The Year of the Sheep

November 3, 2014
In this tenth title in the Tales of the Chinese Zodiac series, Chin and Chau introduce Sydney, a baby sheep with enormous blue eyes, cottony swirls of wool, and a strong desire to “explore off the beaten path.” Chin’s story has a tendency to wander, as well, following Sydney’s misadventures as she gets stuck in a tree, falls down a chimney, survives a storm, and eventually helps—along with the other 11 animals of the Chinese zodiac—to undam a river. Working in watercolor, Chau creates a dewy-eyed, playfully caricatured cast of animals and humans that should hold readers’ interest through the story’s bumpier moments. Ages 3–8.

November 1, 2014
In this 10th installment from the Tales of the Chinese Zodiac picture-book series, a curious lamb rallies her friends to keep the town from going thirsty.Sydney is one hungry little lamb. Her shepherdess, Zhi, guides the way to meadows, where springtime has "coaxed tender blades from the ground." But Sydney's desire to go off the beaten path leads to mischief: She gets stuck in an apple tree; she munches on the flowers in a garden; and she discovers that a chimney is not her friend. After a great storm passes, Sydney, Zhi and friends find their land and pastures destroyed. Ever curious, Sydney uncovers a major problem with the river. She concocts a plan to help but will need the cooperation of all her zodiac-animal friends, who aren't accustomed to working together. According to the author's note, readers born in the year of the sheep are kindhearted and cooperative, and Chin uses these traits well to create a sweet, wild and woolly heroine. For the first time, Chau illustrates for this series, and she is a good fit. Some brush strokes and scenes are reminiscent of Chinese brush painting, and little surprises, such as a resting tiger counting sheep in Chinese, add mysticism and charm. The Year of the Sheep is cause for celebration, especially for fans of the series. (list of zodiac animals) (Picture book. 4-8)

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January 1, 2015

K-Gr 2-Young sheep Sydney and the shepherd's daughter Zhi "were best buddies who watched each other's back, took unusual strolls, and always swung for the fences." As in Chin's earlier introductions to animals of the Chinese zodiac, colloquial narrative and cartoon-style scenes sketch a year's activities shared by the featured animal and a child. The story here consists of bits of daily misadventure. In unsheeplike fashion, Sydney climbs to high places, getting caught in an apple tree and falling down a chimney. Zhi comes to the rescue most times, but midway in the telling, a plot develops in which Sydney discovers the problem in a damned-up river and rounds up animals, tame and wild, to carry out her plan. "Naturally everyone wasn't used to cooperating. Yet, big and small, they agreed to lend a hand" in applying a lever to move the large rock impeding the river's flow. Awkward in telling and construction, the story includes multiple lessons in basic engineering (STEM alert!), friendship and teamwork, and fundamentals of the Chinese zodiac, explained prior to the story and at the conclusion. The comical characters, most with large round eyes, move through meadows softly sketched in pretty colors. In the end, readers are invited to apply an app symbol to their iPads, where "kids will be locked in thanks to plenty of interactive games and activities, quality narration and music." With 2015 being the Year of the Sheep, some teachers in the early grades may like the possible uses.-Margaret Bush, Simmons College, Boston

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2015
Sydney the lamb wanders off, scaring her parents and the flock's young shepherd girl, Zhi. But when the river is accidentally dammed, her wandering proves helpful. This tale "from the Chinese zodiac" featuring all twelve animals (including a dragon on a farm) meanders without purpose, and the cutesy, doe-eyed characters hamper the otherwise soft and delicate watercolors.

(Copyright 2015 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)