The Great Race [Hardcover]

Dawn Casey (Author), casey Dawn (Author), Anne Wilson (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 6, 2006 | Age Level: 6 and up | Grade Level: 1 and up

Race long with Rat, Monkey, Dragon, and their companions while discovering the origin of the Chinese Zodiac. This bright and colorful book includes intriguing notes about the Chinese calendar, the festivals, and the animal that rules each year.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 4–The Jade Emperor is concerned because his country does not have a calendar, and no one can tell one year from the next. He decides to hold a race across a great river, and the order in which the animals finish will determine the order of the years. The event is exciting as the creatures maneuver for position, only to be bested in the end by the clever Rat. In this retelling of the ancient legend, Casey maintains the pace well. Back matter includes information about the Chinese calendar in general, as well as the more specific Dragon Boat Festival and Moon Festival. The book is a visual treat, with illustrations in simple collage designs on acrylic and painted backgrounds placed in such a way as to keep the eye engaged and moving. The palette is a pleasing mix of intense and muted tones. An attractive addition for most collections.–Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ
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Review

"In The Great Race, Anne Wilson's whimsical collages even include baubles hanging from the trees on the riverbank, capturing the joyous spirit of this story about the Chinese Zodiac." --Foreward Magazine

"In this retelling of the ancient legend, Casey maintains the pace well. Back matter includes information about the Chinese calendar in general, as well as the more specific Dragon Boat Festival and Moon Festival. The book is a visual treat, with illustrations in simple collage designs on acrylic and painted backgrounds placed in such a way as to keep the eye engaged and moving. The palette is a pleasing mix of intense and muted tones. An attractive addition for most collections." --School Library Journal

"Prepared in collaged papers with acrylic and printed backgrounds, Wilson's creatively stylized folk art gives this retelling of an ancient legend a distinctive look. Youngsters will likely enjoy the final spread, which lists the years that fall under each respective animal, and the characteristics of people born under that sign." --Publishers Weekly

"In this retelling of the ancient legend, Casey maintains the pace well. Back matter includes information about the Chinese calendar in general, as well as the more specific Dragon Boat Festival and Moon Festival. The book is a visual treat, with illustrations in simple collage designs on acrylic and painted backgrounds placed in such a way as to keep the eye engaged and moving. The palette is a pleasing mix of intense and muted tones. An attractive addition for most collections." --School Library Journal

"In The Great Race, Anne Wilson's whimsical collages even include baubles hanging from the trees on the riverbank, capturing the joyous spirit of this story about the Chinese Zodiac." --Foreward Magazine

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Barefoot Books (August 6, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1905236778
• ISBN-13: 978-1905236770
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,077,731 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #54 in Books > Children's Books > Fairy Tales, Folk Tales & Myths > Asian

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A picturebook retelling of an ancient Chinese legend, December 3, 2007

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Great Race (Hardcover)

The Great Race: The Story of the Chinese Zodiac is a picturebook retelling of an ancient Chinese legend of how their annual calendar came to be. The Jade Emperor decreed a grand race between the animals to determine the order of the years. Thirteen animals raced, but the rat, eager to be first, tricked the unfortunate cat into missing the finish line completely - as a result, the rat and the cat remain worst enemies to this very day! Playful color illustrations by Anne Wilson add an enthusiastic touch to this adventurous narrative, rounded out with fun facts about the Chinese calendar and Chinese astrology.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Intro to Chinese Horoscope, March 17, 2007

By 

RFN (NYC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Great Race (Hardcover)

I purchased this boook for use in a Third grade unit on China. I ended up using it with my Kindergarten and First grade social studies classes as well. It's a little wordy in parts for the very young children but can be easily abridged without losing the context of the story.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars chinese zodiac book, April 10, 2008

By 

D. B. (Oregon United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Great Race (Hardcover)

I bought this so my daughters could better understand the Chinese zodiac and all the animals. it has a great story that is very understandable to them (ages 2 and 4) and the pictures are great too. highly recommended.