The Race for the Chinese Zodiac

An entertaining and educational retelling of a classic Chinese legend.
The Jade Emperor has declared a great race: the first animals to cross the river will win a place in the Chinese Zodiac. Thirteen animals line up along the shore. But there are only twelve places to be won. Who will miss out? This classic Chinese legend makes an exciting picture book.

“The Race for the Chinese Zodiac is a gorgeous version of a classic Chinese legend, which is both entertaining and educational. Wang's text captures both the excitement of the race and the character of the thirteen animals, and the illustrations are exquisite. A combination of brush and ink, linocut and digital media creates a satisfying whole with rich oranges and golds prominent. The design and layout makes this a real visual treasure.”

The Race for the Chinese Zodiac is a gorgeous version of a classic Chinese legend, which is both entertaining and educational. Wang’s text captures both the excitement of the race and the character of the thirteen animals, and the illustrations are exquisite. A combination of brush and ink, linocut and digital media creates a satisfying whole with rich oranges and golds prominent. The design and layout makes this a real visual treasure. -- Sally Murphy Aussie Reviews

Gabrielle Wang is an award-winning author and illustrator born in Melbourne of Chinese heritage. Her great grandfather came to Australia in 1853 during the Gold Rush and so her stories are a blend of Chinese and Western culture with a touch of fantasy. A Ghost in My Suitcase won Best Children’s Novel in the 2009 Aurealis Award. The Lion Drummer was named a CBCA Notable Book in 2008. The Race for the Chinese Zodiac was a Notable Book in the 2011 CBCA Picture Book of the Year Awards.

Sally Rippin was born in Darwin, but grew up mainly in South-East Asia. As a young adult she spent three years in China studying traditional brush and ink painting in Shanghai and Hangzhou. Now Sally lives in Melbourne, where she writes and illustrates for children of all ages. She has had over forty children’s books published, many of them award-winning, including two novels for young adults. Her most recent books include the popular Billie B Brown series, the Hey Jack! series and Angel Creek.

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