apology quite sincere! Jocelyn Li Langrand’s joyful and expressive illustrations bring the journey to vibrant life, full of details that reward a closer look. Together thetext and art are an homage to the traditional Great Race tale and a funny, subversive update for today’s young readers. 

“In the ancient Chinese tale of the Great Race, Cat did not win a spot in the zodiac because Rat pushed her into a river right before the finish line. Now, Rat is feeling guilty. He enlists the other animals in the zodiac to ‘find the one they left behind.’ . . . A colorful and daring adventure, making dynamic use of perspective . . . Ho and Langrand have created a whimsical sequel to the Chinese folktale . . . An enjoyable twist on the timeless Chinese zodiac tale.” - Kirkus Reviews

“The Chinese folktale of the Great Race, which determined the 12 animals to be featured in the Chinese zodiac, here gets a suspenseful And Then There Were None treatment. . . . The striking digital illustrations provide marvelous action and cunning details about each animal and its home. . . . The aftermath of the showdown between Cat and Rat delivers a satisfying twist.” - Booklist

“Rat, victor of the legendary race that determined the Chinese zodiac calendar order, feels guilty, not for claiming the calendar’s first year, but for pushing Cat into the river and leaving her behind. . . . Ho’s largely conversational text unfolds as each animal, in reverse race-winning order, falls folly to a predominant trait. . . . Rat again finishes first, but an unexpected twist from Cat plays on felines’ perennial popularity. Li Langrand’s vibrant, digitally drawn depiction is rich with details in this amusing homage to a classic tale.”  - Publishers Weekly