Cat and Rat: The Legend of the Chinese Zodiac
Holt, 1995
Pondering about the new year, resolutions, and traditions, I thought that Ed Young's Cat and Rat would be a fitting book to begin 2011. Young's retelling of the Chinese zodiac story comes closest to my mother's version, which focused on explaining the antagonistic relationship between felines and rodents. Once they were friends, but the legendary race that pitted hare against horse and feathers against scales, killed that camaraderie. The flying and the fleet were no match for the cunning and unscrupulous. Young's prose focuses on the competition and the count as each animal crosses the finish: Number one! Number two! and so forth. His illustrations are replete with movement and intensity, flaring nostrils and wide-eyed effort, but they are also quite dark and rather hazy with charcoal smudges. And the black background adds to the darkness. In my mind's eye, the race should take place under brilliant sun and festive atmosphere. But given the rat's treachery, Young's interpretation may be more appropriate. The guide to the zodiac at the book's beginning reveals your personal traits.
Speaking of counting, I thought it was a good time to mark my progress toward 365 books.
45 reviews in November plus 18 reviews in December make 63 book reviews in 2010. This is review #64.
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