Year of the Cat

Year of The Cat - an enchanting and informative book for all children interested in other Cultures, Places [here, it''s New York City''s Chinatown] and Cats - is the debut title in a new series of Chinese-culture themed books by artist and emerging children''s book writer Natasha Lynn Rabin, and collaborator, award-winning illustrator, Josie Yee.  Ying shares her own observations and opinions about what makes Chinese New Year the ''best'', introduces us to her family (including cats) and takes us along on her Year of the Cat campaign. It is a book about the joy of holidays with family and the extra, added anticipation that surrounds the arrival of a new sibling, all captured in Josie Yee''s colorful, exquisitely detailed illustrations.The following excerpt begins the fun adventure with Year of the Cat:"In Chinese Time, months are measured by the cycles of themoon, and every year has an assigned animal from the ChineseZodiac. There are twelve official Chinese animals.  I was born inthe Year of the Monkey. Maybe that''s why it''s hard for me to sit still.I ask Ma Ma, who knows the reasons for lots of things, Why isn''t there a Year of the Cat?"Children and parents alike will learn why there isn''t, and about Ying''s resolve to honor her cat, Bao, her Cousin''s cat, Jackie Chan, and cats everywhere, when the New Year arrives.