The Year of the Rooster - (Tales from the Chinese Zodiac) by Oliver Chin (Hardcover)

About the Book

Ralph is an ambitious chick whose journey celebrates the new year. This edition features a bilingual Chinese translation. 2017 is the Year of the Rooster!

Ray is a chick who proves to be very plucky! He loves his Mama hen and admires his Papa who has the important job of waking the town up everyday. However, he and his friend, the girl Ying, soon learn of a mystical creature that may shine even brighter. Together these two pals embark on a fantastic quest to find the fabled Phoenix. But will Ray ever get a chance to see the light?

Befriending people and the other zodiac animals, can Ray show his true colors? Illustrating expressive characters and vibrant action, artist Juan Calle creates an inviting new world for readers to explore. Tales from the Chinese Zodiac is a popular series showcasing the twelve charming animals of the Chinese New Year.

Book Synopsis

Ralph is an ambitious chick whose journey celebrates the new year. This edition features a bilingual Chinese translation. 2017 is the Year of the Rooster!

Ray is a chick who proves to be very plucky! He loves his Mama hen and admires his Papa who has the important job of waking the town up everyday. However, he and his friend, the girl Ying, soon learn of a mystical creature that may shine even brighter. Together these two pals embark on a fantastic quest to find the fabled Phoenix. But will Ray ever get a chance to see the light?

Befriending people and the other zodiac animals, can Ray show his true colors? Illustrating expressive characters and vibrant action, artist Juan Calle creates an inviting new world for readers to explore. Tales from the Chinese Zodiac is a popular annual children's book series showcasing the twelve charming animals that embody the Chinese New Year.

Ray's vivid voyage to discover his real nature will delight children and adults alike. Kids love identifying with how each animal embarks on a unique quest to discover his or her own character: Bright and dynamic illustrations will appeal to parents, those interested in Asian culture, and, of course, animal lovers.

Teachers appreciate how Tales from the Chinese Zodiac is the only English series on each of the animals of the Chinese lunar calendar. Librarians like how it one of the longest-running children's book series featuring Asian American themes. Now readers everywhere can enjoy these entertaining and original tales.

"The Year of the Rooster is a fun and inspirational story with lively illustrations, a perfect finale to his Tales from the Chinese Zodiac series."
- Sampan

Review Quotes

"The Year of the Rooster is a cheerful start to anyone's year. With happy, spirit filled animals, The Year of the Rooster will delight kids with the dynamic images on each spread. Teachers and parents will like the positive messages, the educational value, and the inclusive story. Told in both English and Chinese, this bilingual story can help new immigrants learn a new language. Chin's story is fast-paced, with messages of community, working together, and being the best you can be, while following the phoenix's virtues and goals." - Kid Lit Reviews

"A number of years ago I stumbled upon a series of children's books, subtitled Tales from the Chinese Zodiac. There was a book for the Chinese New Year, and I eagerly bought the one for the Year of the Snake, glad to find something to help my then 3 year old daughter appreciate the coming Chinese New Year. Fast forward to 2017 and the last of the series has come out, to celebrate the Year of the Rooster, a full dozen years after my own daughter was born in the last year of the Rooster, 2005. With a complete set of 12 published, you can now find a children's book for every year/sign in the Chinese Zodiac." - 8Asians

"Along with its playful text and easy to follow storyline, The Year of the Rooster's dazzling illustrations by Juan Calle offer children adorable cartoon-like characters to connect with. As the need for diverse books remains strong, Chin's book is an important reminder of how invaluable reading and learning about other cultures and traditions is for growing young minds. The Chinese New Year is always a great entrée into the Chinese culture and Chin's books, as well as all of Immedium's titles, continue to provide this engaging content." - Good Reads with Ronna

"Oliver Chin has a real knack for retelling the ancient Chinese zodiac stories for today's modern reader, and making them fun, energetic and understandable to anyone not already familiar with the tales, as well as those who are. And once again, the tales are totally supported by artist Juan Calle's dynamic, colorful illustrations." - Randomly Reading

"So while The Year of the Rooster marks the end of an era, it also satisfyingly brings the cycle of the Zodiac fill circle. There will be those who have scooped up the books as they emerged each year: but the good news is that it really doesn't matter when you discover these fun stories - they are extra special in their own year of the Chinese cycle or when their particular animal is significant, but young children can now enjoy all twelve stories, all year round...The Year of the Rooster is a fun, feel-good story that is sure to set young children crowing for more " - Mirrors, Windows, Doors

"The book was enjoyable to read and fun to talk about. Not only do we find out more about the animals of the lunar zodiac, but we learn, along with Ray and Ying, the value of persistence, hard work, and following your dreams -- a plus for parents!... My daughter had me read the book twice in a row, which indicates her approval... And if you enjoy reading The Year of the Rooster: Tales from the Chinese Zodiac, there are eleven others in the series to explore. Children will especially love to read about the animal of their particular birth year." - The Asian Reporter

About the Author

Oliver Chin is the author of the popular annual children's book series Tales from the Chinese Zodiac. This remains the only series in English on the animals of the Lunar New Year, which is increasingly celebrated worldwide. He presents at schools, libraries, and museums nationwide and teaches artists of all ages how to create their own comic books.

Juan Calle co-wrote and illustrated children's picture book Good Dream, Bad Dream. He is the art director at LIBERUM DONUM Studios, based in Bogotá, Colombia. As a team of illustrators and animators, they have worked for the book industry clients like WELDON OWEN publishing and Capstone Press, on titles for young audiences such as SHOW ME HOW series, PAPERMANIA!, HOW TO BE A WEREWOLF, HOW TO BE A ZOMBIE, and HOW TO DRAW INCREDIBLE DINOSAURS. The team works for the advertising and entertainment industry, and creates 2D and 3D animation for movies and TV, and visual development and concept art for video games.