The Great Race
The Story of the Chinese Zodiac
The Story of the Chinese Zodiac
Written by Dawn Casey
Illustrated by Anne Wilson
1. Type of Book: Picture Story Book
2. Format: Paperback, perfect bound
3. Multicultural: Yes- referring to the Chinese Zodiac as it is still observed today in many Asian cultures.
4. Awards: N/A
5. Age Appropriate: 5 years old and up- Teacher may adjust the difficulty of the reading.
6. Brief Synopsis:
Thirteen animals in China enter a race created by the Emperor. The winner will be given the honor of having his name be the first year of the new calendar. Each animal has different characteristics that help them through the race. They encounter different challenges as they each hope to win.
7. Interaction:
This book can be very interactive in that children can take turns guessing which animal will win, at the end they can check which animal belongs to their year of birth.
8. Quality:
a) Bright Colors
b) Characterization- Animals in action
c) Suspense- Who will win
d) Aesthetic Appeal- Oriental drawings and some calligraphy
e) Charm
f) Cultural Insight- Teaches Chinese celebrations and cultural aspects
9. Debrief:
a) Why did the Emperor create the race?
b) Which animal do you think will win?
c) What do you think is the most important trait to win?
d) Why do you think the rat wins?
e) Why do you think the cat was last?
f) How did the animals celebrate the race?
10. Activities:
a) Children can make puppets from paper bags to create all the animals of the race.
b) The teacher can show children the zodiac and try to guess each other’s animal through their characteristics.
c) The class can eat Chinese food to celebrate the Chinese new year: Noodles, cookies, egg rolls.
e) The students can choose an animal and talk about its traits according to the Chinese zodiac.
Illustrated by Anne Wilson
1. Type of Book: Picture Story Book
2. Format: Paperback, perfect bound
3. Multicultural: Yes- referring to the Chinese Zodiac as it is still observed today in many Asian cultures.
4. Awards: N/A
5. Age Appropriate: 5 years old and up- Teacher may adjust the difficulty of the reading.
6. Brief Synopsis:
Thirteen animals in China enter a race created by the Emperor. The winner will be given the honor of having his name be the first year of the new calendar. Each animal has different characteristics that help them through the race. They encounter different challenges as they each hope to win.
7. Interaction:
This book can be very interactive in that children can take turns guessing which animal will win, at the end they can check which animal belongs to their year of birth.
8. Quality:
a) Bright Colors
b) Characterization- Animals in action
c) Suspense- Who will win
d) Aesthetic Appeal- Oriental drawings and some calligraphy
e) Charm
f) Cultural Insight- Teaches Chinese celebrations and cultural aspects
9. Debrief:
a) Why did the Emperor create the race?
b) Which animal do you think will win?
c) What do you think is the most important trait to win?
d) Why do you think the rat wins?
e) Why do you think the cat was last?
f) How did the animals celebrate the race?
10. Activities:
a) Children can make puppets from paper bags to create all the animals of the race.
b) The teacher can show children the zodiac and try to guess each other’s animal through their characteristics.
c) The class can eat Chinese food to celebrate the Chinese new year: Noodles, cookies, egg rolls.
e) The students can choose an animal and talk about its traits according to the Chinese zodiac.
-Ana C.
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