THE ROOSTER'S ANTLERS

A saucy version of a traditional tale of the Chinese zodiac from the creators of Ten Suns (1998). Long ago when the Jade Emperor of China was selecting the animals for the Chinese calendar, all the animals wanted to be included. Dragon, sensitive about his bald head, complains to Centipede, who offers, for a price, to obtain Rooster’s gorgeous antlers. Generous Rooster, certain he will be chosen with or without antlers, lends them to Dragon for “as long as he needs them.” Rooster stews when the Jade Emperor selects him tenth, for the dragon was chosen fifth, surely because of his headwear. Worse, Dragon refuses to give the antlers back and Rooster gets mad, forever; to this day, he hops on a fence and calls, “Ku-keri-keru! Dragon, you thief! Give back my antlers!” The telling is well-timed and funny, while the illustrations, with the look of Chinese paper-cutting, thoroughly complement the text. Amid heavy black lines are vividly colored areas, all against a deep aqua background, and filled with pattern and movement. (Picture book. 6-8)