Cat and Rat: The Legend of the Chinese Zodiac (An Owlet Book) (Paperback)

by Ed Young (Author, Illustrator) "One day, the Emperor decided to hold a race among all the animals in the land..." (more)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Animals race for a place in the Zodiac in this "complex and well-told" Chinese folktale, said PW, praising the "striking" design and dark, scumbled charcoal and pastel art. Ages 3-7.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 3?In this version of the story behind the Chinese zodiac, the Emperor challenges all of the creatures to a race through forest and river, saying he will name each of the 12 years in the cycle after the winners. Rat and Cat, the best of friends, ask the water buffalo to carry them across the river. In sight of the finish line, Rat pushes Cat into the water and jumps off the buffalo's back, coming in first. "And that is why, to this very day, Cat and Rat are enemies." Young tells the story in lively, spare prose, and includes a chart of the signs and their characteristics. His charcoal and pastel drawings on dark blue and buff rice paper are elegant and full of action. Yet because of the somber colors, the pictures are hard to read, especially from a distance. Setting white type on black background only adds to the gloom. Monica Chang's The Story of the Chinese Zodiac (Pan Asian, 1994), a bilingual import, illustrates the same story with paper sculptures that are brighter but more conventional, and without a chart connecting years to animals. Clara Yen's Why Rat Comes First (Childrens, 1991) tells a different version, and provides chart signs and years with brief explanations of the characteristics. Since 1996 will be the Year of the Rat, schools and libraries planning Chinese New Year celebrations can use Young's title, although the shadowed passion of his drawings forms an uneasy partnership with what is essentially a light trickster tale.?Margaret A. Chang, North Adams State College, MA
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) (November 15, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805060499
• ISBN-13: 978-0805060492
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 9.6 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #651,707 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable culturally-based literature!, November 25, 1999

By	Alissa Irion (Nashville, TN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cat and Rat: The Legend of the Chinese Zodiac (Hardcover)

This is one of my top picks for children's literature dealing with Chinese history and culture! The story is charmingly told in a manner that is convincingly authentic and is a good accompaniment to learning about the Chinese zodiac. This is culturally educational, as well as being a well-written children's story. I especially enjoyed the illustrations, as their color and texture conveyed a darkness and depth of emotion that is rather unique in children's literature.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars How the cat and the rat became enemies., March 5, 2007

By	Jerry Saperstein (Evanston, IL USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)

This is a wonderfully charming and beautifully illustrated children's book explaining the legend of how the Chinese years came to be named for animals. It really is a marvelous little tale, but don't plan on reading it in dim light. The illustrations are so low-key as to be invisible in low light and the reverse (white on black) text is equally unviewable. So save "Cat and Rat" for a daytime reading or with the lights full on.

The story itself, whether adapted from an actual Chinese legend, is wonderul. Cat and rat are great friends. The Emperor announces a contest, a race for all the animals. The first twelve animals to cross the finish line will have a year named in their honor.

How the friends cat and rat became enemies is an engaging tale. Words and pictures work well in this book.

Great for dramatic reading to the little ones in your life.

Jerry

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A dark, but interesting Chinese Legend, October 7, 2004

By	KSL "emma-and-me" (Florida, USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

This review is from: Cat and Rat: The Legend of the Chinese Zodiac (Hardcover)

I really like the Chinese legend of the Chinese Zodiac and how the animals where choosen and how the cat and the rat are no longer friends. I really like Ed Young, and my only problem is that it the book uses a lot of dark colors.