Cat and Rat

Cat and Rat: The Legend of the Chinese Zodiac

Bibliography

Young, Ed. 1995. CAT AND RAT: THE LEGEND OF THE CHINESE ZODIAC. New York, NY: Henry Holt and Company. ISBN 080502977X

Plot Summary

A story about the Chinese zodiac signs and how each of the signs got their names from the certain animals represented by them.

Critical Analysis

An interesting take on how the animals competed to become the Chinese zodiacs and how cats and rats became enemies. Young uses simple language to depict this tale, which is greatly overshadowed by the wispy, ghostlike illustrations. Some readers, like myself, would be fascinated by the abstract images, which come across as sinister and haunting while other readers might find them just a bit frightening. The images on the dark background also might disinterest some readers who might not be able to see well. 

I believe that Young made an interesting choice when combining these kinds of images with what many have interpreted as a light trickster tale, and to some degree, it works. His take makes the rivalry between the cat and the rat that much more serious and makes the rat out to be essentially the villain of the tale. I think that this book will turn heads and draw more people to Young and his works, such as his other interpretation of the tale, Lon Po Po, where Young also uses his darker illustrations.

Review Excerpts

Horn Book Guide: "Darkly hued, abstract pastels on rice paper and white type on a black background create a sinister interpretation of this traditional tale."

School Library Journal: "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."

Kirkus Review: "The text is printed along the side of page, black on white. Inclusion of a page of horoscopes along with the Gregorian equivalents to the animals' years will intrigue readers, but the story may not keep them involved to the end."

Connections

More by Ed Young: Lon Po Po: A Red-Riding Hood Story from China

                                Seven Blind Mice

                                Hook

More Books about the Chinese Zodiacs: Dragon Noodle Party: A Story of Chinese Zodiac Animals by                                                                     Ying Chang Compestine

                                                                 Chinese Zodiac Animals by Sanmu Tang

                                                                Chinese Zodiac (Who Are You?): by Virginia Loh-Hagan

Activity: Discover your Chinese zodiac. What does it say about you?