The Story of the Chinese Zodiac

Retold by Lien Thich and Robbie Ho

A long time ago, the Jade Emperor wanted to choose 12 animals so that people didn’t forget their age and what year they were born.

One day, the Jade Emperor had the river crossing race. The first twelve animals to finish the race would be the animals of the Chinese Zodiac.

All the animals were happy and excited

The cat, rat and ox started the race. While they crossed the river, the rat pushed the cat into the river.

The rat was the 1st to finish the race, the ox was 2nd place.

1st 2nd

The tiger was 3rd, the rabbit was 4th and the dragon was 5th to finish.

3rd 4th

5th

5th

The snake became 6th, and the horse stumbled behind the snake and it became 7th.

6th

7th

The goat was 8th, the monkey was 9th, and the rooster was 10th.

8th

9th

10th

The dog was almost late from playing in the water, but it became 11th.

11th

The pig was 12th, the last to finish the race.

12th

The race was over and the Jade Emperor found the 12 animals in the zodiac.

The poor cat finally came and it was wet. The Jade Emperor told the cat that it was 13th, and the 12 animals were already chosen.

The cat was very angry at the rat. From that day on, the cat and the rat remain as enemies.

The End

We are in the year of the Dragon.

What animal is next for year 2013?

Year of the Snake.

Which animal wins 1st place?

The rat wins 1st place.

Which animal wins 12th place?

The pig wins 12th place.