• Age: 0 to 10
• Grade: p to 5

Twelve in a Race takes readers through the origin story of the Chinese zodiac, including the beginning, middle, and ending of the Emperor’s great race. Young readers will enjoy the rhyming pattern and driving question of “Who will win?” Catherine Little, author of Twelve in a Race, was inspired to write this story for her son so that he could learn more about his Chinese heritage. Twelve in a Race’s illustrations, done by Sae Kimura, an artist originally from Odawara, Japan, richly portray this version of the Chinese zodiac legend and imaginatively showcase each animal’s individual character traits throughout the Emperor’s race. Readers will enjoy finding out which animal placed first, which placed last, and which animal correlates to their birth year. Be sure to make room on your bookshelf for this keepsake to read every Lunar New Year and many times in between!

Catherine Little's profile page

Sae Kimura's profile page

CATHERINE LITTLE is an educator, consultant, and writer with a love of children’s books. She wrote Twelve in a Race as a way to introduce her son to another zodiac story in his Chinese heritage. Catherine resides in Toronto, Ontario with her husband and son.

SAE KIMURA is an artist and illustrator originally from Odawara, Japan, now working and exhibiting her art in Toronto and elsewhere. Her artwork can be found in many galleries and private collections.

Twelve in a Race is a charming retelling of the story behind the 12 animals that form the Chinese zodiac. The basic premise, across multiple variations, is that the Jade Emperor — or Buddha, in some stories — holds a race, and the first 12 animals to cross the finish line win a spot on the zodiac.

The brisk, breathless pace of Catherine Little’s rhymes celebrates each animal’s strengths while softening some of the sharper edges. For example, Rat and Snake win their spots by taking advantage of Ox and Horse, but rather than passing judgment herself, Little asks the reader to reflect, “was that wrong?” About Pig, who comes in 12th, Little writes, “A nap hurt his race but was good for his health.” Pig’s performance is sometimes judged as laziness, so Little’s take is refreshing.

Sae Kimura’s illustrations are simply joyful. Each animal finishes the race on a full-colour, two-page spread that bursts with energy. You can almost feel how Rabbit is “[blown] forward by strong winds that came from behind.” Dragon in the background, clearly providing the “strong winds,” is a lovely detail. And the ecstatic grin on Tiger’s face reflects how they “[cross] the river amid loud cheers.”

The final spread, announcing “[a] year for each winner, noble traits to bestow” is a delightfully triumphant finale, with the animals in a row, all sporting gold medals. Snake’s self-satisfied grin, Dragon’s regal posture, Ox’s shy gaze, and Monkey’s mischievous smile speak to their personalities. The concluding line, “Is this how you thought it would unfold?” invites lively discussion.

This book is great for reading out loud; even readers familiar with the story will get caught up in the excitement of the race. It’s also useful for those who want to teach children about Chinese culture, as each animal’s name in Hanzi is included as is a brief explanation of the zodiac’s cultural significance. An illustrated wheel with years corresponding to each animal will help readers find their own place within the zodiac.

— Jaclyn Qua-Hiansen, Quill & Quire