Description

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. 

About the Author

Richard Ho was born in the Year of the Monkey. He is the author of the acclaimed picture books Red Rover: Curiosity on Mars, illustrated by Katherine Roy, and The Lost Package, illustrated by Jessica Lanan. He lives with his family in New Jersey. They have a pet rabbit, but they are also strongly considering getting a cat.

Jocelyn Li Langrand is the author and illustrator of If You Miss Me. When she discovered the Chinese zodiac animals as a child, she told her mom she wanted her year to be the Year of the Rabbit—and it was! Ever since, she has believed one can simply choose one’s own zodiac animal and decide one’s own fate. Jocelyn Li Langrand lives with her family in London.

Praise For…

“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