When the Great Emperor of Heaven invites the animals to visit him at sunrise, the rat promises to wake the cat at dawn. Instead, the rascal lets the cat sleep, rides atop the ox, and leaps off to be the first in line for the viewing, followed by the ox, the tiger, and nine other animals. The Emperor greets and assigns each creature a year in the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac. When the cat discovers the rat's ruse, their friendship dissolves, hence cats chase rats to this day. No source is cited, but Mina Harada Eimon's Why Cats Chase Mice (1993) tells a Japanese version of the same story with cartoon-style illustrations. This shorter narrative features easily identified animals imaginatively rendered in stylized red-and-black linoleum prints, accompanied by graceful Chinese calligraphy. AGES: 4-8 AUTHOR: In her life and in her work, China has had an enormous influence on Catherine Louis. Although she lives in Switzerland, a small piece of her heart has moved far away to the land of the dragon. Louis is also the author and illustrator of Liu and the Bird, published by NorthSouth Books. Marie Sellier loves to talk about art to children, but what she loves best is to write children's books that bring art to life for them. REVIEWS: "...the story's unique subject and engaging artwork create an enjoyable resource for celebrating Chinese New Year and may prompt children to invent their own symbols and attributes." -Kirkus Reviews Colour illustrations
